El Espíritu de Dios está en este lugar – Celebrando El Mes de la Herencia Hispana 15 de septiembre – 15 de octubre

El Espíritu de Dios está en este lugar – Celebrando El Mes de la Herencia Hispana 15 de septiembre – 15 de octubre

El Mes de la Herencia Hispana – que comienza el 15 de septiembre y se extiende hasta el 15 de octubre – siempre está lleno de abundantes oportunidades para observar, celebrar y aprender sobre el rico tapiz de culturas y contribuciones de los hispanoamericanos en Estados Unidos.

En nuestra Diócesis de Washington, tenemos la suerte de contar con cinco comunidades de fe hispanohablantes activas que proporcionan un hogar espiritual a personas de muchos países y tradiciones actualmente en cinco de las ocho regiones de la diócesis. Cada comunidad de fe está dirigida por clero y líderes laicos talentosos y comprometidos. Además, reconocemos que hay muchos latinos que asisten a otras parroquias que no tienen un servicio de habla hispana.

“El Espíritu de Dios está en este lugar. El Espíritu de Dios se mueve en este lugar”. Estas palabras, de un himno de Martín Estuardo Azurdia, se cantan en muchas de nuestras comunidades latinas, es una letra que llega al corazón de la fe que actúa en la gente de cada una de estas comunidades, incluso cuando esa fe se expresa de formas únicas. El Mes de la Herencia Hispana nos invita a dedicar un tiempo intencionado a reconocer y respetar las diversas creencias y prácticas religiosas de las comunidades hispanas y latinas. Celebrar la fe junto a la cultura es una forma de apreciar la riqueza y profundidad de estas comunidades y sus contribuciones a la sociedad estadounidense.

Para muchos, formar parte de nuestras comunidades de fe latinas proporciona un fuerte sentido de pertenencia y a menudo desempeña un papel importante en la práctica del cristianismo, ofreciendo apoyo, compañerismo/convivio, oportunidades de servicio y, sobre todo, un sentido de familia.

Durante las próximas semanas, le presentaremos a algunos líderes laicos de nuestras congregaciones a través de nuestras plataformas de medios sociales mientras comparten con nosotros cómo el ser Latino/a/e/x informa su identidad cristiana como seguidor de Jesús. Mientras celebramos este mes, le invitamos a celebrar con una de nuestras comunidades de fe Latinas que se extienden desde el norte del condado de Montgomery hasta el norte del condado de Prince George’s y el distrito.

¡Todos son bienvenidos! All are welcome!

Síganos en Facebook aquí (español) y aquí (inglés)
Síganos en Instagram aquí (español) y aquí (inglés)

Mildred Briones Reyes
Misionera de Ministerios Latinos/Hispanos e Iniciativas Diocesanas

The Spirit of God is in This Place – Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month September 15 – October 15

The Spirit of God is in This Place – Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month September 15 – October 15

Hispanic Heritage Month – which kicks off September 15 and runs through October 15 – is always filled with bountiful opportunities to observe, celebrate and learn about the rich tapestry of cultures and contributions of Hispanic Americans in the United States.

In our Diocese of Washington, we are fortunate to have five active Spanish-speaking faith communities that provide a spiritual home to people of many countries and traditions currently in five of the eight regions in the diocese. Each faith community is led by gifted and committed clergy and lay leaders. In addition, we recognize that there are many Latinos who attend other parishes that do not have a Spanish-speaking service.

“El Espíritu de Dios está en este lugar. El Espíritu de Dios se mueve en este lugar.” These words, from a hymn by Martin Estuardo Azurdia, are sung at many of our Latino worshiping communities, and translate to “The Spirit of God is in this place. The Spirit of God moves in this place” – a lyric that gets to the heart of the faith at work in the people in each of these communities even as that faith is expressed in unique ways. Hispanic Heritage Month invites us to devote intentional time to recognize and respect the diverse religious beliefs and practices within Hispanic and Latinx communities. Celebrating faith alongside culture is a way to appreciate the richness and depth of these communities and their contributions to American society.

For many, being part of our Latino faith communities provides a strong sense of belonging and often plays a significant role in the practice of Christianity, offering support, fellowship/convivio, opportunities for service, and most of all, a sense of familia.

Over the next few weeks, we will introduce you to a few lay leaders from our congregations across our social media platforms as they share with us how being a Latino/a/e/x informs their Christian identity as a follower of Jesus. As we celebrate this month, we invite you to worship with one of our Latino faith communities ranging from Northern Montgomery County to North Prince George’s County and the District.

¡Todos son bienvenidos! All are welcome!

