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The Episcopal Church in Cuba and the Companion
Relationship with the Diocese of Florida
The Episcopal Church in Cuba has a long history which, is mostly unknown to
American Episcopalians because of restricted news coverage and communication.
The rich and lengthy history of the Episcopal Church in Cuba stems from three
different sources. One dating back to 1871 and a coincidental visit by an
American bishop who had planned to go elsewhere in the Caribbean. Having found
conditions for non-Roman Catholics to be deplorable, he recruited a missionary
for Cuba from the United States, and a ministry for non-Roman Catholic
foreigners in Cuba was born.
Perhaps even more critical to the church's growth was the contribution of
Cuban patriots, exiled to the United States during Spanish Colonial rule who, as
lay readers, established congregations when they returned to their homeland.
A large influx of Anglicans from the Antilles, later brought their religious
practice, and worship in English. The result has been a rich blend of Cuban
and Spanish translations of Jamaican Anglican music into their worship.
In 1904, Cuba became a mission district. The American Church appointed the
first three bishops. In 1980, Bishop José González, the first Cuban bishop,
called for a coadjutor, at which time Emilio Hernández was elected and he became
bishop in 1982. The following bishop Jorge Perera Hurtado was appointed
bishop by the Metropolitan Council in 1994. Originally a Roman Catholic, he
converted to the Episcopal Church and later became a priest.
Currently, there are more than 10,0000 communicants in over fifty churches in
the Diocese of Cuba and growing daily, with baptisms on Sundays becoming a
common occurrence. The growth of the church in recent years has caused the
available priests to have to serve 3 and four churches each. Even though there
are a number of young men and women in the Ecumenical Seminary in Matanzas, for
the present, deacons and lay readers also help tend to some of the Churches
until every church has a priest.
Begun in 1984 under the leadership of Bishop Emilio Hernandez and Diocese of
Florida Bishop, Frank Cerveny, the companion relationship of these two
dioceses has been full and rich. Presently, the companion relationship is
thriving
with more than 40 companion churches under the leadership of Bishops Jorge
Perera of Cuba and Bishop Stephen Jecko of the Diocese of Florida. In early
2004,
Bishop Miguel Tamayo and Bishop John Howard, respectively).
Much has been accomplished in the last 17 years and much more is still
needed. There are still many churches meeting in small living rooms or
outdoors.
Time, resources and care are still needed as the Church in Cuba continues to
grow. Our responsibility as partners in mission is to find ways of becoming
integral parts of each other¹s lives as we both grow in the knowledge and love
of
God.
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