FORMER NOTABLE MEMBERS
We say farewell to those that have helped us
We move forward, in gratitude for their dedication
CARLA WOLIN
Former Councilmember
Carla Wolin served on the St. Paul ECC council through the end of 2025, but chose to step down as the parish moved into the new year.
FR. DONALD F. SUTTON
Pastor Emeritus
Fr. Don Sutton was the founding pastor of St. Paul Catholic Community of Faith which first gathered in 2003. Having taken his vows as a member of the Society of Jesus in 1976, he was ordained as a priest in 1982. His journey of faith eventually led him to the Ecumenical Catholic Communion (ECC), and in 2018 he was incardinated as a priest of the Communion. Continuing to pastor the St. Paul Ecumenical Catholic Community of Faith, he represented our community on the ECC Rocky Mountain Region Regional Council and served as a member of the ECC House of Pastors. In the transition from 2025 to 2026, he decided to step down from the pastoral position, though the community subsequently recognized him as pastor emeritus.
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Fr. Don has a PhD in psychology from Saint Louis University; he has taught and served as an administrator at a number of universities, most recently Regis University in Denver. He has lectured on topics of human development and organizational effectiveness across the United States and in Africa, Ireland, Italy and Canada.
Former Music Minister and Accompanist
VALERIE NAY BROWN
Valerie has been a musician for most of her life - piano lessons, flute lessons, singing in a few school choirs and accompanying other school choirs. She is a founding member of Planina: Songs of Eastern Europe, a vocal ensemble who has been performing the rich music of Eastern Europe for 35 years. Valerie identifies as bi-denominational, playing piano at this ECC church and as a Housemate at House for All Sinners and Saints, an ELCA church in Denver. When she's not at church, she manages meeting space at a community foundation in Jefferson County.
OUR DELEGATES TO SYNOD2024
Ours is a synodal form of government,
with representatives of our laity, clergy and bishops
gathered in holy conversation every other year.
Liz Begalla and Mary Gibson served as our delegates to the House of Laity
and Fr. Don served as our delegate to the House of Pastors.
FR. MICHAEL J. NICOSIA
Former Co-Pastor, Music Minister, Media and Webmaster,
Regional Vicar of Ecumenical Engagement
Fr. Michael was ordained a priest of the ECC on the Feast of Michael and the Archangels, September 29, 2012 by then Presiding Bishop Peter Elder Hickman, Foreshadowing the welcome StP has found at 6thAveUCC, he served as Associate Pastor of Pax Christi ECC Church and assumed the duties of Pastor in March of 2015 until the church's closing in 2018. While serving as Presiding Bishop Francis Kreb's Vicar to the Rocky Mountain Region, he was instrumental in guiding the St. Paul Catholic Community in its process of joining the ECC. Shortly thereafter he became an integral part of our community, in our prayer (picking out the songs for weekly Mass and leading us in sung worship) and in our advocacy collaborations.
After a sojourn with the Franciscan Friars of the Atonement, he received his Masters of Divinity in 1999 from St. Bernard’s School of Theology and Ministry in Rochester NY. While working as Liturgy Coordinator for St. Patrick’s Church in Macedon NY, he was a member of the Liturgical Commission of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Rochester for two terms, serving on its Standing Committees on the Eucharist and on Art & Environment. He worked for 7 years as a Staff Chaplain at St. John’s Home in Rochester and became certified as a Christian Minister by the Federation of Christian Ministries. He also served for 12 years as Chaplain and Liturgical Adviser to Dignity-Integrity/Rochester.
Along with serving our community, Fr. Michael served as the Vicar of Ecumenical Engagement for the Rocky Mountain Region of the ECC. In that capacity he represented the Region on the Colorado Council of Churches' Board of Directors and served as its Chair. He also worked as an on-call chaplain for Highlands Ranch Hospital.
Michael's work as a fine artist was displayed in various regional shows and exhibits. His collection of art and art prints are available through Spirit Songs. Follow him on Facebook @FrMichaelSpiritSongs and on Instagram @FrMichaelSpiritSongs.
​Fr. Michael and his husband, Marc Strong, moved back home to Upstate NY in July 2025. To view a wonderful tribute to Fr. Michael's 15 years of ministry in Colorado, see the video of his last Sunday presiding at our sibling church, Mary of Magdala in Ft. Collins, HERE.
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Keep in touch by friending him on Facebook @Michael J. Nicosia and follow his advocacy posts on Instagram @FrMichaelECC, or viewing his Youtube channel at FrMichaelSpiritSongs (including some flute meditations).