Patrick Donovan and his wife Cynthia Byers have been active members of Christ Church of the Ascension for many years, and really enjoy the people here.

Patrick has served or serves on the CCA Vestry, the Hospitality Committee, the Sunshine Committee, Missions to Honduras, the Lay Eucharistic Ministry, Habitat for Humanity builds, and at Andre House.

He practiced Hematology and Oncology in Scottsdale for 40 years, and climbed Mount Kilimanjaro in 2004. When he is not busy at CCA, Patrick enjoys hiking, Tai Chi, Yoga, reading, music, and caring for his grandchildren.

Dennis (aka Patty’s Husband) and Patty relocated to Arizona from Illinois in 2015. In 1984, they were married at and became longtime members of Calvary Episcopal Church in Lombard where Dennis served one Vestry term and 15 years as Treasurer. Our move to Arizona brought us to our new church home at CCA where Dennis did a brief stint as Treasurer interrupted by a job move to Wisconsin and served one term as a Vestry representative. He also volunteers as an Usher, with the Hospitality Committee, and one day a week in the Church office.

In his spare time, Dennis can be found shooting baskets at LA Fitness, playing golf at Scottsdale Silverado, cycling on the green belt, and building houses two mornings a week as a Team Leader for Habitat for Humanity. Patty and Dennis also like to travel visiting friends and family and going on annual pilgrimages overseas. He also enjoy watching English Premier League Soccer and lend support to my favorite team Chelsea.

"The thing I like most about CCA is the people. They make it easy for me to serve."



Jim Dalen was born in Seattle, WA and baptized into the Episcopal church there. He moved to the Boston area as an infant and his family joined the Church of the Redeemer (Episcopal) in Chestnut Hill, MA. He was active in the church as an acolyte, an active participant in the youth group, and joined the church-sponsored Boy Scout group where he developed his love of the outdoors and attained the rank of Eagle Scout. In 2014 he and his future wife Suzan visited Christ Church of the Ascension and were very impressed by the parish and clergy. Fr. Daniel married Jim and Suzan in 2016, and they continue to attend CCA and feel very much at home here.

Jim volunteered to be part of the rector search committee following Daniel's departure in 2021. "It was a difficult, but wonderful process and I developed strong relationships with my fellow committee members," he says. "I am proud of the work we did and my contribution to CCA." As an economist running a small business, he is looking forward to bringing a unique perspective and skills to the Vestry and helping to improve our parish.



Neal was born in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio in a car on Ash Wednesday and baptized on Easter Sunday that same year. He is one of six children and has 12 nieces and nephews, and 20 great-nieces and nephews.

Neal has served two terms on the CCA Vestry, and also served as a Sunday School teacher, a Youth Group leader, an Usher, a Delegate to the Diocesan convention, a Lay Lector, a Chalice Bearer, an Acolyte, and on the Altar Guild.

"CCA is my family brought together through God's grace and we are always there for each other," he says. When Neal is not busy at CCA, he is retired from the mortgage industry after 40 years and is enjoying his time off by taking long walks with his dog, Cookie, all over Park Scottsdale and making friends with the neighbors.