Hail and Farewell at St. Andrew's

St. Andrew's, or San Andres,  is located in the southern part of Mexico City.  On the one campus is located St. Andrew's Seminary for the Anglican Church of Mexico, the Offices of the Diocese of Mexico, the Offices of the Anglican Church of Mexico, a retreat and conference center, and the residence of the Bishop. 

The Seminary chapel is a modern building, a church-in-the-round of the style that was popular about 30 or so years ago when it was built. 

Yesterday the Clericus, which is the monthly meeting of Anglican clergy of the diocese, met there 

for our regularly scheduled gathering.  It was no ordinary gathering, but the farewell to a beloved colleague, the Rector of the other English-speaking parish in the Diocese, whose church is about 4 hours from Mexico City in the town of San Miguel de Allende.  Since it was the first time I had met him, it was a 'hail and farewell' as they say.  Although there are a number of English-speaking parishes scattered throughout Mexico, with his departure and the retirement of teh rector of St. Michael's in Cuernavaca, I remain the only Rector of an English-speaking parish remaining in this part of the country.  Fortunately, I am not the only English speaking Anglican priest -- a number of my colleagues speak fair to excellent English, and one has even studied in the UK. 

I loved worshipping in this modern building -- the altar is in the very center of the round building, set up on a dais, so that when communion is served, the whole congregation gathers in a circle around the altar to receive the sacrament.  It felt like being a part of the family at the family table.  Since the building is constructed of stone and tile, the acoustics are marvelous, and even though we were only about 25 in number, the building resounded when we sang.  Although the interior is relatively plain, it did not have the feeling of being cold or severe that so many modern church buildings have. 

We gathered for Eucharist to begin the day.

At the conclusion of the service, those celebrating anniversaries of ordination were called to the front of the chapel for a prayer, and a gift was presented to the parting priest.

I often have to pause to remember the still rather startling reality that I am now a priest of the Anglican Church of Mexico, rather than of the Episcopal Church in the US.  Inspiring events like this one at St. Andrew's remind me of that reality, and the more important reality that I am not alone in this work, but joined by a cohort of devoted and talented clergy.