The first Deanery Project Round Table was held August 24, 2002.  Its purpose was to provide an open forum where experienced Deanery project leaders could interact with leaders of emerging deanery projects, sharing the insights the had gained from first-hand experience.

 

The ongoing deanery projects of Tampa, Clearwater and Venice are starting to begin preparations for their 2003 projects.  Clearwater and Venice will continue working with the churches they worked with in 2002: Clearwater finishing the second floor of Jesús Nazareno in Barahona, and Venice building the second floor of Santísima Trinidad in Santo Domingo.  Tampa is still in conversations with Bishop Holguín as to their project for 2003 (Tampa’s fourth deanery project).

 

Fr. Salvador Ros and his wife Lissette spent 12 days in the Naples deanery of SWFL between October 31 and November 11 to help launch the Naples Deanery project with the El Buen Samaritano preschool and shelter in San Francisco de Macorís.  On January 4-11 Naples will send its Advance Team to establish the ties with El Buen Samaritano.  The plan to paint the building inside and out, and to seal the roof on the main building.  The Deanery teams hope to be able to help not only with “bricks and mortar” but with program and salaries too.

 

Following the Joint CD Committee Meeting, The Rev. Margarita Santana, priest for Todos los Santos and La Encarnación mission in La Romana, spent a few days in Charleston with deanery project leader Thom Pennington.  She spoke at the English and Spanish services at St. John’s, Johns Island, and met with the West Charleston clericus as part of the effort to launch the West Charleston / La Encarnación deanery project.  Thom is building a solid deanery project organization and projects  February or March as the dates for the Advance Team to do its first work and make its first contacts with the people of La Encarnación.

 

Also following the Joint CD Committee Meeting, and under Anna Hood’s capable leadership, the Savannah Convocation unanimously adopted the construction of the third floor of Jesús Nazareno school (San Francisco de Macorís) as its deanery project.  At the Convocation clericus, with strong support from Bishop Louttit, all the churches committed themselves to the project.  Anna is working to generate an Advance team to go to San Francisco the first part of 2003.  The Convocation is also providing scholarships for students of Jesús Nazareno.

 

Diocesan Updates

Dominican Republic

Bishop Telesforo Isaac (Retired) represented the Diocese at Virginia Seminary and at a meeting in Toronto, the last of October - the first of November.

 

Seminarian Dean, The Very Rev. Napoleón Brito reports that ongoing seminarians Nestor Hildalgo, Hipólito Fernández, Hijo, and Roberto Gómez continue with their classes this year at CET (Centro de Estudios Teológicos).  First year students include Milkella Mendosa , a single mother from San Marcos, Haina, and Jesús Mosquea from San Felipe, Santo Domingo, and Arturo Sazo, a Chilean sponsored by two parishes from Denver.  This year Hipólito, Jr. and his family are living in the upstairs apartment of San Felipe.  Total cost for the seminary education: Instruction, room & board, stipend comes to an economical $5,500 a year per student.  Bishop Holguín asks that if you know someone who can help defray some of this cost, please contact him or Bob Stevens.  In addition to seminary students studying for the priesthood, under Bishop Isaac’s capable leadership, the CET directs the 34 students of the permanent deacon’s program

 

New Assignments: As part of diocesan missionary strategy, The Rev. Ramón Ubiera has been moved from Santísima Trinidad in Santo Domingo to Santa María Virgen in Montellano.  The Rev. Hernán Villalba and his wife, from Colombia, has taken over leadership at Santísima Trinidad.   The Rev. Mario Miranda is helping (part time) The Rev. Maunel Cruz Méndez at Sagrada Familia in Santo Domingo. Transitional Deacons Miguelina Espinal has been assigned to assist The Rev. Baruc Espinal at San Juan Bautista in Bonao and Camp Monte de la Transfiguración; and Ercilia Peralta to assist The Rev. Mercedes Julian with the work in San Pedro de Macorís (San Esteban Church & School, Clínica Esperanza, Centro Buen Pastor, and Mission El Adviento).

 

The Diocese sponsored a well-deserved clergy-spouse retreat with presentations on family relationships, at an “all inclusive” hotel November 18-20 that allowed the priests time to focus on family needs.  SOMA will sponsor another clergy-spouse retreat in May.

The Bishop Kellogg Center, a retreat center for Diocesan use as well as by mission teams is nearing completion, although the Diocese still lacks funds for equipping the center.  Bishop Holguín wants to dedicate it soon.

The Rev. Manuel Rodríguez, a retired dentist who graduated from seminary some five or six years ago, is very ill in New York.

Georgia

In addition to the development of the Savannah Convocation project with Jesús Nazareno which DDG Rep Anna Hood is heading up, CD Chair The Rev. David Somerville reports that he is in conversations with the Albany Convocation about adopting Colegio San Gabriel in Consuelo as their convocation project, which would provide good scholarship support to that school.

While Bishop Holguín was at the DDG meeting in Georgia, The Rev. Doug Renegar and Jack McDonald of Christ Church, Frederica met with him to explore possible mission involvement in with the DR.  

South Carolina

In addition to the West Charleston Deanery project with La Encarnación, the Cathedral of St. Luke and St. Paul brought Miguelina Espinal, whom they had supported financially during her seminary years, to the Cathedral for six weeks where she assisted Dean William McKeachie in a broad range of ministries, including preaching one Sunday.  Miguelina also helped Hispanic Missioner Callie Perkins with the San Juan Hispanic service and taught confirmation classes on Sunday afternoons, and worked some with the Seaman’s ministry out of the Port of Charleston.

