Father Anselmo Carral Elected Bishop of Guatemala
Diocesan Press Service. November 2, 1972 [72178]
NEW ORLEANS (SEP) -- The Rev. Anselmo Carral, rector of St. Mark's Church in Panama City, was elected Bishop of Guatemala today by the House of Bishops of the Episcopal Church. The Guatemala see was vacant since October, 1971, when Bishop William C. Frey was ordered to leave the country by the government of Guatemala.
Father Carral was born in Ciego de Avila, Cuba, on March 18, 1925. After studying for two years in the Law School of the University of Havana, he entered Virginia Theological Seminary, where he completed his theological studies. Years later he returned to Virginia Seminary, where he obtained a Master's Degree in 1970.
Father Carral was ordained deacon in 1951 and to the priesthood in 1952. In Cuba he was in charge of parishes in La Esmeralda, Jiqui, Tabor and Moron. During his time in Mor6n, five young men decided to enter the ministry of the Church. From 1957 until 1962, he was Archdeacon of Camaguey Province.
Father Carral represented Cuba at the General Assembly of the World Council of Churches in New Delhi, India, in 1961. During the last ten years he has exercised his ministry in Panama, where he has been in charge of the Episcopal University Center and more recently of St. Mark's Church. He also has served as Chairman of the Mutual Responsibility Commission and as Secretary of the Ninth Province of the Episcopal Church.
In 1951 he married the former Berta Sargenton-Guzman also of Cuba. The Carrals have two daughters, Berta, who is studying languages at a university in the United States, and Vivian, who attends high school in Panama.
His consecration is expected to take place before the end of the year in Guatemala.