Follow us on Facebook here (Spanish) and here (English)
Follow us on Instagram here (Spanish) and here (English)

Mildred Briones Reyes
Missioner for Latino/Hispanic Ministries and Diocesan Initiatives

Many People, One Family

Many People, One Family

Celebrated from September 15 to October 15, National Hispanic Heritage Month is a way to appreciate the various Latino/Hispanic countries and the culture that each has brought to the United States, The Episcopal Church, and the Diocese of Washington. These cultures trace their roots to Spain, Mexico, Central America, South America, and the Spanish-speaking nations of the Caribbean.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the Hispanic or Latino population, which includes people of any race, was 62.6 million in 2021, making people of Hispanic origin the nation’s largest racial or ethnic minority. The Episcopal Diocese of Washington has a long history of Latino/Hispanic ministry dating from the 1970’s. In our diocese, we have six distinct Spanish-speaking faith communities, all represent a melting pot of many people, but form one family in Christ. This phrase from our friend, Julio Cuellar is the title of a song, Many People, One Family, that was first used for the Nuevo Amanecer event in 2018 and serves as the focal point of our diocesan Latino/Hispanic ministry. As we celebrate this month, we invite you to worship with one of our Latino faith communities ranging from Northern Montgomery County to North Prince George’s County and the District. All are welcome!

Muchos Pueblos, Una Familia

Muchos Pueblos, Una Familia

Celebrado del 15 de septiembre al 15 de octubre, el Mes Nacional de la Herencia Hispana es una forma de apreciar los diversos países latinos/hispanos y la cultura que cada uno ha aportado a los Estados Unidos, a la Iglesia Episcopal y a la Diócesis de Washington. Estas culturas tienen sus raíces en España, México, Centroamérica, Sudamérica y las naciones hispanohablantes del Caribe.

Según la Oficina del Censo de los Estados Unidos, la población hispana o latina, que incluye a personas de cualquier raza, era de 62,6 millones en 2021, lo que convierte a las personas de origen hispano en la mayor minoría racial o étnica del país. La Diócesis Episcopal de Washington tiene una larga historia de ministerio latino/hispano que data de la década de 1970. En nuestra diócesis, tenemos seis comunidades de fe distintas de habla hispana, todas representan un crisol de muchas personas, pero forman una sola familia en Cristo. Esta frase de nuestro amigo, Julio Cuéllar es el título de una canción, Muchos pueblos, una familia, que se utilizó por primera vez para el evento Nuevo Amanecer en 2018 y sirve como punto focal de nuestro ministerio diocesano latino/hispano. Al celebrar este mes, le invitamos a adorar con una de nuestras comunidades de fe latinas que van desde el norte del condado de Montgomery hasta el norte del condado de Prince George’s y el distrito. ¡Todos estan bienvenidos!

Update on Misión Buen Pastor

Update on Misión Buen Pastor

the altar at Buen PastorMisión Buen Pastor is EDOW’s newest church plant. In just a few years of existence, it has had two physical locations and weathered the global pandemic. I came alongside the congregation as their priest during the season of Advent, at the start of the current church year. During the Easter season, we moved to our current location at Good Shepherd, Silver Spring. We are in the process of meeting the formal requirements to become a fully functioning mission of the Diocese, meanwhile building our relationship with the congregation that has welcomed us at Good Shepherd and beginning to get to know our new neighborhood.

Life is pretty simple at Buen Pastor. We arrived at Good Shepherd with our hymnals, a donated ceramic chalice and paten, a few purificators, and an improvised set of glass vessels for the elements, originally intended to be the sugar bowl and cream pitchers for serving coffee or tea. We use a pre-printed seasonal booklet with the liturgy and readings, provided by the Diocesan Hispanic ministries office. We sing a capella and gather the offering in a small wicker basket. As it turns out, you can do beautiful, faithful church without a copier, an organ, or anything made of silver or brass.

The simplicity of congregational life at Buen Pastor feeds my soul. I would even suggest it provides a needed corrective to church customs that have come to rely too heavily on costly displays of beauty and elaborate programs. At the same time, it makes me wonder. In a church rich in buildings and land and brass and silver, why do we expect that our immigrant congregations will make do with so little? Is there a path to full citizenship in The Episcopal Church, the sort of citizenship that includes a full stake in the resources that have been accumulated and passed down through generations? We are rightfully examining the ways that centuries of societal injustice replicated within the church continue to undermine our life together. We might consider how our immigrant congregations are easily relegated to the status of guest or tenant, one mistake or misunderstanding away from having to pack up and move on, in search of a place to call home.

The Rev. Anna Olson
Vicar, Misión Buen Pastor
Interim Rector, Good Shepherd