Bishops, Dominican Episcopalians worshipping together ‘worth the wait’
The Gospel procession during the Sept. 13 Eucharist at the Coop Marena Beach Resort in Juan Dolio, Dominican Republic. Episcopal bishops and about 800 Dominican Episcopalians worshiped together as part of the House of Bishops’ Sept. 10-15 gathering. Photo: Courtesy of Frank Logue
[Episcopal News Service — Juan Dolio, Dominican Republic] Episcopal bishops, their spouses and about 800 local clergy and lay Episcopalians worshiped together Sept. 13 here at the Coop Marena Beach Resort as part of the House of Bishops’ fall gathering in the Santo Domingo-based Diocese of the Dominican Republic. Presiding Bishop Sean Rowe preached, and Dominican Republic Bishop Moisés Quezada Mota celebrated.
“At this time, the bishops are here with us, the priests and lay people – I am thankful to God,” Grecia Bodre told Episcopal News Service. Her husband, the Rev. Isaac Pringle, is a priest serving parishes in Boca Chica.
The special Eucharist, mostly in Spanish with some English, included Spanish-language worship music and Dominican Episcopalians, many dressed in traditional Dominican folk costumes, sharing their excitement with the bishops and their spouses.
In his sermon, Rowe reflected on the 82 bishops and 38 spouses’ visits to different diocesan missions, including the Cathedral of the Epiphany in Santo Domingo, and nearby schools:
“After seeing the ministries of your diocese over the course of the last week, it’s clear to me that you have taken this Great Commission to heart. You are living examples of the Kingdom of God.”
Grecia Christian Reynoso, the Diocese of the Dominican Republic’s chancellor and a member of Executive Council, told ENS that she “loved” Rowe’s sermon and was “very proud and grateful” to worship with the bishops.
“I pray for Bishop Sean Rowe because I understand what he wants to accomplish to move the church forward,” Christian Reynoso, a cradle Episcopalian, said. “We feel the bishops’ love in being here in the Dominican Republic.”
Episcopal bishops, their spouses and about 800 local clergy and lay Episcopalians worshiped together Sept. 13 at the Coop Marena Beach Resort as part of the House of Bishops’ fall gathering in the Santo Domingo-based Diocese of the Dominican Republic. Presiding Bishop Sean Rowe, left, preached, and Dominican Republic Bishop Moisés Quezada Mota, right, celebrated. Photo: Courtesy of Frank Logue
Quezada Mota told ENS in a Sept. 14 interview that he believes more Episcopalians from the diocese, which has about 5,000 members and 67 missions, would have attended the worship service if more space had been available.
“The key to their passion is that they are convinced in their faith in Jesus Christ,” he said. “They worship with their heart. They want to adore and serve God, and that enthusiasm to become witnesses to others with their testimonies will help The Episcopal Church grow.”
This Sept. 10-15 meeting is one of two annual in-person House of Bishops gatherings. The fall meetings typically occur during non-General Convention years and, as is the case this year, usually include bishops’ spouses.
This is the first time the House of Bishops has gathered in the Dominican Republic and Rowe’s second meeting as primate of The Episcopal Church. The bishops were originally scheduled to gather in the Province IX diocese in September 2023, but instead met on Zoom to allow then-Presiding Bishop Michael Curry – who was scheduled to undergo surgery halfway through the meeting’s dates – to participate.
Rowe told ENS in a Sept. 14 interview that the House of Bishops “felt really, really bad” about delaying the gathering in the Dominican Republic for two years, but pointed out that, since 2023, the diocese has launched and continued an evangelism initiative. The diocese is also in the process of building new churches and ministries throughout the country.
“I think God’s timing is a blessing. …It was clearly important for [the House of Bishops] to be here,” Rowe said. “I think it’s a statement to the church that the Dominican Republic – this land and the people here – is also a part of The Episcopal Church, and an important part of it.”
Christian Reynoso and Quezada Mota both said the two-year delay, based on the worship service’s large attendance and “enthusiasm,” was “worth the wait.”
“Waiting and preparing for the gathering became a source of motivation and strength for us in the diocese in that we continued the labor to show who we are as Episcopalians – Dominican night on the beach, organizing trips to show our different missions and planning the Holy Eucharist with everyone,” Quezada Mota said. “God gave us this time of reflection, enthusiasm and hope.”
-Shireen Korkzan is a reporter and assistant editor for Episcopal News Service. She can be reached at skorkzan@episcopalchurch.org.
