The Diocesan Dialogue
Current Issue
March 2008
Expanding Ministries
San Esteban joins Mission San Francisco and Spirit of the Desert as
the Diocese's newest congregations
They are officially "communities in formation," a term
describing the newest congregations in the Diocese. On January 27,
2008, San Esteban became separate from St. Stephen's, just as
San Francisco separated from St. Francis in Moab. Both are Spanish
language congregations under the Diocese's Latino Ministry and
are now independent entities in the Diocese. Both San Esteban and St.
Stephen's will continue to worship in the same building. Currently,
San Francisco and St. Francis are in temporary places, as the church
building is being remodeled. The other new congregation—Spirit
of the Desert—has held services in Ivins in Southwestern Utah.
Upon
separating into independent entities, both St. Stephen's
and San Esteben entered into a "Covenant of Common Ministry" to
recognize their past and to pledge a meaningful association in the
future.
The Rev. W. Lee Shaw of St. Stephen's wrote the following
story of the historic signing of the Covenant of Common Ministry between
the English and Spanish language based communities. The Rev. Canon
Pablo Ramos of San Esteban added to the history contained in this story.
The
Latino Ministry at St. Stephen's began in 2002, when the
Rev'd Canon Ramos asked a few families from St. Mark's
Cathedral to become missionaries and start attending Spanish language
services at St. Stephen's on Saturday evenings.
The Latino Ministry
of the Diocese brought the Rev'd Luis Rabago in 2003 to support
the Latino Ministry at St. Stephen's and St. Mark's Cathedral.
Following his ordination to the priesthood, Fr. Rabago took over San
Esteban at St. Stephen's Parish. Fr. Luis was active in the life
of St. Stephen's and worked hard to promote the fledgling Latino
service. Fr. Luis has since married and returned to Mexico, where he
is the Vicar of the Mission Church of San Marcos outside of Mexico
City.
On the first Sunday of Advent, 2005, Fr. Ramos brought the St.
Mark's Cathedral Latino congregation to St. Stephen's and
the ministry of San Esteban became more fully established. This ministry
was greatly enhanced with the ordination of the Rev'd Isabel
Gonzalez to the Priesthood in 2007.
San Esteban became a ministry within
the St. Stephen's Parish. San Esteban had two members on the Vestry
of St. Stephen's and received liturgical support from the music
ministry of St. Stephen's. St. Stephen's was helping form
a new parish, not in another location, but within the midst of St. Stephen's.
There was financial support for both congregations from the Diocese to
augment this ministry initiative.
On Jan. 27, 2007, St. Stephen's and San Esteban entered into
a formal "Covenant of Common Ministry." Canon Pablo and
Fr. Lee Shaw, Rector of St. Stephen's, signed the "Covenant
of Common Ministry" on the Altar. The Covenant was also signed
by Virgil Knight, Sr. Warden of St. Stephen's and Gregoria Meza,
Sr. Warden of San Esteban.
This Covenant of Common Ministry marks an
important milestone in the life of San Esteban and St. Stephen's
Congregations. We will continue to share our facilities and resources,
especially in our music ministry and Sunday School/Youth Programs.
San Esteban will establish itself as an independent congregation with
its own record keeping and finances. Both congregations appreciate
deeply the ongoing support of Bishop Irish, Canon David Bailey, and
the Diocese of Utah in expanding and supporting these ministries.
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