2/17/03

Dearest Parish Family:

Greetings in the name of the Blessed Trinity!!! About a month ago we celebrated our "Annual Parish Meeting" and the meeting went well. We accomplished our goals for the meeting, primarily the election of new Vestry members, and Delegates to Diocesan Convention, as well as the acknowledgement of those who give of their time, and talents in the service of our parish family. At the meeting I shared some personal thoughts about the parish, and my own journey, especially after my divorce, and the impact of that on our congregation. Last year was a time of transition for all; it was not an easy year in the life of the parish, or my personal life. Thankfully, through the gift of grace, we are weathering the storm, and a gentle rain begins to fall softly in our midst.

This season of Epiphany has probably been the most significant in my life as a priest. New insights and revelations have come to me, and these in turn are leading to some very profound changes in my life. This season of Epiphany has led me to a closer walk with God, a deeper prayer life, and a greater surrendering on my part to the gift of grace. The work of grace in my life is becoming more and more evident to me. My thirst for the Lord increases, as I come to realize that God is our primary relationship, and everything else is born of that.

One of the most significant Epiphanies to come to me this year has been the need for the renewal of my spiritual life. For the last couple of years I have been postponing my sabbatical leave, and now the time has come for me to begin using this time. This is an opportunity for me to go deeper into my own spiritual life through study, travel, and retreat -- and indeed I have made some travel plans for the month of March. Sabbatical leave is also an opportunity for the parish to benefit from the renewal and care of its Rector and Pastor. What I experience and learn during this time will spill over into our life as a parish family and will bring all of us new life and vitality.

As of late, I have been exploring Celtic spirituality, particularly Celtic prayers, and these have been bringing me deeper and deeper into closeness with God. These prayers are earthy, grounded, riddled with natural images, celebrating life and creation, and our unique relationship with God, as God’s children and creation. The theme for my sabbatical leave in March will be an exploration of Celtic spirituality, and to that end I will be traveling to England. There I am making plans to visit the Northumbria Community, the Holy Island of Lindisfarne, and the island of Iona (Scotland). These are all significant places in the world of Celtic spirituality, and places where the Spirit of God is present in a very special way. The islands have been Christian holy sites for centuries. What I learn and experience there, and in other places of interest, I will share with the parish community upon my return. As I mentioned earlier, this is a journey to benefit all of us. I feel the call for solitude with God, and I trust this will be accomplished during this time away. In my absence Mother Susan Purnell will celebrate the Sunday Eucharists in English, and Canon Carmen Gomes will be celebrating the Sunday Eucharists in Spanish.

Lent begins this year on Ash Wednesday, March 5^th. Our Ash Wednesday Eucharist will be celebrated at 7:OO PM. We will be having a Fat Tuesday Pancake Supper on Tuesday March 4^th. See the Sunday bulletins for more details. Also, see the Sunday bulletin for information on the St. Patrick’s Day Corned Beef Supper on Saturday March 15^th. Upon my return, I will be providing a Lenten program, following the Sunday Eucharist, based on my experience and travel; these will take place at the beginning of April.

On another note, it has been a great joy to experience the enormous amount of affirmation Maria Elizabeth Hutchinson-Cervantes, and I, have received from the members of our community. Many of you are wondering about us, and where this relationship is heading? Well, it pleases Eli and meto share with you that we are indeed engaged to be married. We do not have a date yet, but I have asked her to marry me, and she accepted without batting an eyelash J . The gold bracelet I’ve been wearing is her engagement gift to me; some of you may have noticed itJ . We are both very happy, and currently doing pre-marital counseling. Bishop Bruno has asked her not to attend church here for a period of time, since my relationship with her is no longer a pastoral relationship. But at some point in the future, she will be back in our midst. Please feel free to contact her if you wish, her address and telephone number are contained in the parish directory. Eli has been a genuine blessing in my life, a wonderful companion, and I feel extremely blessed. We are both very happy, very happy indeed, and we have both felt the hand of God at work in our relationship!!!

It is my prayer as we come to the end of this season of Epiphany, that new insights may have come to all of us, at a personal and communal level. We are the community of Christ in our midst, we are called to be inviting, and to diligence in the formation of our faith. We are also called to servanthood, and these are themes I suspect we will be exploring throughout the year, as we seek an ever deeper relationship with our God, our All, and as we seek to grow in our faith and service to the one Lord in Trinity of Persons. May the coming Lent bring home to us the gift of God’s ultimate sacrifice for His creation, and bring us ever so closer to the experience of full redemption, repentance, and the transformative power of the forgiveness of sins.

In Grace,

The Rev. Wilfredo Benítez

Rector