Rev. Susan Goff wanted to be a priest ever since she was a young child. Now a rector of St. Christopher's Episcopal Church in Springfield, Goff has lived in the Springfield community for over 10 years and is an integral part of her parish. She is this week's People Profile.
Number of years in the community: 12. My husband and I moved here in 1994.
Family: Husband, the Rev. Tom Holliday; pets, an 18-year-old Amazon parrot named Jasper. A cat named Macy, because she was delivered to our house on Thanksgiving Day, during the Macy's parade.
Education: B.A. from Rutger's University, Douglass College, New Brunswick, N.J. Major in psychology. M.Div. (master of divinity) from Union Theological Seminary in New York City.
Your first job: Cashier in a supermarket during high school. Summer camp counselor during college.
Current job/primary occupation: Parish priest. Rector of St. Christopher's Episcopal Church in Springfield.
Activities/interests/hobbies? Art: seeing art and doing art. Right now, I'm working on a life-size fiber sculpture of a wise old woman in a rocking chair with a little girl at her knee.
Favorite local restaurant or place in the community? I have two favorite local restaurants: Deliah's and San Vito's.
What are your community concerns? What are some ideas you have on ways to improve your community?
I am deeply concerned about homeless men, women and children in our area. The hypothermia prevention program in which St. Christopher's and other churches will participate again this year is only a stopgap measure. We need to focus on developing affordable and low-income housing in our community.
What is the last book you read? "The Passion of Artemisia" by Susan Vreeland.
What brought you here? The call to ministry at St. Christopher's.
What community "hidden treasure" do you think more people should know about? The marvelous walking trails that link neighborhoods. They provide great places for exercise and for celebrating the beauty of creation.
When you were younger, what did you want to be when you "grew up?" I wanted to be a priest from the time I was 7. My mother says it was even earlier than that. Of course, it wasn't possible for a woman to be a priest in those days, so I learned not to talk about it.
If you were to take a road trip anywhere right now, where would you go? Anywhere that is quiet and beautiful and cool. Maybe Acadia National Park in Maine or Cape
0 Highlands in Nova Scotia.
Personal goals? Since I was first ordained as a young woman, my personal goals have been to be faithful to God and to become wise.