The annual South Carolina Medical Mission is set for February 18-29, 2002; St. Luke’s, Hilton Head is planning to send a team in February to El Buen Samaritano in San Francisco de Macorís; The Church of the Holy Communion, Charleston, is planning a medical trip in July; and St. Michael’s, Charleston, will send a mission team this summer.

SWFL

In addition to the four deanery projects mentioned above, the VBS mission team from the Cathedral Church of St. Peter led by Karen Carroll, is translating the 2003 Vacation Bible School materials that they have written, for use throughout the Diocese of the Dominican Republic.

In February, the Church of the Redeemer mission team, led by Chuck Miller, which specializes in church furnishings, will build the pews and altar furnishings for La Anunciación in Santiago, as well as paint the entire church.

Congratulations go to Jackie Robe, DDG Rep and member of the Companion Diocese Committee.  Jackie was appointed Province IV Mission Chair for the Episcopal Church Women in June.  

WLA

Bishop Holguín attended the investiture of The Rt. Rev. Bruce MacPherson as Diocesan for Western Louisiana at Saint Mark’s Cathedral in Shreveport on September 14.  Interestingly, Bishop Holguín read a part of the service, in Spanish, and Bishop MacPherson responded in Spanish.  While Bishop Holguín was in WLA, DDG Rep Mary Richard sponsored a party for him at her house.  Bishop MacPherson took up the reins as Diocesan Bishop on November 1.

Deacon for Mission, The Rev. Don Leger, reports that the annual Diocesan Mission Team made its trip to Jesús Peregrino in Barahona August 3-10.  The mission team worked out well even though there were street protests about the electrical service and sanitary conditions even while the team was in Barahona.

Missionaries in the DR

Appointed missionaries Bob & Ellen Snow are on their annual sabbatical during the months of October and November.  In October the attended the DDG and the Joint CD Committee meetings in Georgia, the spoke in various churches and met with people making mission-related contacts in Florida.  Upon returning to Nebraska, they attended the Nebraska Diocesan Convention, are speaking in churches, getting their annual medical checkups and some well-deserved R&R, and visiting with family and friends.  Lord willing the will return to the DR early to mid-December.

Appointed missionaries John & Cathy Gordon, and Trey spent six weeks in later September and October back home in South Carolina, but have now returned to their post as Administrators at Campamento Monte de la Transfigurción.

Volunteer for Mission, Jane Fladd, has now served almost three years at El Buen Samaritano preschool and shelter in San Francisco de Macorís.  She also teaches English at the Jesús Nazareno Colegio and at CEAM, the English and music school operated by Jesús Nazareno church.  Most recently, Jane has been quite ill with bronchitis, but is recovering.

SAMS physician couple Anita and Michael Dohn, with children Rebecca, Tracy, Elizabeth & Natalia, live in San Pedro de Macorís and are associated with Clínica Esperanza y Caridad.  They work in health ministries on preventive medicine and community health programs, particularly in conjunction with Christian micro-economic development programs.

Another SAMS missionary, Caroline Humphry, is now living in Azua and working with San Jorge, the small mission there.  She also assists with Jesús Peregrino in Barahona.  Caroline is looking for someone to carry in a couple keyboards to use with the missions.

Young Adult Service Core missioner Carole Bennage taught English for a year at San Esteban school in San Pedro de Macorís.  After spending five months back home in South Carolina, she plans to return in Januray to the DR to work with one of the mission congregations.

Most recently, university graduate Mark Saint George, from Connecticut, went on a short term mission team this past summer, then returned to teach English at San Esteban school in San Pedro de Macorís.

The Lord’s Prayer

By consensus, people at the Joint Meeting of Companion Diocese Committees decided that they would like to learn the Lord’s Prayer in Spanish.  Here it is.

Padre nuestro que estás en el cielo, santificado sea tu Nombre, 

venga tu reino, hágase tu voluntad, en la tierra como en el cielo.

Danos hoy nuestro pan de cada día.

Perdona nuestras ofensas, como también nosotros perdonamos a los que nos ofenden.

No nos dejes caer in tentación y líbranos del mal.

Porque tuyo es el reino, tuyo es el poder, y tuya es la gloria, ahora y por siempre.

 Amén.

 

COMPANION DIOCESE COMMITTEE CHAIRS

Dominican Republic

Virginia Norman

Calle Santiago 114, Gazcue

Apartado 764, Santo Domingo, DR

809-688-6016/6014 (o)

809-686-6364 (fax)

iglepidom@codetel.net.do

Georgia

The Rev. David J. Somerville

611 King Cotton Row, Brunswick, GA 31525

912-264-2452            SummerDave@aol.com

South Carolina

Mrs. Callie Perkins

2147 Coker Avenue, Charleston, SC 29412

843-559-9560 (ch)    843-559-1612 (fax)    stjnsji@dycom.com

Southwest Florida

The Rev. Richard C. Lindsey

1601 Curlew Road, Palm Harbor, FL 34683

727-785-1601 (ch)    727-785-8992 (fax)     rector@stalfred.org

Western Louisiana

The Rev. Don Leger

919 Anthony Avenue, Opelousas, LA 70570

337-942-4975 (o)    337-984-3848 (ch)    337-984-3887 (ch-fax)      deaconleger@yahoo.com