Clergy & Staff
Our clergy serve as the spiritual leaders of our congregation, and our staff is responsible for overseeing our program ministries and day-to-day responsibilities.
The Rev. Kate Byrd
Rector
(703) 582-2997 |
A native of Arlington, VA, Rev. Kate grew up at Christ Church in Alexandria, VA. As a cradle Episcopalian, Kate has a long-held love and appreciation for the Anglican Communion and our Episcopal traditions. A graduate of Randolph-Macon College in Ashland, VA, she completed her Bachelors of Arts Degree in Sociology and soon after began her Masters of Divinity at Virginia Theological Seminary. During her first summer off from seminary, Kate worked at Camp Kanuga in Hendersonville, NC where she met her husband Drew. Kate and Drew’s family includes daughter Libbie, twins Thomas and Patrick, and their two dogs Sissy (Labra-doodle) and Radar (Shih Tzu Bichon). Since ordination in 2014, Kate has served in Lexington, KY at Christ Church Cathedral, Whitefish Bay, WI at Christ Church Episcopal, and Goldsboro, NC at St. Francis Church.
The Byrd’s moved to Smithfield in 2019 when Drew began a new position at Johnston Health. A native of Smithfield, Drew is passionate about his hometown, and the two feel blessed to raise their three children here. When he’s not at work you can find Drew at Health Quest, on the Parks and Rec board, riding his mower around their yard, or doing woodwork in his garage. In her spare time, you can find Kate on a run through Smithfield’s Greenway, practicing yoga with her toddler, working with the Junior Women’s League, or completing a craft project. All five Byrds, and their two dogs, enjoy hiking at the local parks, going out for ice cream, and soaking up the sun in their backyard. Kate is passionate about the Jesus Movement and sharing the love of God at St. Paul’s, in the community, and beyond.
Pat Hovorka
Office Manager
Pat Hovorka began working as part-time Office Manager for St. Paul’s in August 2022. She is a life-long Episcopalian who grew up in Northern New York, 30 miles south of the Canadian border, in an area known as “Snow Town USA.” In college she majored in business and office technology, while also studying art, design, and interior decorating. Throughout her diversified office career, Pat held positions as cost accounting clerk for an international construction firm, administrative assistant in the HR department for a major insurance company, paymaster on a Superfund cleanup project, and executive assistant to the CFO for a major hotel/casino firm. During their working years, Pat and her husband, Richard, had the opportunity to live in Connecticut, Arizona, and several locations in New York. Pat retired from full time employment in 2013, but continued her volunteer work as secretary for a non-profit. She eventually retired from that position in 2015 after 15 years of service. Upon Richard’s retirement, also in 2015, they decided to move to North Carolina. Their decision was two-fold: 1) to get away from the terrible New York winters; and 2) to live closer to their son and grandchildren.
In her spare time you will find Pat digging in the dirt. As an avid gardener, she is enjoying the more temperate climate and longer growing season of North Carolina. She also enjoys hiking, visiting historical places, traveling, and of course, spending time with her grandchildren.
Mike Hugo
Finance Manager
Mike Hugo joined the St. Paul’s staff in January 2011 as Office Manager after a 25-year career as a district manager for a Charlotte-based regional movie theatre circuit. A cradle Episcopalian, Mike grew up in Jacksonville, Florida. After four happy years at UNC-Chapel Hill for a journalism degree, Mike knew he wanted to live in North Carolina for its four seasons (not too much snow) and strong educational culture. The movie theatre career brought him back to Chapel Hill and took him to Tallahassee, Florida and Raleigh.
Mike semi-retired in August 2022 and is now part-time Finance Manager for St. Paul’s.
John Drymon
Music Director
John joined St. Paul’s in May 2011. Having grown up in the Episcopal Church and Winston Salem, NC, and after 20 years in various other congregational settings as a church musician, John is excited to be serving as the Organist and Choir Director here at St. Paul’s Episcopal in Smithfield.
While John's earliest music experiences during High School came from playing the organ at two Episcopal churches in Southern Maryland, his formation as a musician was primarily from playing in clubs, concerts, recording sessions, and touring with all varieties of musical ensembles. After feeling a strong calling to the music ministry in a church setting, John received a choral conducting and organ playing certification from Westminster Choir College, which has brought him back to the congregational setting.
We are honored to have John as our organist at St. Paul’s, as well as the director of our Adult Choir and Bell/Chime Choir.
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