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ministry highlights
Hispanic Ministry
Though Spanish speaking Minnesotans have found homes in our congregations for many years, Hispanic Ministry began intentionally with the founding of a diocesan mission in 1993. The Rev. Vincent Schwahn, founding vicar and The Rev. Bill Teska, former rector of St. Paul’s on the Hill responded to the pastoral needs of a grieving family by opening the doors of St. Paul’s on the Hill for a funeral of a Latina-Indian child. Several hundred Latinos attended the funeral and the call to reach out to Spanish speaking immigrants was heard and responded to.
The birth and early years of this mission were aided by generous financial assistance from St. Paul’s on the Hill and Diocesan funds. Bishop Jelinek has been an outspoken supporter and advocate for ministry to and with Spanish speaking immigrants throughout his episcopate.
Santo Nino’s membership (as well as membership in other Regional congregations) rises and falls in response to immigration patterns, opportunities for employment, federal immigration policies and changes in leadership.
Father Schwahn served the congregation for 4 years, followed by Father Joel Almono for 8 years. Currently, The Rev. Susan Moss serves as part time Vicar. Her’s and the congregation’s dream is to enable the call of a bilingual, bicultural priest to lead the next phase of the mission’s life.
Santo Nino is a resilient community of faith. Its core leadership functions in ways similar to a Total Ministry team and it has been a hub for other forms of ministry to Spanish speaking immigrants. Santo Nino members have provided leadership to the Montgomery Migrant Ministry, now called La Mision El San Jose Obrero.
La Mision el San Jose Obrero began in 1993 under the leadership and vision of The Rev. Carolyn Schmidt. This mission serves Latino-American migrants who work at the Seneca Plant in Montgomery during the summer months. Episcopalians, both lay and clergy from Region 5, including the Rev. Jill Tollefson and The Rev. Ginny Padzieski, support this ministry of hospitality by organizing two Eucharists and a meal every Sunday during corn and pea pack at the plant. In 2008 our Diocesan Convention welcomed San Jose Obrero as a Special Mission of the Diocese of Minnesota.
Ministry with Spanish speaking immigrants is also present in Regions 4 and 5, most often because there is a priest able to at least conduct una misa en espanol. Currently there are small Spanish speaking congregations along side of English speaking congregations at St Martin’s, Fairmont, led by The Rev. Winnie Mitchell, Christ Church, Albert Lea, led by The Rev. Jim Young and St. Matthew’s, Chatfield, led by the Rev. Justin Chapman.
Our vision is to continue to “Welcome the Stranger”, to raise up and equip Latinos for lay and clergy leadership and to discover the ways in which our diocese can expand and support ministry with Spanish speaking people in the metro and in greater Minnesota.
Latinos compose approximately 3% of Minnesota’s population.
