The Reverend Ray Cannata | Pastor

Ray was raised in New York City and New Jersey. He is a graduate of Wake Forest University (B.A.) and Princeton Theological Seminary (M.Div. and Th.M.), and is finishing doctoral work at Westminster Theological Seminary in Philadelphia. He came in January 2006 to restart Redeemer, after pastoring a church in New Jersey. He and his wife Kathy have two children: Andrew, 8, and Rachel, 4. Email Ray at ray.cannata -at- redeemerneworleans.com.

Kathy was raised in Miami, but has deep roots in New Orleans. Her maiden name was Fortier. (Fortier High School and Fortier Hall at Tulane are named for her great-uncle.)

Shane Gibson  -- Ministerial Intern

Shane Gibson grew up in a suburb of Dallas and attended Texas State University where he graduated with a major in philosophy and minor in history.  While in school he worked for a compassion organization called New Start where he was the coordinator of an after school program for underprivileged kids in Austin.  He married Kim in 2002 and moved to St. Louis to enroll at Covenant Theological Seminary.  They have a daughter, Adison, age 3, and a son Deacon, age 1.  He graduated from seminary with a Masters in Divinity.

Alex Kontras -- Student Intern

 Alex Kontras is a rising senior at Calvin College in Michigan, where he majors in urban planning.  He is a full-time student intern serving with us for the summer.