(L to R) Bishop Holcomb, Rev. Wimmer and Canon De la Cruz

St. Mary’s, Belleview, celebrated the first anniversary of its Spanish-language worship service on Sunday, Oct. 15. The Rt. Rev. Dr. Justin S. Holcomb, bishop of the Diocese of Central Florida, presided over the Eucharistic celebration, with assistance from the Very Rev. Lisa Wimmer, rector, and the Rev. Canon Luis De la Cruz, the diocese’s canon for Hispanic Ministries and rector at St. John’s, Kissimmee.

The joyful service was held in Spanish from beginning to end, with Wimmer reading the Gospel in Spanish. More than 115 people attended the anniversary celebration, more than half of them Hispanic. Leo Restrepo, a St. Mary’s parishioner originally from Colombia, and a team of Hispanic collaborators prepared an extraordinary dinner that followed the celebration.

“I was thrilled to see such a large group of Spanish-speaking Christians come together to worship our triune God in their first language,” Holcomb said. “To have started, grown and fostered a community of 125 people in the span of one year is spectacular. It demonstrates God’s faithfulness, and it’s a testament to the effectiveness of the collaboration between Canon De la Cruz and Rev. Wimmer, their leadership and discipleship.”

The Rector Search Committee that interviewed Wimmer in 2015 told her they would like St. Mary’s next rector to begin having a service in Spanish.

“I expressed an interest in that, and I was told that there was a retired priest who would be able to help,” Wimmer explained. “Soon after that, the priest moved away, which stalled our plans.”

Restrepo was also interested in helping Wimmer, so they began the process. Wimmer found the Episcopal lectionary (an ordered system for reading the scriptures at the Eucharist and Daily Office) in Spanish online and gathered the things she needed.

“I began talking with Father José Rodríguez [rector of Christ the King and vicar of Jesús de Nazaret, both in Orlando] and connecting Leo with other Hispanic priests in our diocese,” Wimmer said. “Finally, Canon Luis De la Cruz got involved. He offered to come to St. Mary’s once a month to teach us how to do the service.”

De la Cruz travels to St. Mary’s monthly with people from his church who lift and encourage those who come to the Spanish service. He has helped Wimmer learn how to minister to the Hispanic community.

“He has been my mentor for over a year,” Wimmer said. “He is a true gift to the body of Christ.”

The response from St. Mary’s parishioners was terrific.

“To my surprise, people from our congregation came to the services,” Wimmer said. “About 20 dedicated people from St. Mary’s morning services attend the Spanish service. There were many times when the attendance was equal between English-speaking and Spanish-speaking people. The people who came to the Spanish service were so happy to be welcomed by our members. They were also so happy that they could attend church again in their native language.”

De la Cruz pointed out some key characteristics of the Hispanic ministry at Saint Mary’s.

“First, for over two years, Rev. Lisa has been enthusiastic about having a Hispanic service in her parish,” he said. “Second, for the beginning and development of this ministry, Rev. Lisa has had the collaboration and leadership of Leo Restrepo, the enthusiastic support of the vestry, and many members of the congregation who join the Hispanic group in the celebration of the Eucharist.

“The third peculiarity is that Rev. Lisa has decided to learn Spanish,” he said.

Wimmer said she could not have the monthly service without the help of parishioners who attend the regular Sunday services. “Leila Gordon, John Pfeiffer, Colleen Rothrock and Nelson Scott help at the Spanish service each month and also serve in some capacity at the Sunday services,” she said.

She is also working toward the goal of holding more frequent services in Spanish.

“I am hoping and praying that I will improve my Spanish so we can offer weekly worship in Spanish,” Wimmer said. “I so love our new people, and they know it. I’m trying to tell them how blessed God is that we worship together in his house.”