Clergy & Staff

Archpriest, Father James Shadid - Pastor

Fr. James, originally from Oklahoma City, OK, was reared in an Orthodox Christian home. (His grandfather, Economos Nayemtallah Shadid, served as a priest in the village of Marjeyoun, Lebanon). Fr. James studied Journalism and Public Relations at the University of Oklahoma and continued his studies in Boston at Holy Cross Seminary, where he received a Master of Divinity degree. He also spent a year studying Arabic at the Balamand Theological Seminary in Lebanon.

On October 5, 2002 he married Gigi (Gizelle) Baba here at St. George. Fr. James possesses significant experience ministering to the youth of our Diocese of Wichita and Mid-America and our Archdiocese of North America, including service to youth at our Antiochian Village Camp. He worked as a counselor at the Antiochian Village (Bolivar, PA) for nine years and served as Camp Director of Camp St. Raphael.

Fr. James was ordained to the Holy Diaconate September 19, 2004 at St. George Cathedral in Wichita, KS and was ordained to the Holy Priesthood on October 17, 2004 at St. Elijah Orthodox Church in Oklahoma City, OK. He formerly served as the Assistant Priest and Youth Director at our Cathedral in Wichita, KS. Fr. James was assigned as the pastor of our parish in August 2011.

Fr. James was elevated to the rank and dignity of Archpriest on November 1, 2015 by His Grace Bishop Basil.

Father Mark Makarios - Assistant Pastor

Fr. Mark grew up between Libya and Brazil. He spent several years in Egypt studying at The American University in Cairo with a major in Economics. In 2011, Fr. Mark immigrated to the United States of America where in 2013 settled in Houston. On February 6th, 2016 he married Marian Saleh here in Houston. In 2019 they both moved to South Canaan, Pennsylvania to receive a Masters of Divinity Degree from Saint Tikhon's Orthodox Theological Seminary. On March 14, 2021 he was ordained to the Holy Diaconate at Saint Mary Orthodox Church in Wilkes-Barre Pennsylvania by His Grace Bishop Thomas (Joseph). Graduating in 2022, they returned to their community in Houston. On October 2, 2022, Fr. Mark was ordained to the priesthood at Saint George by His Grace Bishop John (Abdalah). Alongside his wife and daughter, Fr. Mark ministers to the faithful of St. George where he assists Archpriest James Shadid.

Father George Dahdouh - Attached Clergy

Father George Dahdouh

Chris Al-Dehneh - Youth Director

Chris Al-Dehneh grew up deeply connected to parish life, first in Oklahoma City and later in El Paso, where his father served as head priest at St. George. From his earliest years, he found joy in serving at the altar, participating in Teen SOYO, and spending summers at Camp St. Raphael.

After graduating from the University of Oklahoma in 2018 with a degree in Mechanical Engineering, Chris returned to ministry full-time. He has served as the Youth Director at St. George since 2018. In November 2024, he also began serving as Executive Director of Camp St. Raphael.

Tony Baba - Youth Director

Tony Baba was born and raised in Houston, Texas and was baptized into Orthodoxy at Saint George. Tony and his family have always been involved in the church from a very young age, attending events and Camp Saint Raphael (yaboy!). Tony started attending camp at age 9 and continued as a camper until he was old enough to become a counselor, and eventually becoming Head Counselor in 2024 and 2025.

Tony attended the San Jacinto community college fire program and plans to continue his education and further his career, while being involved heavily in the church. Tony plans to continue his ministry by taking on a new role as Co-Youth Director at Saint George, and hopefully inspiring a new group of youth to lean towards Orthodoxy and the church!

Edward Bridy - Operations Manager

Born in Egypt to Lebanese Orthodox Christian parents from Ashrafieh, Beirut, his earliest memories are rooted in serving as an altar boy. His journey later brought him to Houston, where he studied global business and built a fifteen-year career with RadioShack, ultimately serving as Market Manager. Throughout his professional life, the traditions of the Orthodox faith remained central. In 2016, a wedding at St. George rekindled his devotion and drew him back to the Church. Following RadioShack’s closure, he embraced the blessing of more time to volunteer, rediscovering the joy of his childhood faith. In 2017, he was married at St. George, and the following year was humbled to become Operations Manager, continuing to serve Christ and the Mother Church.