Clergy
The Reverend Minerva Camarena Skeith
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The Rev. Minerva Camarena Skeith joined St. John's as our Rector on January 1, 2021.
Mother Minerva is a native of Laredo, Texas and is fluent in both English and Spanish. She moved back to Austin in 1998 and married her husband Paul Skeith in 1999. They have two sons. Samuel and Augustin. Her husband Paul was ordained a priest in 2017 and has been leading the “SoCo Episcopal Community” in south Austin for the last six years. She enjoys jigsaw puzzles, detective novels, running, and spending time with her family. Mother Minerva graduated from the Seminary of the Southwest in 2019. While a seminarian, she did her field education here at St. John’s Episcopal Church in 2018-2019. After graduating she served as a curate at St. Michael’s Episcopal Church. As the curate of St. Michael’s, she worked with the Outreach Commission. She also helped create Picnic Church as a way to allow in-person services during the pandemic. Mother Minerva was a member of the Austin Interfaith strategy team for over 10 years and over the last year has been a leader with Central Texas Interfaith. |
The Reverend Victoria Mason, Deacon
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Deacon Victoria Mason was born in Seattle, Washington, but she claims Austin as the closest to being her home town. She earned her B.A. in History and English from the University of Texas at Austin and her M.S. in Vocational Rehabilitation from the University of Wisconsin – Stout. Her first career was as a vocational rehabilitation specialist. Her second career was in the Child Support Division of the Office of the Attorney General where she served as a trainer, policy developer and software development manager. Victoria completed the Iona School for Ministry of the Diocese of Texas in preparation for ordination as a Deacon in February 2007. “I was drawn to the ordained ministry for all my adult life, but I never felt I should ‘leave the world,’ she explained. “I was first attracted to the diaconate because of its being simultaneously in the world and in the church.” She is married to Roy Larsen; has three grown children and two adorable granddaughters.
Victoria is bilingual, having learned Spanish while living in Lima, Peru during her childhood. She served as Deacon at San Francisco de Asís Episcopal Church and El Buen Samaritano in Austin for four years. She served at St. David’s Episcopal Church prior to this. She is constantly amazed at God’s economy, finding that the work skills and experiences from her first two careers are assets in her ministries as a deacon. Deacon Victoria’s current diocesan level ministries include serving on the Commission of Hispanic Ministry and the Discernment Process Team for the Commission on Ministry. |
Cruz Hector Torres Razo, Seminarian
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Cruz Hector Torres Razo
MDiv Middler Seminarian, Seminary of the Southwest What I would like you to know about me is… I was born and raised in the border city of Matamoros, Tamaulipas, Mexico. Before coming to the United States, I earned my Bachelor's degree in Business Administration from the Universidad del Valle de Mexico. After that, I worked at the Supreme Court of Justice in Mexico City. Like thousands of immigrants from Latin America, my family and I came to the United States in search of better opportunities almost seven years ago. I’m the proud dad of three wonderful children: Hector (7), Fatima (5), and Mariela (3). I’m also married to my best friend, partner-in-crime, and the love of my life Gaby. Before entering the ministry, I… I served as Program Director for Good Samaritan Community Services in Brownsville, an Episcopal nonprofit whose primary mission is supporting youth, individuals, and families by providing community services. A major turning point in my life… One of them is coming to the United States. “Starting everything from scratch.” Leaving behind my family, friends, culture, music, food, etc., but at the same time, I got to a place where I could offer my family a better quality of life. We have also found a community of faith that has always supported and loved us as if we were their own family. I look back on my roots fondly, but at the same time, I am grateful to this country that has given me so much. In ministry, I am passionate about… Latinx Ministry. Reconciliation Ministry. My favorite thing about the Episcopal Church is... Its diversity. Its commitment to spread the Good News into the world. |
