Born in Michigan to a Dutch immigrant family, John worked in the family’s European Pastry Bakery, as one of nine children. After eight years in his first pastorate in Sand Springs, Oklahoma (1994-2002), he and his wife Christine moved to Tyler, Texas, to teach and administrate in the parish school of Good Shepherd Reformed Episcopal Church and School, as Assistant Rector. He has served as Rector of The Chapel of the Cross (REC) since 2007, where he and Christine also began The Saint Timothy School in 2008. Driving truck cross country for a year between his curacy and first pastorate provided some of his best training for life “on the docks.” Each of the five Boonzaaijer children fills and nuances their full and colorful home.
Education: Christian Reformed School System (Kalamazoo, MI), and homeschool; B.Th. (1991); curacy (1993); M.Div. (2004); Th.M. (2009). As Head of School, Fr. Boonzaaijer leads daily Morning Prayer, and also teaches Upper School Mathematics and Middle School Bible; his favorite hobbies include working on boats and sailing them, woodworking, karate, piano, reading, and baking bread. His writing and seminars develop and apply parish life as “the good life,” extending from the altar of worship, and on traditional catechesis. He believes a true parish school in the Anglican Tradition develops a capable, knowledgable, virtuous, and devout student in any walk of Christian faith.
