The Diocesan Dialogue
Current Issue
July 2007

Cornerstones: Emergent Ministries: Latino

also see:
Campus Ministry
Native American
Youth

By Nicole D'Arcy

The Latino ministry presented a plan to the Bishop after spending some time this year at San Francisco Church, Moab. San Francisco is the Latino congregation which meets at St. Francis.

Part of the plan was to send the Rev. Jim Tendick of Moab to San Andrew's Episcopal Seminary in Mexico City for six months to take an intensive Spanish class and to get first hand contact with Latino tradition.

This is part of our diocesan companion relationship with Mexico.

While Tendick is in Mexico City, the Rev. Canon Pablo Ramos and the Rev. Isabel Gonzalez have been traveling to Moab twice a month to celebrate Holy Eucharist and meet the pastoral needs of the Latino congregation. This congregation continues to be excited about this new era in the life of the ministry.

During the month of February, the Diocese of Utah celebrated the ordination to the priesthood of the Rev. Isabel Gonzalez after a long process.

This ended one chapter and started an exciting new one for the Latino ministry of the Diocese. She is doing a wonderful job and has been very welcomed not only within the Latino community, but as a member of the clergy of this Diocese.

In September the ministry team started Eucharistic services at St. Barnabas Church in Tooele in Spanish every Saturday. The congregation continues to be very interested in the growth and expansion of the ministry.

On Sundays Ramos and Gonzalez travel to Ogden to celebrate the Holy Eucharistic in Spanish in Good Shepherd, Ogden. The Episcopal Church is something new for those attending there. They have a lot of interest in the church and I am hopeful that this ministry will grow.

San Esteban in West Valley City continues to grow and the ministry is continuing to find their own identity and place as a church in this Diocese. Since Gonzalez's ordination, she and Ramos have shared the responsibilities of celebrating and preaching and meeting the pastoral needs of the congregation. She also
leads evening prayer at the home of
a parishioner.

As part of our companion relationship
with Mexico a group of 12
people including both lay and clergy
representatives of the Diocese will be traveling to Mexico City. The trip is being called “Knowing Mexico and the Church” They will have first hand contact with the church in Mexico and help identify different ways in which our Diocese can enhance our relationship with the Diocese of Mexico.

Nicole D'Arcy is a member of the Diocesan Council.

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