Clergy and Staff

Wilma was born in Cape Town, South Africa of immigrant parents from Denmark and Britain. She earned a Bachelor of Science from the University of Cape Town, worked as a high school physical science and math teacher, then came to the United States in 1984 to attend Fuller Seminary, Pasadena.

After obtaining her Master of Divinity from Fuller, she returned to South Africa to be ordained as a deacon. Four years later, when the Anglican Church of Southern Africa finally allowed it, she became the first female priest ordained by Archbishop Desmond Tutu. She worked for 15 years in the Diocese of Cape Town, in parishes in black townships, university towns, the cathedral, a rural parish with fishing and farming communities, and a 19-month stint as chaplain to Archbishop Tutu. During the apartheid years she was an anti-apartheid activist in church and faith based organizations, which crystallized her conviction of the connection between faith and social justice.

In 1997 she obtained a Master of Sacred Theology from Union Theological Seminary, New York. She was the Anglican chaplain at the University of Cape Town for six years, then joined the staff of All Saints Church, Pasadena in 2003, serving most recently as  Senior Associate for Children, Youth & Families, Students & Young Adults.  She is passionate about  the integration of spirituality in all areas of life, and her belief that “ ministry built on a solid basis of prayer, relationships, loving pastoral care, mutual ministry with priest and people as equals, contemplation and action, creativity, Eucharist and social action, can transform people’s lives.”

Wilma has an eclectic taste in music, from sacred and classical to African, jazz, folk and world; she plays piano, guitar, violin and recorder. She enjoys reading, tennis, and jogging, loves the beach and the mountains, and dark chocolate.

Beth shares pastoral responsibilities with Wilma while specializing in Children, Youth, Families & Young Adults.

A lifelong Episcopalian, Beth has been ordained for over ten years and has served parishes in the Dioceses of California and El Camino Real. She has extensive training and experience with spiritual formation programs for children and youth including Godly Play, children and youth-centric liturgy, service projects, Christmas pageants, and baptism and confirmation preparation. She was most recently the Director of Children and Youth ministries at St Timothy's, Mountain View. Beth is married and has two young daughters.

The Rev. Bob Hansen
Assisting Priest

Bob Hansen was born and raised on the extreme northwest coast of Oregon. After four years in the US Navy during the Korean War, he entered San Jose State University and was graduated magna cum laude with a B.S. in Electrical Engineering. He is currently employed (part time) by the same company he began with in 1959. He entered the training program of the Diocese of California, (headed up by The Rev. Ward McCabe) and was ordained Deacon in 1966. In 1973 he was ordained priest. He first served at St. Jude's in 1966. He also served at St. Lawrence, Campbell, St. Timothy's, Mt. View, St. Edward's, San Jose, and has been at St. Jude's since 1983. He and his wife, Sally, live in Campbell, CA. They have seven children and sixteen grandchildren.

Laura Green
Music Director and Organist   music@saintjudes.org

Laura is a professionally trained organist and pianist. She has gathered and directed eight choirs and choral groups over 30 years, directed the music and accompanied several musical productions, teaches Suzuki piano (certified through Book Three), and is a published composer and arranger.  Laura directs the Choraliers, a senior outreach choir that performs for senior facilities.  She earned her B.A. in Music (organ)  from California State University at Long Beach, with a Secondary Credential in Music. She currently plays for St. Andrew's parish for their Saturday Night liturgy, and is an accompanist for Mission City Opera. She is available with her sister Allison (flutist) to play for healing liturgies and other events.

Billie Bandermann
Choir Director

Billie has been a singing instructor at De Anza College in Cupertino since 1983. She teaches beginning and intermediate singing classes and founded and directed the De Anza Women's Chorus (1992-2009). Before coming to St. Jude's, Billie was the music director at Union Church of Cupertino (1990-2007).  She earned her B.A. in Vocal Music from Long Beach State University, M.A. in Vocal Music from San Jose State University, Elementary School Teaching Credential from University of Hawaii, and the International Opera Studio Diploma in Zurich, Switzerland. She has sung with the Honolulu Opera Society, the Vintage Singers, and the De Anza Orchestra. She has been music director and vocal coach for many musicals.

Donna Araiza
Parish Administrator   office@saintjudes.org

Donna is a native of New York but grew up in Aptos in Santa Cruz County.  She was raised Lutheran and attended two Lutheran colleges before graduating from the University of Nebraska with a Bachelor’s degree in journalism.  Donna came to St. Jude’s after working for the San Jose Mercury News for over 22 years in outside sales.  One of the things she loved best in that job was creating display ads for her clients.  It’s this eye for creativity and design that she brings to St. Jude’s in our print publications.  Whether it’s the monthly View or one of the weekly Sunday bulletins, she strives to make it flow easily for newcomers and make the reading interesting for our parishioners.  She has two children (one deceased), two step-children and five grandchildren.  She augments her part-time job at St. Jude’s with substitute teaching for the Santa Clara school district and tutoring.  In her spare time she enjoys gardening, baking and reading.