A week in Ecuador (3)


Chris and Trish Morck were parishioners at St. James’s, Cambridge, MA when I was Rector there.  It was with the greatest of joy and affection that we were able to be together for Chris’s ordination in the (Episcopal) Diocese of Central Ecuador on October 2nd 2010. An additional joy was that I took with me a gorgeous hand made green stole, a gift from the people of St. James’s.

That Diocese is one of seven (Colombia, Dominican Republic, Central Ecuador, Litoral Ecuador, Honduras, Puerto Rico, Venezuela, which form what is called “Province IX” of the Episcopal Church.) These Dioceses have, for various reasons, chosen not to be autonomous, thus they are an integral part of the Episcopal Church.

The Bishop of Central Ecuador is the Rt. Revd. Luis Fernando Ruiz. He was consecrated Bishop in September 2009.  (The previous Bishop of Central Ecuador was deposed in 2006 for failure to provide adequate financial information over the course of a number of years. Subsequently the diocese learned that title to many of its assets–including the cathedral, the diocesan office building and a school‑were listed as personal property of the former bishop.)   

Bishop Luis Fernando chose the first anniversary of his Consecration as the day for the ordination to the Priesthood of Deacons Danilo Bonilla, Christopher Morck, and Carlos Zapata.

The ordination rehearsal was somewhat chaotic.  After all these were the first ordinations for the Bishop.  He was advised by two other Province IX Bishops, Francisco Duque Bishop of Columbia, and Alfredo Morante Bishop of Ecuador Litoral  ( the Diocese in the south of Ecuador).  Despite the semi chaos we all went with the flow and kept good humour.

After rehearsal we were treated to a splendid banquet at the Swissotel in Quito.  Post dinner there was exciting music by a guitar and vocal duo, and then the wildest and most extravagant dancing.  Wow, what a party. 

I am not known for my reticence, so during a break I seized the microphone, and through an interpreter announced that I would report back to the States about this scandalous Diocese where I had danced with three Bishops.  The humour was well received.

I stayed that evening with the Morck’s and we travelled by cab to the Cathedral for Saturday’s ordination.  The Revd. David Copley, Mission Personnel Director for the Episcopal Church was present, as was the Revd. Stephen White who had been a part time assistant Priest at St. Stephen’s in Pittsfield (after my time there). It’s a small world.

The service proceeded well.  It lasted for two and three quarter hours (the Bishop preached for one hour!).  I had the distinct honour of being one of Chris’s presenters, and together with David Copley was asked to bless the newly ordained Priests’ vestments.   

The music was lively, and I was especially blessed by the music of the (all female) Quichua choir.   

Although I have no Spanish language skills, the Liturgy was easy to follow since it was the Spanish language version of the ordination service in our English language Book of Common Prayer.

I found myself to be frequently close to tears for the sheer joy and honour of being there for and with Chris and Trish, and their daughters Clare (8) and Isabel (4).

I’ll write tomorrow about the Eucharist next day at the little Church of Christ the Liberator at which Chris presided for the first time as Priest.

And yes, there will be photo’s.  I am trying to organise them and hope to set them up in a Flickr page.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Shoe insults

Last year I consulted with a local podiatrist: Dr. Robert F Herbold Jr. D.P.M. 4717 Swift Rd., Sarasota , FL – 34231  because I was being bothered with a couple of bunions  (yes I am at that age). I was very impressed with this Doctor.  He agreed that I had bunions, but he ventured that it was much too soon for surgery. (Now there’s a first). Instead he recommended some “arch supports” to relieve the tension for my feet, a tension which was exacerbating the bunions. What’s more -  he told me that he sells these arch supports at the miserly sum of $2.50 each (about 1/5 of the price in the local pharmacies). He is an honest man, and I recommend him to anyone with foot problems. So, a couple of weeks ago, having purchased some new walking shoes, I knew that I needed to buy a couple of new arch supports I took myself to his office. Once there, my mind went blank. I wanted to ask his front desk Clerk if I could buy some “shoe inserts” , as I could not remember the words “ar
Read more

The background, the couple, my friends, the wedding ceremony, the Shaykh, the Priest,

Image
The background   I have known the Keller/Bonsey family since 2000 when I became the Rector at St. James's, Cambridge, MA. They (Elisabeth Keller and the Revd. Steven Bonsey with their four children Noah, Sam, Josiah and Annie) had come back to Cambridge from Hawaii where Steve had been the Rector of an Episcopal parish. Steve had just been appointed as a Chaplain at Tufts University (no Sunday morning duties) so the entire family was able to enrich our common life at St. James's - which they did with great love and joy. I count them as friends and have stayed in touch with them since my retirement.  Noah, the oldest son is eloquent in Arabic (he spent a year in Damascus when Syria was a safe place).  He has developed a super career as an analyst of social media in the near East.    Noah worked in Tampa for a while a few years ago, so he and I were able to get together a few
Read more

It began in Bristol U.K. "A man dies" and "Jesus Christ Superstar"

Image
I well remember the swirling controversy in Bristol, U.K. when a (Presbyterian) Minister the Revd, Earnest Marviin created a ":Rock Opera", called "A Man Dies"  in and for his congregation in the Lockleaze area of Bristol, U.K. Earnest Mrvin I was a sixteen years old member of the Plymouth Brethren Church back in those days, so I most likely disapproved of "A Man Dies" .  We, (the Plymouth Brethren),  disapproved of everything! ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I had forgotten all about "A Man Dies" until earlier today when saw these pictures on the "Bristol, Then and Now"  Facebook page.   St. James Presbyterian Church, Lockleaze, Bristol  The Bristol Then and Now page includes the following commentary: Lockleaze, Bristol  -  'Jesus Christ Superstar' began at St.James (Presbyterian) Chur
Read more