Welcome to the Byzantine Catholic Community of Waco!

Family-oriented church rooted in the first thousand years after Christ.

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Waco Clergy & Leadership

Christ came to serve, and not to be served (Mt 20:28). Our Leadership team hopes to embody Christ in our community in liturgy, orthodox teaching, hospitality, and charitable service to our community members and the greater Waco area.

Pastor

  • Fr. Elias Rafaj, Protopresbyter, originally from Chicago, is the Pastor of St. Basil the Great parish in Irving, TX. St. Basil’s has three outreaches (Waco, Austin, and Tulsa, OK), of which Fr. Elias is the Pastor. He comes to Waco once a month to serve Divine Liturgy and other Liturgical Services.

Seminarians

Sdn. Andrew Clayton is the founding member of the Waco Byzantine community and has lived in Waco with his wife (Renee) and six children since 2005. Originally from Spokane, WA, he attended Gonzaga University and studied Political Science and the Classics. Following graduation, he pursued his PhD in Political Science at Baylor University. He is currently a professor of Political Science at Baylor University and McLennan Community College.

Sdn. Michael Bracelin is originally from Oregon and joined the Marine Corps in 2003. Michael is married to Angela, and they have three children. Michael earned his undergraduate degree in History, as well as his Master of Business Administration (MBA) and Master of Theological Science (MTS) at Franciscan University of Steubenville, and is currently pursuing postgraduate research in dogmatics. Michael works for the Baylor Law School and is an adjunct professor of theology (online) for Franciscan University.

  • Sdn. Andrew Clayton
  • Sdn. Michael Bracelin

Assisting & Visiting Clergy

Father Deacon Craig Anderson. Visiting cleric from the Eparchy of Phoenix currently assigned to St. Basil’s Byzantine Catholic Church in Irving, TX
Father Henry Finch, Rector of the St. Peter Catholic Student Center at Baylor University (Bi-Ritual Roman & Ruthenian Presbyter).
Father George Wendt, Retired presbyter from the Romanian Eparchy of Canton, OH. (Bi-Ritual Romanian & Ruthenian Presbyter).

Lay Leadership

Finance Director
Robert “Bob” Huschak and his wife, Marnie, discovered the local Byzantine Catholic community in 2023 through Andrew and Renee after relocating to Waco in 2021. Both Bob and Marnie were raised in Pittsburgh, where Bob grew up in the Ruthenian Byzantine Catholic tradition at Ascension Parish in Clairton, PA. In 2011, Bob retired after a 22-year career as a Submarine Officer and began a second career in commercial power generation. Since then, he has held a variety of leadership roles in plant operations, energy distribution, asset management, and finance. Bob earned a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from the University of Pittsburgh, a Master of Arts in Strategic Studies from the Naval War College, and an MBA from St. Ambrose University. Bob and Marnie have been married for 35 years and are blessed with two adult children and three grandchildren.
Music Director
Monica Northrop

Waco Community Steering Committee

Members: Andrew Clayton (lead), Renee Clayton, Michael Bracelin, Angela Bracelin, Bob Huschak, Marnie Huschak, and Monica Northrop

Michael Bracelin & Andrew Clayton
Marnie & Robert Huschak
Renee Clayton & Angela Bracelin
Finance Sub-Committee

Members: Bob Huschak (lead), Michael Bracelin, and Andrew Clayton. Assisted by Fr. Dcn. Craig Anderson

Website & Media Sub-Committee

Members: Michael Bracelin (Website, YouTube), Andrew Clayton (Facebook), Renee Clayton (Instagram)

Liturgical Sub-Committee

Members: Monica Northrop (Music), Andrew Clayton & Michael Bracelin (Liturgy)