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BISHOP
OF PUERTO RICO AT ST. PAUL’S Bienvenidos,
Obispo Alvarez This
Sunday, May 6, we will greet and welcome The Rt. Rev. David A. Alvarez at the
9:00am and 11:00am services and at the 10:00am Education Forum. Bishop Alvarez
is the head of the Episcopal Church in Puerto Rico. It is our pleasure at St.
Paul’s Cathedral to host the bishop of our new Companion Diocese. Last
September, Gilbert Hernandez and I traveled to Puerto Rico with Bishop and Mrs.
Garrison and our fellow Diocesan Companion Relationship Committee members. We
were warmly received, and engaged in final discussions to formulate a
relationship dependent on mutual ministry opportunities for laity, clergy,
youth, and adults. During our visit, we were blessed to witness the many
ministries being carried out throughout the diocese. The Episcopal Church in
Puerto Rico supports and staffs two hospitals, several schools and day care
centers, HIV/AIDS programs, and residential care homes for special needs
children. The church is also committed to outreach among the poor, the elderly,
and youth. When a community needs a church, members of the whole community work
on building one. It was a humbling experience to see a diocese with so little
(financially) doing so much for those in need. We all con— chided, as we
debriefed upon return, that we had learned and received so much more than we
thought we would give. In
December 2000 Bishop Alvarez and Bishop Garrison met in Puerto Rico to sign
the Covenant Letter, which establishes and outlines the Companion Relationship
between our dioceses. The Covenant encourages each parish, in both dioceses,
to seek sister/parish relationships. Dean Farabee and the vestry, on behalf of
St. Paul’s Cathedral, are working on a sister/parish relationship with Cathedral
San Juan Bautista, which has both English and Spanish speaking congregations.
It is hoped that we can develop a successful sister/parish link with both
congregations of Cathedral San Juan Bautista, that will result in a mutual
learning, sharing, caring relationship. We
are planning to incorporate some hi-lingual prayers into the liturgy on Sunday,
and we look forward to discovering how to share “hospitality, healing and
hope” with Bishop Alvarez and the people of his diocese. We look forward to
his words of faith, and to learning more about the Episcopal Church in Puerto
Rico. Canon
Shirley M. Watts, Canon
for Mission and Outreach EPISCOPAL
CHURCH WOMEN On
Saturday, May 12, the Episcopal Church Women of Western New York will gather at
St. Paul’s Cathedral for their annual meeting and luncheon. The day begins
at 9:00, and ends about 2:30 p.m. In addition to celebrating the Eucharist with
Bishop Garrison, those who attend will be able to attend workshops about Puerto
Rico, Spirituality for Busy Women, and the United Thank Offering. There will
also be a guided tour of the Cathedral. If you wish to attend, please phone
Diana Cinque at 549-7411 by May 811. REGIONALISM
FOR EPISCOPALIANS On
May 13 Kevin Gaughan will speak at the Sunday Forum in the Walker Room of the
cathedral. Mr. Gaughan has been the most vocal and energetic advocate for
regional planning and development in Erie County.
Since St. Paul’s Cathedral is, by its very nature, a regional community, it
will be a natural fit to hear from Kevin Gaughan. Please join us for this
stimulating and promising conversation. JAZZ
VESPERS On
May 13 at 5:30 p.m. we celebrate the last Jazz Vespers of this year. This
service combines the quintessential American art form of jazz with the ancient
and traditional evening liturgy. Guitarist Alyn Szymanski (brother of our own
Deacon Mick Szymanski) will provide musical leadership for the Vespers. Please
join us for this “alternative” worship, filled with familiar prayers,
mellow music and good songs. Congratulations
St. Paul’s Youth Group While
it took a little while to collect the last of the pledged funds, we are happy to
share the good news that during the annual St. Paul’s Youth Group “Lock
In” in January, the youth of our parish raised almost three hundred dollars
from sponsors who supported their evening of fasting, prayer and education.
Under the leadership and guidance of Mrs. Vera Kozak and Canon Brian Ksiazek,
the youth of our parish spent a cold winter night in our Cathedral, learning
about the work of our Diocesan Episcopal Community Services and its agencies.
Mrs. Bertha Laury, former ECS Board member, shared her wisdom with our group
concerning the value of volunteering and the work of ECS. After an informal but
captivating and educational presentation by members of the staff of Compass
House, the members of the Youth Group decided to direct the funds collected to
this particular agency that assists homeless youth in our area. Congratulations
on a job well done...and enjoyed...by all! Remember your
Episcopal Community Services Pledge! |
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