The Rev. Dr. Robert "Odie" Odierna, Rector

The oldest of four children, Odie grew up in Seaford, Long Island, New York. He graduated with a B.A. in Psychology from Hobart College in 1971; a M.Div.from the General Theological Seminary in 1975; and a Doctor of Ministry (D.Min.) in Psychotherapy from the Andover Newton Theological School in 1996. He was ordained as a priest in 1975.

Odie formerly served as Chaplain at the University of Vermont, Curate and Priest-in-Charge at Christ Church, Ridgewood, New Jersey, and Rector at All Saints, Oakville, Connecticut. In 1980 he also founded the Waterbury Pastoral Counseling Center in Connecticut. As a Fellow in the American Association of Pastoral Counselors since 1982 he still conducts a small psychotherapy practice about 5 hours per week.

Since 1986, Odie has been Rector at CGS and has been excited to be part of such a vital and vibrant parish that has gone from 350 households to over 500 households. Shortly after arriving, he was one of the co-founders of the Nashua Pastoral Care Center, the official outreach arm of CGS and was president of its Board of Directors for six years and treasurer since 1993. Odie has also served on numerous Diocesan Committees over the years, most recently on the Bishop’s Search Committee and the Response Team for Congregations in Crisis.

Although he was divorced in 1988, Odie and his former wife, Kim, have cooperatively raised three wonderful, happy and active children. Their son is a high school math teacher and the assistant soccer coach at Boston University. Their two daughters are in grad school and college.

On December 22, 2001 at CGS, Odie was married to Heidi Holden. A native of Hudson, NH, Heidi worked as an Orthodontic Assistant in Nashua for 20 years. She is now a physician assistant for Dartmouth-Hitchcock and Southern NH Medical Center. They own their own home in Amherst. Odie is a die-hard New York fan (especially the Yankees!) and enjoys golf, squash, downhill skiing and water skiing. Odie also referees college and high school soccer and umpires high school baseball and softball.

The Reverend Amanda Gott, Assistant Rector

Amanda is originally from Atlanta, Georgia. The oldest child in the family, she has three wonderful and creative younger brothers. She was baptized by choice in an Episcopal Church at age 11. She attended a high school of performing arts and when she was not in rehearsal, she was an avid competitive swimmer. Amanda received her B.A. from Bard College in Annandale-on-Hudson, NY in 1996. She had a brief career as a stage electrician, theatrical lighting designer, and stage manager (augmented by numerous day jobs) before attending seminary.

Amanda received her Master of Divinity from the Iliff School of Theology in Denver, CO in 2001, and a Master of Sacred Theology from The General Theological Seminary in New York, NY in May 2005. Her S.T.M. work focused primarily on Classical philosophy of beauty (aesthetics) as related to Christian theology. She also completed a year-long Clinical Pastoral Education Residency in 2002.

Amanda still enjoys swimming and all things theatrical, especially dance. She also enjoys hiking, camping, kayaking, and reading novels, when she is not listening to music of almost any genre. She was married in June 2006 to a native of New England, and they are still debating such matters as the correct amount of sugar to put in iced tea.

The Reverend Canon Charles LaFond, Assistant Rector

Charles began his ministry at Good Shepherd in September 2006. Raised in Montreal, he graduated from the University of the South, Sewanee, TN and served as a missionary teacher in Cap Hatien, Haiti. Before attending the Virginia Theological Seminary, Charles was corporate vice-president of the YMCA of Greater Richmond.

Ordained in 2001, he served as Associate Rector of the Church of Our Savior, Charlottesville, VA and spent three years as a monk with the Society of St. John the Evangelist, Cambridge, MA. Charles works part-time at CGS while serving as Canon for Stewardship for the Diocese of New Hampshire. He has been a Master Potter for 25 years and has a passion for traveling, cooking, cycling, hiking and skiing.