A CHURCH MOVED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT
Rvdmo. Moisés Quezada Mota
Obispo Iglesia Episcopal Dominicana
I feel personally delighted to write this note to each of you so that you can continue to follow us through our website. As some of you know, on November 4 of this year 2017 I was installed as the new Diocesan Bishop of the Dominican Episcopal Church, a church that for more than a century has been moved by the Holy Spirit. Historically we had several bishops who served as bishops in charge of the missionary jurisdiction of our country until 1960 when the House of Bishops of the Episcopal Church named Bishop Paul Axtel Kellogg as the first Resident Bishop thus forming the Diocese of the Dominican Episcopal Church. When I was installed, I then became the 4th Bishop of our Church.
Aware that we are a third world nation that has experienced a relative economic development but where great social inequalities still persist, the Dominican Episcopal Church, responding to these needs, has carried out for many years an intense missionary work in almost the entire country carrying the gospel and, at the same time, responding to the social and development needs in all places where we are present. Our missionary program includes taking “the bread of knowledge” through our primary and middle schools and children’s shelters, health care through medical attention and our Esperanza Clinic in San Pedro de Macorís, Micro-Credit and Community Social Development Program, Immigration Program, emergency assistance and other programs that we cannot mention now for lack of space. In the Dominican society we have given a strong testimony of our faith by participating actively in social and ecumenical movements that seek the well-being of all Dominican society and promote reconciliation among all people. This has made possible for the Dominican Episcopal Church to enjoy an important position of prestige in our nation.
One of our most notable characteristics is the proclamation of the gospel. We believe that we have to preach Christ to all people and with enthusiasm. The Churches and the Diocese in general have movements of young people, men and women, where God’s presence is felt every day through the power of the Holy Spirit.
I also want to tell you that our temples and places of worship are always open for the celebration of the Eucharist and other praise and worship services. In each of these activities carried out in these places, you find often a manifestation of great enthusiasm among those attending and beautiful joy, the fruit of the brotherhood that exists among the participants. Likewise, our temples are always ready for the diverse activities of the communities where they are located.
We are a Church moved by the Holy Spirit that in this new stage has great challenges. We are committed to the future to continue expanding our Church to new places, building new temples, and starting new programs of spiritual and evangelical renewal. The Dominican society at the present time has serious moral and social problems that require pastoral work of family and individual assistance. In this pastoral work we are committed to the integral development of all members of the church and of society in a general sense. To achieve this we must move toward new initiatives, and these initiatives must embrace and respond to the most urgent needs, especially the spiritual, moral and social needs.
We want as a Church, and especially I as a bishop, that you support us with your prayers, your missionary work, your contributions and your visits to this great ministry that we have in our country as we face the new challenges that we are sure to have in this new stage. God bless you!