By Donna Dupuy
Diversity, multiculturalism and the decades-old relationship between the Central Florida Diocese and Honduras were all clearly reflected Oct. 12 in Port St. Lucie, during the celebration of the 50th Anniversary of Holy Faith Episcopal Church, and exemplified by the presence of the Bishop of Honduras, the Rt. Rev. Lloyd E. Allen, who delivered the sermon.
The church began to fill up about an hour before the Rite II service began, and with all pews in the nave and both transepts full, folding chairs had to be brought out to accommodate some of the more than 250 worshipers in attendance.
Following a welcome message and announcements delivered in Spanish and English, a procession of children presented replicas of the flags of more than 40 nations, representing countries of origin for members of the congregation. There were flags for all of the Caribbean nations, but a number of European nations also were represented, including Germany, Ireland and Romania.
The international ambience continued with lessons read in English and Spanish; the Prayers of the People spoken in six languages, including German, French and Patois; a performance by the Haitian Choir; and hymns sung simultaneously in at least two languages.
In his bilingual sermon, Bishop Allen recalled that, as a child in Honduras, he was encouraged by his aunt to speak English instead of Spanish. But he noted that the growth of the Diocese of Honduras actually began when the vernacular of the service was changed from English to Spanish, and he credited Southeast Florida Bishop Leo Frade, who was Bishop of Honduras at that time, with leading that change.
With the wedding story told in the day’s gospel reading (Matthew 22: 1-14) in mind, he compared being invited to preach at Holy Faith on its 50th Anniversary to receiving an invitation to visit Buckingham Palace or attend a major movie premiere, adding that, “The Church and the Kingdom of God are joyful places for celebration, and the invitation is always open.”
Bishop Allen closed his sermon by leading the congregation in a rousing a capella version of “When the Roll is Called Up Yonder.”
In a brief interview during the luncheon that followed the service, he talked about his friendship with Holy Faith’s Vicar, Fr. Orlando Addison, and what lies ahead for the Diocese of Honduras.
The Bishop and Fr. Orlando came from the same church, which was Holy Spirit (Mision Espiritu Santo) in the town of Tela, on the northern Caribbean coast of Honduras. They were about six years apart in age, but they knew each other and played soccer.
After a tour with the Honduran Merchant Marine, Bishop Allen attended the Pedagogical School, and was ordained Deacon and priest in San Pedro. Both Bishop Allen and Fr. Orlando moved several times between the Caribbean and the United States in their ministerial careers, but they stayed in touch and their ties to Honduras remain strong.
Bishop Allen is fully committed to Honduras and its future and encourages Hondurans to come home, especially where the church is concerned. The Diocese has a goal of self-sufficiency by 2019, because like the rest of Province 9, which also includes Colombia, Venezuela, Central Ecuador, Litoral Ecuador, Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic, the Diocese of Honduras will cease to receive support from the larger church at that point.
“Honduras needs Hondurans to make it succeed,” he said.
He believes that success can be achieved by organizing the deaneries in his care as functional co-ops (cooperatives), first by identifying the strength in each one and then building on that. In that way, the Diocese could support the communities as well as itself, and all would benefit.
As an example, he describes a 300-acre agricultural school in one town that could become a co-op pig farm, which would create jobs, provide locally grown food and help the local economy.
With 2019 literally around the corner, Bishop Allen is moving forward without delay – and he’s bringing others along with him to join the quest for Diocesan self-sufficiency: in November, 15 new deacons were ordained in Honduras.