Cathy Dempesy has been the rector of Good Shepherd since April of 2010, and joined Church of the Ascension through a covenant agreement in May 2011. Prior to Good Shepherd, she served as the Canon for Children, Youth and Pastoral Care at St. Paul’s Cathedral, Buffalo. She graduated from Bexley Hall Seminary in Rochester, NY in 2008.

Besides her work at Good Shepherd, Cathy serves on the Standing Committee of the Episcopal Diocese of Western New York and serves as the chaplain to the diocesan sleepaway camp.

A lifetime Episcopalian, Cathy was raised in suburban Chicago, the youngest of four girls. Her first career was in the mental health and addictions field where, for over 20 years, she worked in hospital, community mental health and private practice settings, specializing in the dual illnesses of addiction and mental illness in women and the effects of these illnesses on children.

Cathy has lived in Buffalo since 2001 and it only took about 5 years for this Chicago gal to remember that the lake was to the west in this part of the world. While a huge Sabres fan, Cathy can’t let go of her adoration for all things baseball, especially the Chicago Cubs. That last fact is reason enough to keep Cathy in your prayers.