The Right Reverend George Sumner, Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Dallas, is pleased to announce the selection of The Reverend Dr. Tom Papazoglakis to be the new Priest to serve the congregation of Saint Matthias Episcopal Church here in Athens.  Father Tom began his ministry this month coming to St. Matthias from Albany New York where he served for eleven and a half years. Before that, he served in the Diocese of Milwaukee Wisconsin for eleven years.  Fr. Tom has been married to The Reverend Dr. Elizabeth Papazoglakis for 47 years and who coincidentally, has been selected by Bishop Sumner to lead the congregation of Saint James on the Lake in Kemp.

 

Wanting a warmer climate, to be closer to his three daughters and three grandchildren was central to his wanting to come serve the Lord and the congregation at St. Matthias.  Despite his serving the Lord in the northern part of our nation, Fr. Tom’s family and boyhood home was originally in South Louisiana. There he graduated as an architect from Louisiana State University and was employed as an architect for 20 years before being ordained in the ministry.  

 

Members of the congregation are excited by the enthusiasm displayed by Fr. Tom and the messages that he brings each Sunday from the scriptures. He then uses these to show how they can help church members to become better Christians.  He is said to be especially gifted with superb counseling skills and has an easy-going manner that will support his desire to help St. Matthias grow its congregation.  He intends to meet each member outside the church by home visitation and small group gatherings. Fr. Tom believes St. Matthias will grow by involving all the church members in the telling of who Episcopalians are, where they come from, and what their church services are like.

 

Saint Matthias is located at 205 Willowbrook Drive in Athens. Father Tom sincerely invites all those individuals and families that are looking for a church home to come to the Sunday Communion Services beginning at 10:30, with Communion and Bible Study on Wednesday at 6:00PM and see for yourself what our worship services look like and feel the Presence.