Parish Staff

Pastoral Staff

Deacon Mike McElwee

Permanent Deacon

  • About

    Rick was born in northern NJ (the last exit of Garden State parkway for those from NJ). Went to college at Belmont Abbey, Belmont NC, where he met his wife, Mary. They have been married now for forty years with two adult children; Richard and Kathryn, both of who live in the area. Rick started his diaconate studies right here in the Orlando Diocese while attending Holy Name of Jesus, where he also served as Grand Knight of the Knights and Deputy Chair of the Parish Council.


    Due to a needed job change, Rick and Mary moved out of the area to the mid-west, Rockford, Illinois, which temporarily halted his diaconate journey. Thankfully the Rockford Diocese accepted Rick into their diaconate program and on September 29, 2018, Rick was ordained a deacon.


    Recently he retired from a long career in Risk Management and he and Mary have moved back to the area to be close to their children and some special friends. Upon returning Rick had the great pleasure to attend some masses here and to meet with Fr. John Britto to learn about the parish.


    Rick loves being included in a bit of everything and is very excited about the opportunity to be involved with St. John’s growth and development. He wants all of you to know he thanks you for this great challenge. Of course, Rick thanks God for what he already perceives as a wonderful parish, and as you’ll hear him say at most homilies: Jesus I trust in you!

Deacon Rick Broderick

Permanent Deacon

  • About

    I grew up in Philadelphia and studied World Religions at Temple University, and Adult Religious Education at Catholic University. I received "Master of Divinity" and "Doctor of Ministry" degrees from St. Mary's Seminary and University in Baltimore.


    I have served in full time ministry from 1976 to 2013 at parishes in Virginia, Delaware and Florida. I also served as Associate Director of Religious Education for the Diocese of Wilmington, Delaware. I was ordained a Permanent Deacon in 1993, and came to St. John's in February 2017. I am happy to be here with you as we continue to build the church and community.


    My wife, Eileen, and I have 4 children and 5 grandchildren. Although I am retired from full time work, I am not retired from spoiling my grandchildren!

Deacon Lee Levenson

Permanent Deacon

  • About

    Deacon Lee grew up in West Hempstead, New York where he met his childhood sweetheart, Alice. In January 1965, at age 19, these two “Cradle Catholics” married at Saint Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church in West Hempstead, NY.


    They have been blessed with two adult children; Lee and his wife, Jennifer and Marjorie and her husband, Stephen. They have six grandchildren and one rambunctious 3-year-old great-granddaughter.


    Recently, both families moved to Central Florida for their jobs. After much prayerful consideration, Lee & Alice decided to move to Rockledge, Florida to be near their daughter, Marjorie and her family.


    Deacon Lee is a retired airline pilot who started flying as a teenager. Over his career, he flew transport aircraft world-wide, flying passengers and airfreight commercially and under military contract. Deacon Lee continues to fly and sometimes instruct in smaller general aviation aircraft when his schedule permits.


    In 2002 he began formation and theological studies at Saint Vincent DePaul Seminary in Boynton Beach, Florida. In September, 2006, he was ordained to the permanent diaconate by the Very Reverend Bishop, Gerald Barbarito


    Over the past 17 years, Deacon Lee has exercised his diaconal ministry at several South Florida and other parishes, serving in various managerial, catechetical and ministerial capacities. He looks forward with great joy to joining the parish family of Saint John the Evangelist Catholic Community and to meet and serve all of the parish family as your Brother in Christ and as your deacon.

Deacon Tom Buddington

Permanent Deacon

  • About

    Coming Soon. 

Deacon Steve Lumbert

Permanent Deacon

  • About

    Coming soon. 

Parish Staff

Kelli Salceda

Director of Life Long Faith Formation

  • About

    Kelli and her husband recently relocated to Central Florida from San Diego, California. She is a convert to the Catholic faith. She embraced her faith by teaching at the local Catholic schools and teaching Religious Education. She was the Director of Catechetical Ministries in her parish in California for the past 10 years. She learned a long time ago that God will lead her where she is needed. He led her to St. John the Evangelist and Kelli looks forward to meeting all the wonderful families here. She enjoys hiking, reading, and spending time with family and friends.

Schonda Rodriguez

Youth Ministry Coordinator

  • About

    Schonda grew up in a small town in rural Missouri. After earning a Bachelor’s of Science in Aerospace Engineering from the Missouri University of Science and Technology, she moved to Cape Canaveral, Florida to work for NASA at the Kennedy Space Center. While working for NASA, Schonda earned her Master’s Degree in Space Systems from Florida Tech.


    Through NASA, Schonda met her husband, Ronnie. After their first child was born, Schonda retired from KSC to be a stay home mom. The Rodriguez family now consists of Ronnie, Schonda, Rebekah (Becky), Joseph (Joey), and Nicolas (Nico).


    Schonda’s children attended St. Mary’s Catholic School, which lead to her volunteering in multiple school activities. After years of helping in classes as a volunteer, Schonda became a substitute teacher at St. Mary’s. It was during this time teaching middle school students that Schonda grew to appreciate youth ministry.


    In addition to working with the middle school and high school teens, Schonda serves as an Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion, and a Minister of the Word.

Heidi Pranzoni

Director of Music & Liturgy

  • About

    Heidi has spent the majority of her life playing the piano and teaching music. She holds a Bachelor of Music degree from the University of Florida and over 35 years experience as an accompanist for school and university choral programs, churches, instrumental and vocal solos, and musical theatre. She has taught music in schools, both private (PreK-8th) and public (high school chorus and orchestra; music appreciation), and has taught private piano lessons over the last 30 years. Several of her students have also earned music degrees and continue as music educators and/or performers.


    She is passionate about both traditional and contemporary sacred music and its use in Catholic liturgy. She has been the music director for the Sunday 4:30pm (LifeTeen) mass at St. John the Evangelist since May 2013. She has attended LifeTeen Training Conferences in Mesa, AZ and San Antonio, TX, as well as several LifeTeen summer conferences for youth as a CORE member/chaperone. Previously, she was the choir director and accompanist for the weekly children's masses at St. Mary Catholic School in Rockledge from 2005-2009.


    She truly seeks to foster reverent, “full, conscious, active participation” at the mass and other liturgies, and welcomes anyone interested in offering their musical or technological ability to serve the parish through the music ministry.


    Please contact her at hpranzoni@stjohnviera.org, or simply talk to her after a mass!As the Director of Music, Heidi has the privilege, responsibility, and joy of combining two

    things she is passionate about: music and the Catholic Faith.

    She is constantly discerning how music can best be a beautiful and edifying part of the Holy

    Sacrifice of the Mass through the various seasons, solemnities, and feasts of the liturgical year and for

    sacraments of initiation, weddings, and funerals.

    In addition to planning and providing the music in the regular parish liturgies, she has been

    especially excited to introduce music for other occasions of spiritual devotion, such as Holy Hour with

    Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament (Behold the Lamb of God), contemporary praise-and-worship

    evenings (Glorify!), Living Stations of the Cross on Good Friday with the youth ministry, and Stations

    of the Crib during Advent.

    With a Bachelor of Music and 40 years of experience, Heidi has been serving at St. John the

    Evangelist since May 2013, taking the full-time Music Director position in September 2018.

    In May 2024 she was appointed to serve on the Bishop's Diocesan Liturgical Commission for a threeyear term.


    If you have any questions regarding the Music Ministry--whether how to get involved or a

    question as to why we do (or don't do!) something a particular way—please feel free to contact her via

    email, or talk to her after a mass.