Mar 2011 - Diocese of the Rio Grande

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2 IN THE EPISCOPAL DIOCESE OF THE RIO GRANDE Message from Bishop Michael Bosque Center to Nurture the Life of the Diocese Many of you have expressed your excitement about the future of our Diocese and the possibilities that will flow from our purchase of the Spiritual Renewal Center in Albuquerque. Your anticipation of what will become The Bosque Center matches that of those of us who were involved in the negotiations for the property. The property, which will be a conference and spiritual life center, sits amidst five acres along the Bosque of the Rio Grande in Albuquerque. The Center will provide a peaceful gathering place that is centrally located for our Diocesan Life together. The sale of this wonderful facility, by the grace of God, and I believe, the guidance of the Holy Spirit, came to my attention early in December. Since then many diocesan leaders have been creatively and boldly engaged with me in envisioning how this breathtaking facility could serve the myriad spiritual and educational formative needs of both laity and clergy across the whole diocese for many generations to come. Centered in the heart of Albuquerque, originally owned and operated by the Dominican Sisters of St. Catherine de’Ricci, this holy place will become the diocese’s heart-beat giving new life and growth to evangelism in this third millennium and inspiring reconciliation in Christ. We are all prayerfully just beginning to envision what this facility might become. The center will house our diocesan office, a future diocesan Resource Library, and other aspects of our diocesan life together. We also expect this facility to be a center for laity and clergy continuing education and ministry formation, numerous conferences , intergenerational and young adult ministries, open to parish groups and used for personal and parish retreats. Our doors will be wide open to serve both ecumenical and interfaith communities. We are blessed and grateful for the foresight of the Trustees of Property and the Standing Committee. The Diocese became the legal owner of the property as of January 31. To meet the purchase price of $1.7 million, we were able to draw approximately $280,000 from all six of the Diocesan investment accounts to allow us to pay cash. No funds were taken from the Diocesan operating budget. This investment in the Diocese will ensure a strong future for generations to come. Visioning always entails re-visioning so these descriptive offerings are just some initial ideas. Yet, In my pastoral mind this will be our “Diocesan Family Center” providing us with a more central and accessible location to bring many and diverse people together and to witness to Christ’s Gospel work of love, charity, nourishing community , a place for good works and transforming lives. We are working on plans for remodeling and renovation, which will recreate the current space to meet the needs of our Diocese and for its outreach to others. We hope to be moving later this year. For more information, visit www.bosquecenter. com. We also are preparing to make a YouTube Virtual Tour of the premises so you all have a chance to begin envisioning other possibilities as you and I carry on Christ’s Mission. The Lord has blessed us richly by giving us this extraordinary gift in this new year, and providing a new context in strengthening the mission and ministries of the Diocese of the Rio Grande. The Holy Spirit is on the move. Pray for each other and the witness of the DRG. God Bless +Michael Lecturer Favors ‘Faithful Presence’ to Engage Culture Gathered are, from left to right, Dr. Ladona Clayton, Fr. Ben and Beryl Wright, Dr. James Hunter, Fr. Alan Brockmeier, Bishop Terence and Hazel Kelshaw, and Bishop Michael Vono. St. James’ Parish in Clovis, New Mexico, hosted the 4th Annual Kelshaw Lecture Series, which featured Dr. James Davis Hunter, Professor of Religion, Culture and Social Theory at the University of Virginia. Dr. Hunter is the author of seven books, including To Change the World, Is There a Culture War, and The Death of Character. Dr. Hunter’s lecture focused on efforts to transform American culture, and challenged the notion that transforming “hearts and minds” can effect cultural change. He critiqued the politicized efforts of the Christian Right, the Christian Left, and the neo-Anabaptists. He concluded that Christians need to engage culture through “faithful presence” in their different spheres and communities. Bishop Michael Vono attended the two-day lecture, and followed up with an annual visit to St. John’s Episcopal Church. At the Fort Sumner church, Bishop Michael presided over the confirmation of William Barnwell and reception of Melinda Pattison. Bishop Vono then enjoyed lunch and a time of fellowship with the congregation at St. John’s. Pastoral Message Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ Jesus, In the past several weeks there have been faithful Christians killed while worshipping in Alexandria, a mass murder in Tucson, unrest and chaos in Egypt and Tunisia and other places in the Middle East and Africa. Last week there was an unconscionable murder of a Christian Ugandan gay rights activist, David Kato, which has shocked, disturbed