.webp)
Grace and peace to you this Advent season as we await the coming of the Christ child once again into our midst. I love the season of Advent and it comes at a much-needed time, amidst a busy and chaotic time for many of us. I welcome some of the stillness it brings and the hope for the peace and justice that the Messiah promises. I pray that we are all finding time for stillness and prayer, especially now.
I continue to make my way across the diocese, making Sunday visits and confirming new members into this amazing church that I love so much. I am constantly surprised and humbled at the generosity and hospitality of all the people across the diocese. It is rich, diverse and vibrant. I am thankful everyday for God’s call to help serve West Texas. I have said before that it has been a year of many firsts and that theme continues as I close in on my first year as your Suffragan bishop.
As one of the very few Latina bishops in the house of bishops, at least for a few more months, I was privileged to have been asked to participate in several extra speaking engagements this past year. I was quite humbled to have been asked to preach at the opening eucharist at the Fall House of Bishops meeting and to have been asked to be a co-consecrator at the Bishop of Cuba’s consecration in September. It was my first time to travel to Cuba, the birthplace of my parents. It proved to be an emotional and deeply personal trip. Both September and October were busy travel months. No soon had I returned from Cuba and Hispanic Heritage month brought on two additional unplanned speaking engagements. I preached and spoke at the Seminary of the Southwest and at Christ Church Cathedral in Houston for Hispanic Heritage month. I was also asked by the Seminary of the Southwest to submit an Advent reflection for their yearly Advent meditations publication.
I am so thankful for the wonderful staff that support me and the important work we do. Both Flor Saldivar and Suzanna Green are doing an amazing job supporting both Latino and Immigration Ministries and Christian Formation respectively. I am particularly proud of the collaborative work that they completed along with Canon Leyla King. They have worked tirelessly on a diocesan-wide Advent study, a podcast series called “Advent: Stories of Movement and Migration,” a joint offering from Christian Formation, Latino + Immigration, and Small Church Ministries. It is both a timely and moving reflection of Jesus’ infant narrative alongside migrant and clergy reflections. Take a listen and be moved.
We are proud to announce that our website can now be viewed both in English and Spanish and we are slowly compiling a list of resources to help our bilingual congregations. Just this week we along with the host church, St. George’s Episcopal Church, are celebrating La Virgen de Guadalupe on her feast, December 12th. This is open to anyone interested in attending across the diocese.
I am looking forward to the next six months and some of the projects we are working on for the near future. My team is working on developing two workshops for Council 2026 in Corpus Christi. We will host one for Christian Formation and another for Latino Ministries. Another Lenten podcast study is in the works so keep up with our newsletters as more information about these offerings is released.
Many often ask me what they can do for me. To be honest, I ask for your continued prayers. The work is difficult and never-ending and yet so very fulfilling, and I can always use prayers for strength, wisdom and grace. I love serving people but I especially love serving God and God’s kingdom here in the Diocese of West Texas. Thank you for your continued prayers.
Blessings and Peace to you,
The Rt. Rev. Angela Maria Cortiñas
Bishop Suffragan of West Texas
