Check out "The Vista"

A new feature will be "The Vista" or the "The View."  In a effort to update clergy of the workings and initiatives of Diocesan House, Bishop Vono began a communications initiative called "In the Loop."  Since its inception in early 2011, "In the Loop"  has been a great success.  


A modified version of "In the Loop" will be found on this blog. 


Check out the weekly "Vista" for information on the Bishop, the Diocese, activities, youth events, happenings in your churches and all the news as it travels in New Mexico and Far West Texas!  


We know you will like the "vista"

Snow Slam 2012!  February 18-20

Snow Slam 2012!  The Rio Grande Youth Task Force invites all our 6-12th graders to find your way to Santa Fe for a weekend of play, music, prayer and snow (hopefully).  Climb (or descend) the mountain to grow in fellowship and faith with youth from around the diocese.   Sunday at Snow Slam is usually a day on the mountain: as in the past you can ski or snowboard, or learn to ski or snowboard.  New this year is an option to enjoy a crazy Scavenger Hunt game in Santa Fe. Registration fee is $100 per person, and this does not include ski/snowboard costs, details on the registration form. A flier and registration form are attached.

The Bishop’s Visitation Schedule

Bishop Vono, in his first twelve months as Bishop, has visited nearly all the congregations in the Diocese. This probably is the first time a sitting bishop has achieved this goal. The visitation schedule is being prepared for the coming year on a more humane level of activity, and the Bishop expects to visit his congregations on an eighteen-month rotation to provide our bishop with opportunities to recover from his hectic schedule. 

The Visitation Schedules

Bishop Vono is scheduled to visit the following:

• January 8 - All Saints’, Grants
• January 15 - St. James', Mesilla Park
• January 22 - Church of the Holy Family, Santa Fe
• January 22 - St. Thomas the Apostle, Santa Fe
• January 29 - Holy Mount, Ruidoso
• January 29 - St. Matthias, Carrizozo

The Canons to the Ordinary are scheduled to visit:

The Rev. Canon Daniel Gutierrez

• January 29 - St. Andrew's, Roswell

Lay Licensing

Lay Licensing for LEM/Chalice Bearers will be continued from the previous year for licensees only. Other lay licensed positions are not extended, and are on hold as the Commission on the Ministry of the Baptized continues to develop the criteria and materials for trainings for other licensed positions. These include: Lay Pastors, Lay Preachers, Lay Catechists have not been extended. 

Bosque Signage:  A sign has been designed and is being fabricated to mark the entrance to the Bosque Center along Coors Boulevard at Robeson Drive. 

Bosque Center Remodeling:  Bids from contractors are expected in the next weeks, and then will be reviewed as the project continues. 

Calling All Applicants for Diocesan Treasurer

The Diocese is accepting applications for appointment as Diocesan Treasurer. Applicants are asked to submit a resume, and a discernment essay describing “why I feel called.” Submissions should be sent to the Diocese to the attention of Lisa Katz-Ricker. Applications will be reviewed during the month of January and interviews will be scheduled for the month of February. We are anticipating appointing a diocesan treasurer in early March. 

Convention Eucharist Photo 

The photo of the Diocesan Clergy con-celebrating Bishop Michael’s First Convention Eucharist at Living Stones Church is available for download on the Diocesan website at: 

http://www.dioceserg.org/pages/view/about_us

The New Diocesan mailing address is:


Episcopal Diocese of the Rio Grande
Bosque Conference and Spiritual Life Center 
6400 Coors Boulevard NW

Albuquerque, NM 87120

First Class Mail sent to the former diocesan address will be forwarded to the Bosque Center. 

Diocesan Phone stays the same:

Phone: 505-881-0636 

Fax: 505-883-9048

Clergy News:

• The Rev. Jeanne Lutz has replaced the Rev. Canon Kathleene McNellis as Priest in Charge at St. Christopher’s Episcopal Church in El Paso.
• The Rev. Canon Kathleene McNellis has assumed her post as Canon to the Ordinary at the Diocesan Office.  
• The Rev. Nicolette Papanek has been appointed as Priest in Charge at St. Bede’s Episcopal Church, Santa Fe, to serve as the church goes through the process to replace the Rev. Richard Murphy, who retired. She begins work on February 1.

Clergy Events:

• 7 p.m. Friday January 6: Mr. Douglas Bleyle will be ordained to the diaconate at the Cathedral of St. John in Albuquerque. 
• Friday, January 27:  The Rev’d Dale Plummer will be installed as rector of St. Andrew’s, Roswell, New Mexico.