The Rev. Kate Sefton

Kate moved from the East Bay to Forestville in 1998; she and her three adopted special needs children began attending St. Stephen’s in 1999. This choice to move to live in a house on land, to play outside, and to make neighborhood friends led to good and fruitful years. Kate enjoyed singing in the St. Stephen’s choir, serving on the vestry, and under the tutelage of Fr. Rod McAulay, who was rector at the time, getting a lay preaching license. She continues to feel very fortunate to be a part of this parish and to have raised her children in this community.

In addition to working as a Developmental Therapist, Kate has worked as a case manager and social worker at North Bay Regional Center, helping families and children with developmental disabilities find services and become strong self-advocates.

In 2011, Kate began feeling a call to explore becoming a deacon. David Steadman, the deacon at St. Stephen’s at the time, was a great support and shepherd at the beginning of this process. Rev. Christy and many others at this parish were guides along the formation path. In 2016, Kate was ordained to the Episcopal Diaconate and was elated to be placed back at St. Stephen’s to serve. She works part-time at the West County Community Services homeless shelter in Guerneville, where she has met many more teachers and shepherds and continues to feel that she is in a lifelong formation process.

Email Kate at deacon@ststephenssebastopol.org