Bishop Pina-Lopez to serve at Canterbury

Posted June 23rd, 2009

Central Florida Episcopalian: Around the Diocese
By Joe Thoma
Bishop Pina-Lopez and Fr. Comforted Keen at Canterbury

Bishop Hugo Pina-Lopez has been officially retired for several years, but he has remained active in the hearts of Central Florida Episcopalians through a limited schedule of Sunday visitations and a continued advocacy for Honduras, Hispanic ministries and Cursillo.

Although his schedule of visitations has concluded, Bishop Hugo is slated for a new assignment, ministering to visitors and staff at the Diocese’s conference center in Oviedo.
 
“We (the Canterbury Board, Fr. Paul McQueen, and I) believe that the Lord has led us to an exciting new possibility: We want to create the position of ‘Bishop in Residence’ at the Canterbury Retreat and Conference Center and make available Hugo’s pastoral ministry in a variety of ways,” Bishop John W. Howe wrote to Canterbury supporters. “He can hear confessions and do counseling, he might be available for Bible studies and workshops, and in other ways enhance the wonderful ministry of Canterbury.”
 
Bishop Hugo was born in Cuba. He and his wife, Minnie, were married there in 1965. They have three grown children, all living in the United States. He served parishes in Cuba, Miami and Tegucigalpa, Honduras, before being elected Bishop of Honduras in 1978. With more than 30 years’ service as a bishop, he is the senior member of the House of Bishops. His health forced him to leave Honduras in 1983 for the United States, where he served parishes in Texas, Oklahoma and Avon Park, in the Diocese of Central Florida.
 
He became assistant bishop in Central Florida in 1995. Since then, he has worked tirelessly to share Bishop Howe’s pastoral ministry.
 
Bishop Hugo had a kidney transplant in 2001, then had a serious car accident that resulted in a slow, painful recovery. He recently had surgery on his arm, and might face further surgery before starting his Canterbury ministry officially at the end of the summer.
 
“I just look forward to helping people with their walk with the Lord,” Bishop Hugo said, adding that he will spend the summer talking with Canterbury’s Executive Director Fr. Paul McQueen about the details of the position. “This is a challenge and a new opportunity, and we have to explore the best way to do things.”
 
Spiritual help for diocesan members is something in which Bishop Hugo has boundless experience, say those who have worked with him.
 
“On the diocesan Cursillo Commission, Bishop Pina-Lopez has been a guiding light and a blessing. He has provided wonderful spiritual guidance,” said Deacon Betty Harrison. “He also has become a dear friend.”
Bishop Hugo was at Canterbury on June 21 for the closing of a Hispanic Cursillo, which had 40 cursillistas and 31 on the Team for Christ.
 
The Rev. Comforted Keen, rector of Holy Child, Ormond Beach, and a member of the Honduras Commission, also was at the closing, and said he was glad to hear about Bishop Hugo’s appointment.
 
“Bishop Hugo has a huge heart for the Great Commission and the ministry of the Church as it pertains to the individual,” Fr. Keen said. “He has big ideas but is people-focused.”
 
Pam Kirk, of the Cursillo Commission, also said she was enthusiastic about the Bishop-in-Residence program.
“It will be wonderful to have him available here,” she said. “He is such a blessing to the diocese.”