Madpak joined the St. Mark’s staff in January of 2012. In his capacity, he directs a rigorous music department that strives for excellence and quality. A New Jersey native, Madpak graduated Cum Laude from Drew University with a Master of Theological Studies in Sacred Music in 2004. For his thesis, he wrote a collection of songs/hymns that express the identity of marginalized and disenfranchised groups.
Before moving to Florida, Madpak was the Minister of Music at St. John’s United Methodist Church, Hazlet, NJ for twelve years. There he directed a large music department including ten ensembles from adult and youth choirs, bell choirs, and a contemporary Praise Team and band.

Madpak began his musical training in the Men and Boys’ Choir of St. Peter’s Episcopal Church, Morristown, NJ at the tender age of seven. As a member of that ensemble for over 12 years he has joined in performance with the Vienna Boys’ Choir and worked with such well-known British conductors/composers as Malcolm Archer, Richard Seal, and Barry Rose. Madpak toured twice internationally with that group giving concerts in England and Ireland. During his undergraduate studies at Rowan University, he studied organ with Dennis Elwell and voice with Dr. Lourin Plant.

Madpak is the Artistic Director/Conductor of The Venice Chorale. www.venicechorale.org

Madpak is also on the faculty and staff at Venice Theatre. He is a recitalist, accompanist, conductor and teacher.

A lifelong Episcopalian, Melissa Rau has been a leader in the Episcopal Church for over 20 years. She is passionate about baptism, formation, and discipleship, as well as church-wide strategic planning, institutional advancement, and congregational vitality.

Prior to moving to Venice, she was the Senior Program Director for Leadership, Partnerships and New Initiatives with the Episcopal Church Foundation (ECF) and managed the Forma network and then became Chief of Staff at Bexley Seabury Seminary. She has been a consultant with Ministry Architects — the nation’s leading provider of strategic planning for children’s, youth, and church-wide ministries — since 2012. Melissa also serves as the host of For People with Bishop Rob Wright, a weekly podcast produced by the Episcopal Diocese of Atlanta.

Rau is working her way toward an MDiv and is in a perpetual state of discernment. She and her husband, Mike, were married in 1999, and they have three wonderful children: Natalie (Talie), Kiersten, and Peyton, and two incredibly adorable Australian Labradoodles: Francis and Philly. Melissa loves to read and is passionate about giraffes and the color orange.

Andrew is a lifelong Christian who grew up in a variety of denominations before finding a home in the Episcopal Church. He has a heart for discipleship for all ages. He holds a PhD in Biblical Studies from Asbury Theological Seminary where his dissertation examined allusions to Graeco-Roman Religion in the Book of Revelation. He also holds an MA in Biblical Studies from Asbury and a BA from Houghton College, where he double majored in Bible and Philosophy with a minor in Theology. His call has always been to use what he has learned in service to the Church and is especially excited to be able to serve St. Mark’s. He is a postulant in the Diocese of Southwest Florida, discerning a call to the priesthood, and St. Mark’s is his sponsoring parish.

Andrew is married to Eileen. Together they have three children, Zoe, Ethan, and Phoebe. They have attended St. Mark’s since 2016. Andrew enjoys the Florida wildlife, playing video games and non-conventional board games, and cooking barbeque.

Born and raised in Long Island, New York, Ernie has held custodial maintenance positions in schools since he was 21 yrs-old. Before joining our staff, Ernie worked at a Roman Catholic church in Sarasota.

Ernie and his wife, Cassie, live two miles from Siesta Key Beach. Ernie has two adult children: daughter Bianca and son Taylor. He enjoys being “Poppy” to three grandchildren who all live in Florida. He loves his family, and though both of Ernie’s and Cassie’s extended families live in Long Island, they do get to visit about once a year.

Ernie’s hours are typically Monday thru Friday from 6:30 a.m. until 2:30 p.m.