Clergy and Staff

Rev. Dr. Jose Fernandez, Rector email: padrejose@gracechurchwoodlawn.org

The Rev. José R. Fernández, PhD, began his ministry as the Rector of Grace Episcopal Church in March 2023. Born and raised in Puerto Rico, Father José overcame the challenges of a disadvantaged background through education. He earned a BS in Biology from the University of Puerto Rico, an MA in Secondary Science Education from Columbia University, and a PhD in Biobehavioral Health from Penn State University. He pursued a successful academic career that combined research and education in the field of genetics of obesity and nutrition, serving as a faculty member and administrator in the Department of Nutrition Sciences at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. In 2017, after a decade as a mentor for the Education for Ministry (EfM) program, he felt a calling to explore ordained ministry. This led to seminary training at the Alabama Integrative Ministry School for bi-vocational priesthood, culminating in his ordination as an Episcopal priest in December 2021.

Father José is a dynamic leader who has demonstrated a commitment to spiritual care, helping our parish develop a balance between “in-reach” and “outreach” to sustain our work for many years. He is a passionate advocate for physical, mental, and spiritual health and wellness, and is certified as a Mindfulness Consultant by Miguel de Cervantes European University. Father José has been actively involved in adult formation through the EfM program, serving as both a mentor and trainer.

Father José believes that a divine share of God exists in all of us, which shines forth when we come together in love and community. His faith-based, horizontal leadership approach has been refined over the past 20 years and empowers constituents to share their visions, ideas, and perspectives through equitable and inclusive conversations. He is committed to practicing respect for the dignity, individuality, and authenticity of every human being and empowering people to discover an intimate and personal relationship with God through the development of personal theology and the celebration of people’s gifts and authenticity.

The Rev. Marti Holmes, Deacon email: deaconmarti@gracechurchwoodlawn.org

Prior to her ordination to the Diaconate by the Rt. Rev. Kee Sloan in 2011, Marti Holmes served as a health care provider, in academia as faculty at the University of Missouri –Kansas City and at UAB, in private business as an administrator, and in the nonprofit arena in the areas of housing for low income households, shelter services for homeless families and victims of domestic violence, and in health care training programs for the underserved. She retired from her secular career in 2019.

Marti’s first assigned as a Deacon was to Grace Church, Woodlawn starting in November, 2011. After serving at Grace for two years, Bishop Sloan reassigned her to serve at Holy Apostles in Hoover. In February, 2014, Bishop Sloan appointed Marti to also serve as the Diocesan Archdeacon. Early in 2022, Bishop Glenda Curry reassigned Marti to serve as Interim Clergy at All Saints, Montgomery, completing that assignment at the close of September, 2022. From then through 2023, continuing to fill the role of Archdeacon, she supported the diocese as a supply clergy for small parishes, and as a parish vitality consultant, mentor, and trainer. Marti also serves as a course facilitator in AIMS (Alabama Integrated Ministry School) and for the VTS (Virginia Theological Seminary) Thriving in Ministry Program. From May through October, 2023, Marti served as an Interim Deacon at St. Mary’s, Jasper. She is deeply grateful for these experiences which have allowed her to meet so many wonderful Episcopalians and others throughout this diocese and beyond.

Retiring as Archdeacon at the end of December, 2023, Marti received the gift of being reassigned to Grace Church Woodlawn, where she joyfully serves alongside the Rev. Dr. Jose Fernandez. Marti and her husband, Frank, live in Birmingham and are the parents of three grown children, grandparents to 4 wonderful children, and Aunt and Uncle to 11 grown nieces and nephews and their children.

Ann Giambrone, Director of Music/Organist Master of Music, Birmingham-Southern College email: tedihersh@gmail.com