Clergy, Staff & Leadership

The Rev. AJ Heine joined Trinity as Rector in 2021. AJ is a 1986 graduate of Rhodes College in Memphis, TN. In 2003, he graduated from Seabury Western Seminary in Evanston, IL. He has two adult children. He comes to us from St. Augustine’s Episcopal Church in Metairie, LA, where he served as rector since 2006. He leads his resume with this statement: “Growing community, crossing borders, building bridges, and connecting people to the love of God in Jesús Christ is the source of my greatest joy and the best way I know to unleash the power of God’s love to heal the world.” 

The Rev. Cara Ellen Modisett joined Trinity as curate in June 2022 after finishing her M.Div. at Virginia Theological Seminary. She was ordained as a priest on January 7, 2023. A native of Harrisonburg, she has degrees in music and English from James Madison University and an M.F.A. in creative nonfiction from Goucher College. In her pre-seminary life she worked as editor of Blue Ridge Country magazine, producer/reporter for WVTF public radio, English instructor at Ferrum College, communications advisor for the Episcopal Diocese of Southwestern Virginia, music director at St. Elizabeth’s, Roanoke; minister of communications at Church of the Holy Communion, Memphis; communications director at St. John’s Episcopal, Roanoke and staff collaborative pianist at Radford University. She is listening for how her secular callings will shape priesthood. 

Choral Director, organist and collaborative pianist Virginia Bolena enjoys the many dimensions of her full-time work as a church At Trinity, where she has served as Director of Music since 2013. She directs the Trinity Chorister Program of four choirs. Under her direction, the Senior Choristers (middle and high school choristers) have recently sung several concerts, collaborating with professional musicians to perform Rutter’s Mass of the Children, Dancing Day and Britten’s Ceremony of Carols. In July 2024, Senior Choristers joined the Adult Choir for a weeklong residencyat Wells Cathedral, UK, a first for the younger choristers. One of Virginia’s many joys as a choral director is challenging young choristers to reach beyond their comfort zones to learn music beyond what they believe they are capable of performing. 

Outside of Trinity, Virginia enjoys performing with other musicians, including at the Staunton Music Festival. She has performed for the Organ Historical Society, played organ recitals in such notable venues as Saint Thomas Church, New York City, Oxford Town Hall, United Kingdom and Interlochen Center for the Arts, Michigan. Virginia completed graduate work at East Carolina University, studying organ with Janette Fishell and choral conducting with Dan Bara. To balance her full life as a musician, she enjoys running, the outdoors, reading and spending time with her boys.

Growing up in the Chicago suburbs, Joel tinkered in his grandfather’s workshop, studied piano, and later organ.  Joel initially studied Engineering at Purdue University in Indiana, but later transferred to Calvin University in Michigan, where he completed a degree in Music Theory and Composition.  During this time, Joel’s passion for the organ was reignited and he went on to complete a Master’s in Organ Performance at Western Michigan University. 

In 2008, Joel moved to Canada, where he began working as an organ technician and organ builder.  Eventually owning his own firm, he maintained nearly a hundred organs in Southwestern Ontario, and built several small, mechanical-action organs.  It was his interest in these instruments that led Joel to Taylor & Boody Organbuilders in 2019, where he currently works in all aspects of the craft.

Throughout his career, Joel has remained active as a church musician, accompanist, recitalist, conductor and composer.  He is a Colleague of the American Institute of Organbuilders, an Associate of the American Guild of Organists, and a Fellow of the Royal Canadian College of Organists.  Joel resides in Staunton with his wife, professional soprano Sheila Dietrich.