The Very Rev. Kevin Morris, Rector

Father Kevin Morris, Rector

The Very Reverend Kevin L Morris is the Ninth Rector of The Church of The Ascension and Dean of the Southwest Nassau Deanery in the Episcopal Diocese of Long Island.

Father Kevin was elected rector of Ascension in the Summer of 2012. Just prior to receiving the call from us, he was Director of Pastoral Care, Patient Relations and Volunteer Services at an acute care hospital affiliated with the Diocese of Newark, New Jersey.

At the same time, he was also serving as a long-term supply priest at Christ Church in Harrison, New Jersey.  His responsibilities have included a great deal of involvement in administrative and pastoral care duties and he has worked in both small and large parishes. Father Kevin served for three years as Staff Chaplain in a Florida Hospice where he provided spiritual care to terminally ill patients and their families. He was ordained deacon at Trinity Cathedral in Miami, Florida and ordained priest at The Church of The Resurrection, New York New York, both in 2004.

He received a B.A. from the University of Miami where he graduated Magna Cum Laude with a double major in English Literature and History and spent a summer studying at Oxford University, UK. He completed studies for his MDiv at Yale.

Father Kevin enjoys traveling, is an excellent writer, and loves cooking. In May of 2016, Father Kevin was married to Father Keith Voets, an Episcopal priest and the Rector of Saint Alban the Martyr in Queens. In June of 2022, he and Father Keith welcomed their son, Robert David (Robbie) into the world. 

Father Matthew Sanfilippo, Curate

Fr. Matthew Sanfilippo, Curate

Father Matt was born in New York City in 1978. The youngest of three children, he was raised in the Roman Catholic tradition, and graduated from Holy Trinity Diocesan High School in 1996. At an early age, he felt a calling to public service and healthcare. Shortly after graduating high school, he began his career as a Paramedic with the Fire Department of New York. After 12 years of working as a Paramedic, he changed careers to law enforcement and became a Police Officer with the New York City Police Department.

He began to discern my calling to ordained ministry when he was 33 years old. Over time, he discerned that calling to be a pastor and chaplain to first responders and the military. After 20 years of combined service as a first responder, he retired from the NYPD and matriculated at the Seminary of the Southwest, with a concentration in Military Chaplaincy. He was ordained a deacon in October 2021, and a priest in April 2022. he also completed two units of Clinical Pastoral Education before graduating seminary in May 2022 with a Master of Divinity.

Kenneth Dyer Jr., Organist and Choirmaster

Kenneth Dyer, Jr., Organist and Choirmaster

Ken has more than 25 years experience as a church organist and musician, all of which is reflected in his creation of an Ascension Choir repertoire which reflects that group’s professionalism, from Bach to spirituals and 20th century choral works. Mr. Dyer is himself a composer and arranger of music, and his own works may from time to time be heard at Ascension Church. We are graced by his expertise in music and liturgy; Mr. Dyer holds a B.A. in Theology from St. John’s University , a B.A. in Music Education from Queens College CUNY and an M.A. in Urban and Multicultural Education from the College of Mount St. Vincent.

Margaret Bianchi, Parish Administrator

Questions about announcements for the bulletin, flower memorial donations, letters of transfer and parish records should be directed to Margaret. Regular office hours are Mondays and Wednesdays from 8am to 2pm.