Father Justin received his Bachelor of Arts from Earlham College, Richmond, Indiana, and his Master of Divinity from Church Divinity School of the Pacific in Berkeley. He was ordained as a deacon by the Right Reverend Marc Handley Andrus, Bishop of California, on June 4, 2011 and served as deacon at St. Clement’s Episcopal Church, Berkeley. On December 3, 2011, he was ordained to the priesthood by Bishop Andrus and from June 2012-January 2016 served his first priestly call at Saint Giles Episcopal Church, Moraga. He was then called to serve as Rector of All Saints and began his ministry here in January 2016.
Father Justin is the founder and director of Holy Hikes, an eco-ministry that is committed to rebuilding Communion between people and Creation. He is a published author, the editor of two books ― Sanctified: An Anthology of Poetry by LGBT Christians and Homosexuality in the Orthodox Church ― and was interviewed in the 2012 film The Right to Love: An American Family.
Before his first call to priestly ministry, Fr. Justin worked as Program Manager of Episcopal Charities, now named Episcopal Impact Fund. His efforts focused on the launch of Episcopal Charities’ Action Networks, which worked to address the root causes of poverty in the San Francisco Bay Area. He is an avid hiker and lover of the outdoors, and lives very near to the church with his husband Max.
Staff
The Rev. Justin R. Cannon
The Rev. Pam Jester
Deacon Pam received her Bachelor of Science from the University of Oregon, Master of Public Administration from the Maxwell School at Syracuse University, Juris Doctor and MBA (Taxation) from Golden Gate University, and Bachelor of Diaconal Studies from the Episcopal School for Deacons. A long-time resident of the East Bay, she served in leadership positions for a variety of non-profit advocacy organizations, including California Women Lawyers, the Rape Crisis Center, the State Bar Women in the Law Committee, Alameda County Bar Association and the Voluntary Legal Services Corporation. She worked for more than 30 years for the UC sponsored program, Continuing Education of the Bar (CEB), serving as its Executive Director for the last 13 years of her career.
She was ordained a vocational deacon by the Right Reverend Marc Handley Andrus, Bishop of California on June 13, 2015.
A member of the Interfaith Domestic Violence Program of the Alameda County Family Justice Center, Deacon Pam remains committed to protecting the vulnerable from abuse, supporting survivors of domestic violence, and working towards racial reconciliation and justice.
Grace Maina
Grace comes to us with over a decade of experience in offering administrative support to various nonprofits and businesses. She has provided support for Bay Area Nonviolent Communication, a local nonprofit, as well as for What If? Foundation that feeds hungry children in Haiti. She also worked on press releases at the Office of Communication at the headquarters of the United Church of Christ. Grace is also an artist and regards spirituality as an important part of her life. She lives in Oakland, California. We are so glad to welcome her to our parish!
Br. Thomas LaFrance
January 19, 1954 – March 12, 2023
Around 6:30am on the morning of Sunday, March 12, with a dear friend holding his hand, Brother Thomas Anthony LaFrance took his last breath and transitioned from this earthly journey to his Heavenly Home. He died peacefully while in comfort care at Kaiser Oakland, after a week full of visits including songs, prayers, and stories from friends, parishioners, and family.
Father Justin, Thomas’s close friend, priest, and housemate says, “I believe he hung on so long and chose today, the Lord’s Day, knowing loved ones would be gathered together to love and support one another, and to lift him in prayer and song.” Masses were offered in his memory on Sunday, March 12, at All Saints, San Leandro, and at future date a Celebration of Life service will be held. Details will be shared on his CaringBridge site. May we hold his mother, his three siblings, and other family and loved ones in prayer.
O God of grace and glory, we remember before you this day our brother Thomas Anthony LaFrance. We thank you for giving him to us, his family and friends, to know and to love as a companion on our earthly pilgrimage. In your boundless compassion, console us who mourn. Give us faith to see in death the gate of eternal life, so that in quiet confidence we may continue our course on earth, until, by your call, we are reunited with those who have gone before; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
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Some people have expressed a longing to make a financial contribution in Thomas’ honor and wanted to know where they should send that, since donating through the CaringBridge site directs the funds to CaringBridge, not to Thomas’ fund. All Saints Episcopal Church has set up a fund in his honor to help with end-of-life expenses (e.g. memorial service expenses like reception and music, etc.) and the remainder will be used for a memorial gift to the parish dedicated in his memory. Contributions can be sent to All Saints Episcopal Church, 911 Dowling Blvd, San Leandro, CA 94577; put “Thomas LaFrance” in the memo line of any checks. You can also give online and be sure the fund “LaFrance Memorial Fund” is selected.
“Growing up on the peripheries of Roman Catholicism, I came to the Episcopal Church in my mid-twenties and was confirmed at Grace Cathedral in 1981. The music and rites of ‘Episcopalia’ enfolded me in a way that was mysterious, yet somehow familiar, and deeply comforting. Over the years, I’ve found that Worship is greatly enhanced when the connection between music, scripture and liturgy is intentional, thoughtful and spirit-filled. It is my prayer that the services here at All Saints make the Divine presence more palpable.”
