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We have 1 guest online| Diocese of Nevada clergy visits Diocese of Santiago |
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On August 20 – 23, the Diocese of Santiago [EDS] welcomed The Rev. Eldwin Lovelady and The Rev. Teogenes Bernardez, Jr., rectors of All Saints’ Episcopal Church and St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, respectively, both in Las Vegas, USA under the Episcopal Church’s Diocese of Nevada [EDN]. The visit was part of the on-going explorations of partnership relations between the two dioceses that started at the 2008 Lambeth Conference in conversations between EDS’ Bishop Alex Wandag and EDN’S Bishop Dan Edwards. Earlier, Patrick Pelenia and Floyd Lalwet, EDS treasurer and chancellor, respectively, who were then both attending the March 2009 meeting of the Joint Committee on the Philippine Covenant [JCPC] in San Francisco, USA, visited the Diocese of Nevada, bringing with them a letter from Bishop Wandag, re-affirming EDS’ profound interest in the possibility of establishing a companion relations. Following this visit, Bishop Edwards wrote back to say, "It is clear to me that members of our two dioceses share in our vision of a mutually beneficial partnership between our two dioceses...I envision our partnership to include educational as well as other joint ministry projects between us." On March 15, 2009, EDS Diocesan Convention passed a resolution approving the Companion Diocese Relationship with the Diocese of Nevada.
Reverends Lovelady and Bernardez were guests at the clericus meeting of EDS on August 20, which began with a solemn eucharist. Bernardez concelebrated while Lovelady gave the homily in this celebration attended by 25 priests and lay employees and leaders of the diocese. A DVD presentation of Bishop Edwards’ greetings and introduction was warmly received and gave a sample of the “face to face” conversations that the two dioceses expect to share with each other through electronic media. The clericus then went on to discuss what a companion relationship might look like and how both dioceses can meaningfully partner with each other. Possibilities of youth connections, sister parishes and shared ministries were among the areas of companionship discussed. The two guests offered their respective parishes to be possible companions of the clustered parish of St. Joseph’s and St. Cyril’s of Maddela and St. Luke’s Mission in Isabela.
After the meeting, the two guests went around several congregations in the diocese where they met clergy and their families as well as lay leaders. They also visited some community development projects of the diocese being run by people’s cooperatives. On Sunday, August 23, Rev. Lovelady visited and preached at St. Joseph’s Church while Rev. Bernardez gave the homily at St. Mark’s parish in Batal. They then proceeded to Sagada, Mountain Province where they visited local churches and tourist spots before they left for Manila on the way home.
Through shared visioning and prayers, Rev. Lovelady and Rev. Bernardez established friendships with the clergy and people of the Diocese of Santiago. Immediately upon their return home, Rev. Lovelady created a website for the two dioceses’ companionship, which, among others, now contains the full text of a counterpart resolution correspondingly approving the relations which EDN expects to pass in its October 2009 diocesan convention. |