Leadership / Staff

The Rev. Javier Garcia Ocampo

Rector

Javier Garcia Ocampo is from Mexico City. He began his ministry at Ascension in the Summer of 2014 after serving in the Diocese of Mexico City as a Vicar of the Church of La Santa Cruz for ten years. He grew up in a little town in Morelos State, Mexico, called Jojutla and moved to Mexico City to study at the Saint Andrew’s Anglican Seminary and the Theological Community of Mexico where he received a degree in Divinity.

As a cradle Episcopalian, Javier has been working for the Church in Mexico for many years. When he was at the Seminary, with a group of seminarians they planted a new church called “Cristo Rey”. He started his ministry working with the youth group and children. He was part of the OPAJUV (Young Adult Diocesan Committee). He was working also in Cursillo and Happening.

He was ordained as a Deacon in September of 2001 and as a Priest in October of 2002.

He is fascinated by languages, having studied English and Sign Language (in Spanish) and studying different cultures. For fun, he enjoys bike riding, physical fitness, reading books, travel, going to the movies and listening to music.

Andrew Kullberg

Minister of Music

Andrew Kullberg began his ministry at Episcopal Church of the Ascension in September 2018. He grew up in Silver Spring, MD and developed an interest in music at a very young age. Through musical opportunities in church and school, Andrew developed his abilities and learned to play multiple instruments fluently. He attended Eastern University in St. Davids, PA and received a Bachelor of Arts in Music Education with a concentration in piano. While attending undergrad, Andrew grew as a church musician by singing in various choirs and playing piano and organ for numerous worship services in and out of state.

After graduating, Andrew returned to his hometown to start a career in teaching full-time for Montgomery County Public Schools and working part-time at Colesville Presbyterian Church. At Colesville, he served in various positions for six years including Children’s Choir Director, Director of Contemporary Worship, Organist, and eventually, Director of Music. In addition to his careers in teaching and church music, Andrew also worked as piano accompanist for Bet Aviv, a Reform Jewish congregation in Columbia, MD from July 2018 through May 2022.

In August 2022, Andrew completed his graduate program at University of Maryland and received a Master of Music in Music Education. He currently teaches general and choral music to a diverse population of 400 students at Meadow Hall Elementary School in Rockville, MD and is the conductor of the Montgomery County Central Honors Chorus. Andrew lives in Rockville, MD with his wife, Sarah Anne.

Jesse Velazquez

Communication

Jesse Velazquez was born in Washington DC. His family is originally from El Salvador, a small country in Central America. Jesse has been a member of Church of the Ascension since the summer of 2016. He has served as choir director at several churches. Jesse has proudly served as the Latin choir director at St. Gabriel’s Church in Washington DC, St. Michael’s Episcopal Church in the city of Hyattsville MD, as well as Our Savior’s Episcopal Church in Hyattsville MD and St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church in Hyattsville MD. Jesse managed the social media for St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church and was the technical director for St. Matthew’s radio station. Jesse began developing his musical skills at a very young age with private teachers. He learned to play a variety of different instruments such as piano, bass and guitar. Currently, he works at Church of the Ascension as the director of the Spanish choir, Sexton and communications.