This past Saturday, members from over 40 congregations across our diocese came together for our annual Diocesan Renewal gathering, hosted by St. Paul’s Episcopal Church.
We were honored to welcome the Rev. Dr. Miguel De La Torre as our keynote speaker. In his sermon and two plenary talks, Dr. De La Torre challenged us to reflect deeply on the roots of injustice and the journey toward reconciliation. In particular, he explored the dynamics of the hopelessness and desperation of migration and resettlement through the lens of history and scripture. With clarity and conviction, he traced the impact of U.S. foreign policy and economic systems on Latin American communities, and how these histories can often be misrepresented. He focused especially on NAFTA, which devastated countless Mexican farmers whose livelihoods were undercut by a flood of heavily subsidized U.S. agricultural products. As many migrated north in search of stability, they were met not with welcome, but with a U.S. immigration system rooted in deterrence rather than compassion.
Dr. De La Torre reminded us that remembering the difficult truths and traumas of history is not about cultivating shame, but about inspiring faithful action. He shared that he, too, has been on a journey of growth and reconciliation, working hard to shed his own cultural biases. Dr. De La Torre spoke of how cultural resilience often emerges through folklore—stories that serve as both remembrance and resistance. Trickster tales like Brer Rabbit, and similar figures in Mexican and Central American traditions, reflect the cleverness and courage of oppressed peoples. Even Jesus, he suggested, might be seen as a kind of “trickster,” outwitting those who tried to entrap him and turning power on its head.
Another highlight of the day was our basket raffle. While we had just five basket entries, participation was enthusiastic, and many contributed by purchasing tickets. Together, we raised meaningful support for Latino ministries across the diocese—a reminder that even small offerings, when shared in community, can help grow the Kingdom of God.
As we look ahead, we’re grateful for the energy and spirit of this year’s gathering, and we are especially grateful to St. Paul’s, Salem for hosting, and for all the volunteers from St. Paul’s and elsewhere who helped make the day a success. We’re already making plans to gather again around the same time next year. We hope you’ll join us as we continue this journey of renewal, learning, and shared ministry in the year to come!