Bilingual Unity

Note: This is second in a series about my trip to the Dominican Republic in late May 2011.

In my last post, I began to tell about “Latin Experience,” an educational opportunity organized by the Association for Episcopal Deacons (AED).

The group of ten that arrived in San Pedro de Macoris on a Saturday evening included a retired bishop, three postulants at various stages in their discernment and training, and six deacons. Deacon Bob Snow, a U.S. American who has been serving as a missionary in the DR for 10 years, met us at the Bishop Kellogg Conference Center. Several Dominican deacons and postulants were also on hand to welcome us and help us get settled in our rooms. Some of them spoke some English and some of us spoke some Spanish, but even when language failed, everyone understood our shared excitement at being together.

La Iglesia Episcopal San Esteban

We had been told in advance to be sure to bring vestments because the Dominicans “love processions.” They would be disappointed if we did not all vest and join in. Thus Sunday morning we streamed across the street and gathered on the steps outside the main entrance to La Iglesia Episcopal de San Esteban (St. Stephen).

What better way to kick off our Latin Experience than with a glorious bilingual Holy Eucharist! The Dominicans worship with great joy and spirit. Accompanied by a keyboard, the congregation rocked the house with singing and clapping as we processed down the aisle to special seats at the front for los diakonos Americanos, the American deacons.

Deacon Emilio Pringle calls the people to worship. I am behind him (center frame).

I got to go all the way to the altar because I had volunteered to assist and was immediately assigned the role of Deacon of the Table. In the photo below, you seem me performing my most unusual task ever as Deacon of the Table: Holding a microphone for the celebrant.

Opening Eucharist at San Esteban, Bishop Michael presiding.

The singing, the sermon and most of the prayers were all in Spanish. The Gospel was proclaimed twice, first in Spanish then in English. The Great Thanksgiving was in English because our Dominican hosts would have it no other way than that el Obispo Michael Garrison from the U.S. celebrate the Mass.

But here’s what makes a bilingual service within the Episcopal tradition so special: At many points in the service, such as the opening salutation, the confession, the prayers of the people and throughout communion, it matters not at all whether the words are spoken in Spanish or in English, or—as was often the case—in both languages at the same time.  Everyone knows and understands. We are united in faith by our liturgy as shared in the Book of Common Prayer.

What a wonderful expression of the unity of the Body of Christ within the diversity of humankind! Gracias a Dios. Thanks be to God.