Lawrence Allen is Men's Breakfast Speaker at St. Francis of Assisi

Mr. Lawrence Allen, Jr., member of the Texas State Board of Education (TSBE) is the speaker for the Monthly Men's Prayer Breakfast will be held on January 25, 2020 at St. Francis of Assisi Episcopal Episcopal Church at 8:30 a.m - 10:30 a.m.

 Allen is a third-generation educator and was first elected to the in 2004 and has been re-elected from 2006 through 2018. His term expires in 2023. He holds the same seat once held by his mother, Dr. Alma Allen.

As the District 4 board member and a Democrat, he represents about 1.7 million people in the Houston area, which covers Fort Bend and Harris Counties. He serves as vice chair of the board's Committee on School Finance/Permanent School Fund. This committee oversees the Permanent School Fund, the nation's largest education endowment. The committee also oversees policies for some funding and auditing functions. Allen is a member of the Houston Association of School Administrators; Texas Association of Gifted and Talented; National Association of Secondary Principals; and the National Association of Secondary Administrators.

Allen previously served on the Committee on Planning and Committee on Instruction. He also served a term as vice chair of the 15-member board. Along with his service on the board, Allen is the director of special projects in the Houston Independent School District. He served as principal of the Jesse H. Jones High, assistant principal of Dowling Middle, Jones Senior and Jack Yates High School. He also taught at Lanier and Dowling Middle Schools. He holds a Bachelor’s and two Master’s degrees from Prairie View A&M University.

Allen is married to Carlotta K. Allen and are proud parents of five children - Patrice, Lawrence III, Alim, Ali and Terrell.

The breakfast is a gathering of men in the community to include professionals, retired and active and students who are committed to improving the quality of life in the community. It features a noted speaker who addresses relevant topics impacting the community, interspersed with the speakers personal and professional experiences. Women are also invited to attend.

​The Free Breakfast is open to the men of the community. Please call 936-857-3272 or email: stfrancispv@sbcglobal.net.

​For information contact Donald Sowell for more information—936-857-3557.

Rogers Ordained Priest and Rector at St. Francis of Assisi

Saturday, January 18, 2020 was an historical day for the members of St. Francis of Assisi
Episcopal Church with the ordination of the Reverend Rhonda Elwena Blackman Rogers to
the sacred order of priests in Christ's one, holy, catholic and apostolic church and as Rector.

The Right Reverend Hector Monterosso, Bishop Assistant of the Diocese of Texas conducted
the ordination service, the first for St. Francis of Assisi.  More than 250 well-wishers, family, friends and supporters, including some 50 priests and deacons from the Diocese and other parts of the country witnessed the historic event.

The Rev. Hannah E. Atkins Romero, Rector of Trinity Midtown, fellow clergy and Rhonda's friend delivered a rousing and spirit filled sermon that had the church rocking, so to speak. At one point in the sermon, she shared the loving story of Reverend Rogers' running from the full commitment to Christ which had finally caught up with her.  "Rhonda will be a great servant priest and St. Francis you have a winner," she concluded.

Following the service, the patrons feasted on the three-course sit-down sumptuous meal and desserts and Champagne prepared by the ladies of the Episcopal Church Women (ECW) in the beautifully decorated Parish Hall. Compliments continue to come in because folks were expecting the usual reception treats and received the surprised of their lives.

Reverend Rogers was ordained a Deacon at the special ordination service at Christ Church Cathedral on June 22, 2019. She became the Deacon at St. Francis of Assisi on August 26, 2019 and preached her first sermon on September 1, 2019, with Canon Joann Saylors Canon for Mission Amplification in the Diocese of Texas celebrating the Eucharist.

Rogers, as the bi-vocational leader, provides outreach service to members and will engage in programs and activities that enhances the spiritual growth and development of the members. She will also support a college ministry at Prairie View A&M University.

In her middler year at Iona, she was assigned at St. Stephen’s, Liberty, TX for her field education experience. She is currently completing her senior field education assignment at Holy Comforter, Spring, Texas. She was a member of Trinity Midtown after moving from Rochester, NY in 2010. She served there in various roles including Verger, LEM, Junior and Senior Warden and led Evening Prayer for the Lords of the Streets (LOTS) ministry.

