The Rev. Judith L. Rhodes
The Rev. Judith L. Rhodes began her ministry in July, 2002. She is the fifteenth rector of St. Mary's Episcopal Church and the first woman to serve as rector. Judith is a native New Englander, born and educated in Massachusetts where she completed undergraduate studies in French, religious studies and special education at Regis College, Weston. Following graduate studies at Massachusetts General Hospital, neurolinguistics department, she taught special education students in the Cambridge school department, also serving as a liaison of the Bureau of Special Needs for the city. Further graduate study in the area of special needs resulted in her work as a consultant to school systems implementing individualized educational plans for special needs students.
In 1987, Judith began her studies for the Master of Divinity Degree at Harvard Divinity School, Cambridge. Upon completion of this degree in 1991, she served as Assistant to the Rector and then Associate Rector at Christ Church, Needham, MA where she was ordained to the priesthood in 1994. The Rt. Rev. M. Thomas Shaw appointed Judith, Priest-in-charge, at Emmanuel Church, West Roxbury in 1997 where she was later called as Rector.
Judith is the parent of three adult children — Christopher, Meredith and Andrew and the very proud grandmother of Nathaniel, Kohl, and Kyle. Judith and her partner, Martha Hughes, a Nurse Practitioner, enjoy travel, golf, discovering new cuisine, theatre, and entertaining friends at home.