OUR COMPANION DIOCESE OF SOUTHEAST MEXICO
The Diocese of Southeast Mexico is physically one of the largest episcopal jurisdictions in the worldwide Anglican Communion. It covers the states of Veracruz, Oaxaca, Tabasco, Campeche, Yucatan, Quintana Roo and Chiapas – almost one-fourth of the land mass of Mexico. This part of Mexico is among the poorest in the nation, and Southeast Mexico is also one of the poorest dioceses in the worldwide Anglican Communion.
The Diocese of Southeast Mexico is one of the five dioceses in the Iglesia de México (the Mexican Province of the Anglican Communion). Once a part of the Episcopal Church in the United States of America, the Iglesia de México was granted autonomy by General Convention in 1997. The Episcopal Church will provide support to the Mexican church for 2022, with the stipend diminishing at a rate of 4 percent per year.
The largest source of revenue in this area is tourism, but most of the rural areas do not have the more common tourist attractions and cannot access this source of revenue. Other sources of revenue include agriculture, and, in some of the costal area, fishing. Although there are several major cities in the diocese, most Anglican churches are in the countryside and are what we would call missions. Few are self supporting or even capable of supporting themselves in the foreseeable future.
At the diocesan level, one also does not see luxury. The Bishop, Benito Juarez, has a staff of one, his wife. They are responsible for the administration, pastoral care, finances and day to day business of all of the seventeen congregations (which are served by nine priests) in addition to all of the things that we normally consider the functions of a bishop. Given the size of the diocese, it is not uncommon for the bishop to drive 24 hours or more over roads that are often scarcely more than dirt paths to reach various congregations.
Self sufficiency for his congregations is the overarching dream of Bishop Benito. A key part of this plan is the Anglican Center in Tuxtepec, Oaxaca. You hear the words “Anglican Center” and visions of a cathedral and vast additional buildings come to mind. In fact, the Anglican Center is a small farm property purchased by the diocese with assistance from the United Thank Offering and others sources. A small cement block residence and a larger stucco residence stand on the property as well as a large covered patio. The Bishop’s initial hope, now realized with technical assistance from Heifer International and financial assistance from the Diocese of Chicago, was a herd of seventeen cattle, one for each of the congregations, to graze on the fertile land.
MUTUALITY OF COMPANSIONSHIP
The Diocese of Chicago has companion diocese relationships with the Diocese of Southwest Mexico and the Diocese of Renk of the Episcopal Church of Sudan. All three dioceses and their bishops are pledged to mutual support, encouragement, and prayer. All three dioceses have agreed to share the resources that they have in abundance with each other: to pray for each other, to visit each other, to encourage each other, to share spiritual journeys, to extend friendships, and, where money is abundant, to share financial resources. Bishop Joseph Garang Atem Zorial of Renk, Bishop Benito Juárez Martinez of Southeast Mexico, and Bishop Jeffrey Lee of Chicago are actively involved in this sharing.
It is so easy to think that we have so much to offer the people of the Diocese of Southeast Mexico. In relative terms, we are financially wealthy. How can our companionship be equal or balanced? Won’t our relationship be one-sided?
What you will discover is that you will learn so much from these incredible people and will receive far more than you will give. You will see living examples of people who place a priority on their relationship with God, of relying on God and trusting in God under sometimes harsh conditions. A partnering relationship is an unparalleled opportunity to truly experience the meaning of a mission.
Other objectives include:
• To remember the laity, clergy, and seminarians of sister parishes in each Diocese through the Cycle of Prayer;
• To develop exchange visits among individuals and parishes;
• To develop spiritual and physical activities across Dioceses.
Parishes in the Diocese of Chicago that have initiated formal parish partnerships include: St. Chrysostom’s, Chicago; Christ Church, Winnetka; St. Mary’s, Park Ridge; Trinity Church, Wheaton; and Transfiguration, Palos Park.
An example of a spiritual partnership includes the annual Advent and Lenten daily devotionals written by members of Transfiguration and its companion parish, La Transfiguracion, and translated into English and Spanish.