Wanda was ordained to the Sacred Order of Deacons at Diocesan Council in February 2007. She was in the first graduating class of the Iona School For Ministry, a program of the Diocese of Texas, where she now serves on the faculty. She has been a member of Christ Church since 1985, and served in various ministries as an active layperson prior to her ordination.
As a deacon, Wanda has liturgical responsibilities, which include preaching and assisting at the altar. She also directs a training program for lay pastoral caregivers called The Community of Hope. She supervises volunteer lay chaplains at Nacogdoches Medical Center and coordinates pastoral care for the parish. She is a trained spiritual director and an oblate in the Order of St. Benedict. She leads a weekly Christian meditation group, and is Christ Church’s liaison with Love in the Name of Christ, a ministry to the needy of our community. She serves on the Diocesan Spiritual Formation Commision, and also serves on the Diocese of Texas’ Committee for the Diaconate, which is responsible for the selection and mentoring of new deacons for the Diocese. As a deacon, Wanda is charged with a particular ministry of servanthood to all people, particularly the poor, the weak, the sick and the lonely. She is to interpret to the Church the needs, concerns and hopes of the world.
Wanda is a graduate of the University of Texas with a master’s degree in library and information science. She has worked in libraries of all types for over 30 years. She is married to Troy Cuniff, and they have two grown and married children, Joe Cuniff and Claire Ripper, and two beloved grandchildren, Judson and Charlie Ripper.
