Hernandez Consecrated as Cuba's Coadjutor
Episcopal News Service. September 11, 1980 [80309]
HAVANA -- More than 500 people joined Anglican bishops from throughout the Americas in the consecration of the Rt. Rev. Emilio Hernandez as Bishop Coadjutor of the Episcopal Church in Cuba.
The Church in Cuba was once a missionary district of the Episcopal Church in the U.S. and Presiding Bishop John M. Allin was represented by Bishop William H. Folwell of Central Florida and also sent personal greetings to Diocesan Bishop Jose Gonzalez.
Cuba is now under a metropolitan council consisting of the president of the Episcopal Church's Province IX, and the Archbishops of Canada and the West Indies. Bishop Lemuel Shirley of Panama, president of the Province, was the chief consecrator. He was assisted by Bishop Leonardo Romero of Northern Mexico and Bishop Gonzalez.
Bishop Neville W. DeSouza, Bishop of Montego Bay and Suffragan of Jamaica, was the other representative of the metropolitan council while Bishop David Evans of Peru took part as representative of the Anglican Council of South America.
Bishop Hernandez, a native of Cuba, was serving as an archdeacon of the Church when he was elected last December. He and Bishop Gonzalez will both continue to manage parishes while dividing the pastoral and administrative work of the Church.
A priest for 24 years, Bishop Hernandez holds a degree in science and has done advanced study in languages and history. He fought in the struggle against the Batista regime but was later imprisoned for ten years under Castro.
In his greetings, Presiding Bishop Allin noted that the "friendship and fraternity within the Anglican community" had not diminished "in spite of the tense relations between Cuba and the United States. "
His letter continued: "For many years we have had a special interest for the work of the Church in Cuba and we rejoice in its witness and fidelity in the Gospel.
"We give thanks to God for the ministry of the Church in Cuba during all its history and we are thankful for the leaders that it has produced in Cuba and outside Cuba. Their example and witness have been a source of inspiration to many of us.
"At the beginning of this new chapter with the consecration of the Ven. Emilio Hernandez, we pray specially that the Lord will bless all of you abundantly in this new venture. I am sorry that I will not be able to be personally with you at a moment so important in the life of the Church in Cuba. . . I hope that the old and strong ties between the Churches of Cuba and the United States will be maintained and strengthened for the glory of God in the years to come."
Diplomats from Canada, Great Britain and Panama joined delegates of the Roman Catholic, Methodist, Baptist and Liberal Catholic Churches in the celebration.