and deeply saddened both spiritual and political leaders worldwide. All these murders are a seamless pattern of irrational hatred, violence and injustice. We, as Episcopal Anglicans, believe in our Baptismal promise “to strive for justice and peace among all people and respect the dignity of every human being.” We have been courageously bold in calling the Christian Church to combat the rise of violence and hatred increasing in the world community especially in African countries. In Uganda, adhering to irrational unjust draconian laws, the government continues to call for death and imprisonment of homosexual people, and is complacent in outlawing a public magazine which legally calls for the blatant killing of gay people. Many Ugandans would consider there country largely Christian. These acts of violence are repugnant to the teachings of Jesus Christ. They blatantly disregard the God given dignity and sanctity of every human life. We are taught in the Ten Commandments, “You shall not commit murder. Love your neighbor as yourself.” I invite you to join me in solidarity of prayer and a public recommitment to strive for justice and reconciliation among all people. As Christians in this third millennium, we must witness to the Christ of God who did not keep silence in the face of injustice and violence. As I would not have been able to keep silence had I been living in Nazi Germany when Jews were murdered because they were Jews, likewise I cannot keep silence in this age as homosexual people are murdered simply because they are homosexual. As David Kato’s gentle and loving voice had been effective giving hope and inspiration to numerous discarded people, so also our strong voice of faith and prayer must be heard. May the Lord forgive us our sins and heal the wounds of humanity’s lack of compassion and love. My prayers and support remain with all those who have been spiritually affected by these tragedies. Blessings, Bishop Michael
IN THE 3 EPISCOPAL DIOCESE OF THE RIO GRANDE Photo by Raymond Raney Photo by Raymond Raney Photo by Raymond Raney Photo by Raymond Raney The Bosque Center Adds to History of Spiritual Formation The Chapel Bell Tour of the Bosque Center on the west side The Episcopal Diocese of the Rio Grande inherits a long history of spiritual formation with the purchase of The Spiritual Renewal Center. Soon the SRC will be known as The Bosque Conference and Spiritual Life Center, which will provide for Conferences, Retreats and and the Spiritual Life of the Diocese. In 1955, Edwin V. Byrnes, the Archbishop of the Archdiocese Santa Fe, invited the Dominican Sisters of St. Catherine de’Ricci to come to Albuquerque, New Mexico, to run the Catechetical Office for the Archdiocese. That year, two sisters came to Albuquerque to begin their ministry with the intention of opening a retreat house for women. Their search for a retreat house and convent continued at various locations for many years, including a seventy- acre tract that is now the location of Santa Maria de la Vid Priory for the Norbertine Community. In 1992, with the help of the Board of Directors, comprised of lay men and women, the Sisters moved and rented facilities from the Servants of the Paraclete on Pajarito Road about two miles from the first retreat house location. The Sisters continued their retreat ministry at the Pajarito site for nearly 12 years. The current site of the Spiritual Renewal Center was purchased, renovated and expanded in 2001. In 2004, the Spiritual Renewal Center, through combined efforts of the Board of Directors and the Sisters, built the existing ‘Retreat House’ with rooms for up to forty retreatants, a large gathering space with a New Mexico-style landscaped grounds, mountain views and local walks and trails. 2009 was a year of goodbyes as sisters became ill and retired. The Dominican Sisters completed their ministry at the Spiritual Renewal Center in 2009, turning over its operation to the Board of Directors of the non-profit corporation. The Spiritual Renewal Center’s history expressed concern that the Sister’s departure meant that the Spiritual Renewal Center had lost the Dominican ‘Face’, and prayers were raised for new directions. In 2009 and 2010 programs were attempted to to provide lay ministerial leadership and retreat opportunities beyond its Roman Catholic origins to open its doors to all faiths and spiritualities. By the end of 2010, Bishop Michael Vono was made aware that the Center might be available for purchase, and negotiations began between the Center’s board and the Diocese. The purchase was finalized and ownership changed hands on January 30, 2011. The Diocese is in the process of envisioning a new future for The Bosque Center as a new home for the Diocesan staff, as a resources for the Diocese, and a center for spiritual formation, retreats and conferences. An East view of the Retreat House Summer respite on the Patio A Fall evening view of the Main Building The View from the Retreat Space The Labyrinth Photo from the SRC Website Photo from the SRC Website Photo from the SRC Website Photo from the SRC Website Photo from the SRC Website
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Mar 2011 - Diocese of the Rio Grande

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