Reverend Rhonda is the chaplain for Union of Black Episcopal Reverend John D. Epps Chapter. She is also a member of the Commission on Black Ministry, and the Province VII Anti-Racism Committee. She completed Education for Ministry (EFM) in 2003 and was an EFM mentor for two years.

In Rochester, NY, Rhonda was a member of Christ Church. She served as Warden, Church School Coordinator, acolyte, sub-deacon, thurifer, and pastoral visitor. She was also a member of Standing Committee and the Anti-Racism Committee and an adjunct trainer for Congregational Development Institute in the Diocese of Rochester, NY.

Rogers prepared for her service with enrollment and graduation from the Diocese of Texas' Iona School for Ministry on June 9, 2019. She also holds the Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering from New Jersey Institute of Technology and retired in 2016. She worked for Mobil Chemical and ExxonMobil Chemical for over 38 years in various positions including process and product development, technical advisor, and several management positions. In addition to her technical career, Rhonda led employee training for Organizational Development, Diversity and Inclusion at Mobil Chemical.

Her spiritual journey includes regularly consulting with a spiritual director and participating in retreats with the Order of St. Helena, an Episcopal order of nuns where she is an Associate.  She is also a member of Daughters of the King and United Black Episcopalians.

Reverend Rhonda has three adult children who live in Maryland and California. Her hobbies include traveling, going to the theatre, music, golf, and reading.

Rogers to be Ordained Priest and Installed as Rector for St. Francis of Assisi

God Willing, The Right Reverend Hector Monterosso, Bishop Assistant of the Diocese of Texas will ordain Reverend Rhonda Elwena Blackman Rogers to the sacred order of priests in Christ's one, holy, catholic and apostolic church on Saturday, January 18, 2020 at 1:00 p.m. at St. Francis of Assisi Episcopal Church, 2000 Phillip and 204 Dooley Streets, Prairie View, Texas.

Reverend Rogers was ordained a Deacon at the special ordination service at Christ Church Cathedral on June 22, 2019. She became the Deacon at St. Francis of Assisi on August 26, 2019 and preached her first sermon on September 1, 2019, with Canon Joann Saylors Canon for Mission Amplification in the Diocese of Texas celebrating the Eucharist.

Rogers, as the bi-vocational leader, provides outreach service to members and will engage in programs and activities that enhances the spiritual growth and development of the members. She will also support a college ministry at Prairie View A&M University.

In her middler year at Iona, she was assigned at St. Stephen’s, Liberty, TX for her field education experience. She is currently completing her senior field education assignment at Holy Comforter, Spring, Texas.

She was a member of Trinity Midtown after moving from Rochester, NY in 2010. She served there in various roles including Verger, LEM, Junior and Senior Warden and led Evening Prayer for the Lords of the Streets (LOTS) ministry.

Reverend Rhonda is the chaplain for Union of Black Episcopal Reverend John D. Epps Chapter. She is also a member of the Commission on Black Ministry, and the Province VII Anti-Racism Committee. She completed Education for Ministry (EFM) in 2003 and was an EFM mentor for two years.

In Rochester, NY, Rhonda was a member of Christ Church. She served as Warden, Church School Coordinator, acolyte, sub-deacon, thurifer, and pastoral visitor. She was also a member of Standing Committee and the Anti-Racism Committee and an adjunct trainer for Congregational Development Institute in the Diocese of Rochester, NY.

Rogers prepared for her service with enrollment and graduation from the Diocese of Texas' Iona School for Ministry on June 9, 2019. She also holds the Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering from New Jersey Institute of Technology and retired in 2016. She worked for Mobil Chemical and ExxonMobil Chemical for over 38 years in various positions including process and product development, technical advisor, and several management positions. In addition to her technical career, Rhonda led employee training for Organizational Development, Diversity and Inclusion at Mobil Chemical.

Her spiritual journey includes regularly consulting with a spiritual director and participating in retreats with the Order of St. Helena, an Episcopal order of nuns where she is an Associate. She is also a member of Daughters of the King and United Black Episcopalians.

Reverend Rhonda has three adult children who live in Maryland and California. Her hobbies include traveling, going to the theatre, music, golf, and reading.