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By Lucy Chumbley
Washington Window
Vol. 73, No. 11, November 2005

On Nov. 20, the Sunday before Thanksgiving, members of the Diocese of Washington will gather at Ascension, Gaithersburg, to give thanks for the diocese's growing Latino ministry.

The diocese's first Latino ministry celebration, in 2003, drew around 60 people. By last year, that number had grown to approximately 200. And this year, the diocese's new Latino Missioner, the Rev. Simón Bautista, hopes that both the attendance and the ministry will continue to expand.

The fiesta, which is set to begin at 2 p.m., will include a service in Spanish, with hymns, and a typical Latino meal, which is being organized by a group of volunteers.

But chiefly, Bautista said, the occasion will offer both clergy and laity in the diocese's churches a chance to gather together, meet one another and "celebrate the fulfillment of the Lord's command, 'Go, and make disciples of all nations.'"

"What I hope to see in the year ahead is more growth, more diocesan involvement and more parishes opening their doors to reach out to the community," Bautista said. "One of the things I would like to see is congregations that are already serving the Latinos get more strong in their ministry."

Last year, Bautista organized the celebration alone, but this year, he has been planning the event with the help of the 12-member Latino Committee of Ascension, Gaithersburg.

He believes that this committee, made up of five Anglos and seven Latinos, is the best way to approach Hispanic ministry, and can serve as a model for other churches.

"The good thing about this committee is getting both, the Latinos and the Anglos, to sit around the table and say how it's going to go," he said. "Involving Anglos is the key to success for two reasons: No. 1, the Anglos already know how the church operates and No. 2, that gives the Latinos a sense that they're not alone. It's a kind of team thing."

At present, just seven of the diocese's 93 parishes offer regular services in Spanish, Bautista said: St. Luke's, Bladensburg; Our Saviour, Hillandale; Ascension, Gaithersburg; Ascension, Sligo; St. Michael and All Angels; St. John's, Lafayette Square; and Grace, Silver Spring.

In addition, St. James, Bowie, now offers English classes for immigrants and St. Stephen and the Incarnation, D.C., holds occasional services in Spanish.

Bautista hopes that both Anglo and Latino congregants from other churches also will join in with the Nov. 20 celebration, with a view to starting a Latino ministry in their own congregation.

"That's part of the goal," he said. "I'm hoping to have more congregations come, join us, and get to know us and to present to them what the Latino ministry looks like."

While relatively few congregations in the diocese offer services in Spanish, the area's Latino population is growing fast, and the need for this ministry continues to grow.

"A very good number of congregations are in the nearby area or in the middle of fast-growing Latino populations," Bautista said. "I have a long way to reach out."

l The third annual Celebration of The Latino Ministries of the Episcopal Diocese of Washington is set for 2 p.m. Nov. 20 at the Church of the Ascension, 202 South Summit Avenue, Gaithersburg, MD 20876. Bishop John B. Chane will preside and the Rev. Simon Bautista, the diocese's Latino Missioner, will preach. All are welcome. Latino food will be provided. For more information or to help with the food, please contact Bautista at 301/869-0890.

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