The Rev. Fernando Paiva III is serving as priest-in-charge at Trinity and our affiliate, St. James in Edison. Father Freddie is the 55th priest to lead Trinity since an Anglican missionary, Edward Portlock, traveled to Woodbridge from Perth Amboy and held the first services in 1698.
New Jersey is Father Freddie’s home state. He grew up in Sayreville and attended Holy Trinity, South River, as a congregant before deciding to pursue the priesthood. He served at St. Peter’s, Perth Amboy, as an intern before enrolling in seminary.
Father Freddie received a Master of Divinity degree in May 2022 from Virginia Theological Seminary. He was ordained as a deacon in June 2022 at Trinity Cathedral, Trenton, and as a priest in December 2022 at Holy Trinity, South River.
During his preparations for the priesthood, Father Freddie served as a deacon associate at two affiliated congregations in South Jersey — Christ Church, Palmyra, and Sts. Stephen and Barnabas, Florence — between July and December 2022. The experience proved beneficial in his current role.
Father Freddie offers Holy Communion at Trinity and St. James on alternating Sundays. When he is at St. James, he pre-records his sermon for playback at Trinity during Morning Prayer, led by a lay minister. He and his wife, Jessica, live in St. James’s Rectory along with their son, Bennett.