Last weekend, the deacons of the Diocese of Georgia retreated to Honey Creek for fellowship, learning, and support. Deacon Larry Jesion, who just completed a program on pastoral care at the VA in Augusta, led the group in discussion and hands-on activities focused on grief for this annual retreat.

 

We talked about many types of grief-others' and our own-and how hard it is when we are faced with unexpected change and loneliness. One meditation had us on our knees washing our hands in the "tears of the suffering of the world." We walked and meditated for ourselves and others.

 

We shared our own struggles as we try to be present with those who reach out to us either in our roles as deacon or any of the other hats we may wear. Some deacons work with people struggling with physical or mental health. Some fight for those who can't speak for themselves: the children, the elderly, even the unwanted pets that are thrown away to fend for themselves. All deacons at some point minister to those suffering grief, often when facing personal grief as well. 

 

We shared our successes as well as our inadequacies in walking with those in grief. And we accepted the support of our colleagues. We walked, we prayed, we cried, and shared Communion as we took a breath and gained strength for the journey of servant ministry.   -Archdeacon Sandy Turner

Our Companion Diocese of the Dominican Republic celebrated its new Bishop Coadjutor on Saturday, February 13. The Rev. Moisés Quezada Mota (pictured right) was ordained and consecrated as Bishop Coadjutor during the concluding service of the 58th annual convention of the Dominican diocese. The Presiding Bishop, the Most Rev. Michael Curry, was the chief consecrator at the service, which was attended by twenty other Episcopal bishops, one hundred clergy and seminarians from the Dominican Republic and the other companion dioceses, and approximately 1,500 representatives of the Dominican Episcopal churches and schools. The Rt. Rev. Quezada has a long history of ordained service in the Dominican Republic, and will succeed the Rt. Rev. Julio C. Holguín as diocesan bishop upon his retirement.

 

Bishop Curry is the first Presiding Bishop to attend a Dominican diocesan convention, where he participated in several sessions, addressed the delegates twice and preached at a Sunday service at Epiphany Cathedral. He praised Bishop Holguín in these words: "Thank God for your long and apostolic ministry. When giants walk among us, we must thank God for them. Your bishop has been a voice for those who have no voice, a light for those who have no light." Bishop Holguin is now in his 25th year of service as Bishop of the Diocese of the Dominican Republic, and is the longest-serving diocesan bishop currently in The Episcopal Church's House of Bishops. 

 

The board members of the Dominican Development Group (DDG), a coordinating agency for the twelve Companion Dioceses, also attended the convention and the consecration service. On Monday, February 15, they held their semi-annual meeting in the diocesan office. The two mission teams from Georgia who have already worked in 2016 were praised by both Bishop Holguin and by Missionary Karen Carroll, who serves as the coordinator of the logistics for over 50 mission teams that come from the US each year. Bishop Holguín noted that our team from the Southeastern Convocation was the first to use the newly-completed Morrow Conference Center in Santana Baní, and their evaluations helped greatly during the initial "shakedown" experience for that facility. Karen reported that the optical clinic team from St. Peter's Savannah did a wonderful job at the Dominican medical clinic in San Pedro de Macorís, seeing over 700 patients in a highly organized process. Also during this meeting, Julia Ariail, a co-chair of our Companion Diocese Commission, was elected as the DDG secretary for a two-year term. Julia serves on the DDG's endowment committee and works with her husband, Julius, on DDG communications projects. 

Nancy N. Fritschner, CPA

Member of the CREDO Finance Faculty

(877) 305-1414

The Rev. Canon William Geisler, CPA (ret.)

Regular lecturer on clergy and church tax issues

(877) 305-1415  

Cursillo #121 is right around the corner! Taking place at Honey Creek the weekend of February 25-28 Please pray for the participants and staff! De Colores!