Two Connecticut priests - the Rev. Canon James E. Curry of Bloomfield and the Rev. Wilfrido Ramos-Orench of Hartford - were elected as bishops suffragan for the Diocese of Connecticut in two successive elections June 17 at St. John's Church, Bridgeport.

Canon Curry, 51, has been canon to the ordinary to the diocesan bishop, the Rt. Rev. Andrew D. Smith, since 1998. He was rector of Trinity Church, Portland, for 10 years before that. He has also served at parishes in Enfield and Torrington, Conn. Prior to his ordination in 1985, Canon Curry was an elementary school teacher for 10 years. He is a graduate of Amherst College, the University of Massachusetts, and Berkeley Divinity School at Yale. He and his wife, Kathleen, are the parents of three children.

In his acceptance speech Canon Curry said that he "looks forward to serving Christ in new and exciting ways, with Andrew, his friend and his bishop."

Fr. Ramos, 60, a native of Puerto Rico, will become the diocese's first Hispanic bishop. He is currently a missioner for a regional ministry in Hartford, and also missioner of a Spanish-speaking congregation in New Britain. Before going to Hartford, Fr. Ramos was rector of St. Luke's, Bridgeport, from 1984-1993 and the diocesan Latino Missioner 1993-1995. He has served in Puerto Rico as parish priest and as assistant to the Bishop of Puerto Rico. He graduated from Catholic University of Puerto Rico, and the Episcopal Seminary of the Caribbean. He is married to Marling Gotay-Colon, and he has five children from a previous marriage.

After the election, Fr. Ramos said the election process has been "scary at times, but also full of blessings."

The full slate of eight candidates included three from outside the diocese and five priests from Connecticut. Canon Curry was one of two candidates who entered the election process through petition, as allowed under the election's rules. The June elections carried on a 216-year Connecticut tradition of voters electing bishops from among clergy in their own diocese.

It is hoped both bishops-elect can be presented at General Convention, and their elections ratified by both the House of Bishops and House of Deputies. A joint consecration service is tentatively scheduled for Oct. 14 at Christ Church Cathedral, Hartford.