Deacon Ray Defendorf was ordained a permanent deacon of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Rochester New York in 1982 and is currently the pastoral administrator of St. Mary's Church, Bath, NY.

Deacon Ray Defendorf

In 1996, after careers as a radio disc jockey, an elementary school teacher, a health education television producer, and Director of Community Relations and Fund Development at Corning Hospital in New York's Southern Tier, Deacon Ray fulfilled a life-long dream when he entered full-time church ministry. He has since served as Pastoral Associate at All Saints Parish in Corning and Pastoral Administrator of St. James Church, Waverly, NY and St. Pius X Church, Van Etten, NY before beginning his current ministerial assignment.

In addition to songwriting, Deacon Ray is also a sought after performer and speaker. During fourteen years as founder and director of Celebrate Life, a music ministry for teens, he first composed, performed and recorded many of his original prayer-songs.

Over the years, he has been invited to speak and present concerts for churches of many denominations throughout New York and Pennsylvania. interspersing his concerts with scripture, personal witness, humor, and preaching.

Deacon Ray's interests also include Theatre and Health Care. He helped to create the Health Ministry of the Southern Tier (HMST) which uses volunteer physicians, dentists, Nurse Practitioners, Nurses etc. to provide free medical and dental services to people without insurance or means of payment. He has also helped to start community theatre companies in Corning, Waverly and Bath, NY and has personally produced and directed several productions including Godspell, JC Superstar, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, and Nunsense. He is a member of the Bath Rotary Club, past president of the Corning Rotary, and a member of the Board of Directors of HMST and Watson Homestead Conference and Retreat Center. He also serves on the Liturgy Commission of the Diocese of Rochester.

Pat Best Defendorf, Deacon Ray's spouse of over 37 years, is featured on the recording as the soloist on Psalm 27 (Gentle Spirit and All Saints Together CDs) and Walking With the Wind (Walk With Me Lord CD) and joins him on the prayer-song All Saints Together.
 

Deacon Ray and Pat have led numerous tours to such places as the Holy Land (8 trips) Egypt (3 trips) Jordan, Australia, New Zealand, Austria, Germany, England, Ireland, Italy, Greece and Alaska. The couple has three adult children who share their love of music, art and travel.