More than 300 people across the Episcopal Diocese of Virginia gathered for a milestone celebration of faith, culture, and community on October 24 when St. Timothy’s Episcopal Church in Herndon hosted the inaugural festival “Una Iglesia, Muchas Culturas, Todos en Dios” (One Church, Many Cultures, All in God).
“What a joy to celebrate our shared identity together,” said the Rev’d Edgar Otero, newly called Minister for Hispanic/Latino Communities.
The festival ended with worship in Spanish.
“Our Hispanic and Latino siblings are an integral part of the history and future of our Church,” said Otero, who works to strengthen bilingual ministry, develop leaders, and grow congregations. “We are coming together to proclaim to the four winds that we all belong to the family of God, without exception.”
The festival reflected the diocese’s commitment to honoring its multicultural identity, which encompasses Black, Korean, Vietnamese, Hispanic, and Latino worshiping communities. Attendees enjoyed an afternoon of live music, dancing, games for youth and children, and delicious food.
“Saturday was an explosion of joy. People reported feeling seen, heard, celebrated, and treasured for who they are,” said Canon for Congregational Vitality the Rev’d Shirley Smith Graham. “This is the work of congregational development – to help people show up, express who they are as God’s children and as a church, and lean into what God is calling them to do in this moment.
“For our Latino and Hispanic people, what God is calling them to do is not hide but shine. To demonstrate the resilience, resourcefulness, artistry, and beauty that is theirs and help the whole Church be stronger because of it.”
Bishop E. Mark Stevenson recognized the festival as a significant moment in diocesan history.
“Over the past several years, our diocese has deepened its commitment to loving Jesus, embodying justice, and being disciples across every culture and background,” said Bishop Stevenson. “This inaugural festival offered us a visible, joyful moment to stand together as one Body of Christ, celebrating our distinct cultural heritage while walking in unity.”
Through active partnership across diverse communities, the celebration supported the diocesan mission to love Jesus, embody justice, and be disciples.
Sponsored by the Diocese of Virginia, the Ministry for Racial Justice and Healing, and Congregational Vitality, the festival showcased the movement of the Holy Spirit across local churches, diocesan leaders said.
“This festival, along with the calling of the Rev’d Edgar Otero, is the culmination of a year’s worth of planning and hope to emphasize and empower the many gifts of ministry that our Hispanic/Latino sisters and brothers, both lay and clergy, have and continue to contribute to the life of this diocese,” said Assistant Bishop Mark Bourlakas. “It was a joy to participate in this visible sign of the growing diversity of our Gospel mission.”
The Rev. Canon Dr. J. Lee Hill Jr., Canon to the Ordinary and Dean of the Diocesan Ministry for Racial Justice and Healing, emphasized how the event honored both diversity and shared mission.
“Building sustainable, worshiping communities requires us to engage across all cultural divides with intention and love,” Canon Hill stated. “This gathering is a vibrant expression of racial justice, healing, and mutual support as we partner with parishes and laity across Virginia to embody a Gospel that calls us to the work of justice.”
The festival also provided an opportunity to meet the Rev’d Marycelis Otero, who recently began her ministry as associate rector at St. Timothy’s. She and Edgar Otero are married.
Parish leaders at St. Timothy’s welcomed the large festival crowd. Vilma Lemus, a founding member and community matriarch at St. Timothy’s since 2012, viewed the gathering as a spiritual milestone.
The festival was “not just a meeting to get to know each other; it is God’s divine purpose for our Spanish-speaking communities,” Lemus said. “Every seed sown with love will bring fruits in abundance for the service of God.”
The Rev’d Charles R. Cowherd, rector at St. Timothy’s, echoed that welcome: “In a time of pain and division in our culture, it is our hope that St. Tim’s can be a place of fellowship, prayer, and joy for all.”