Presenters: July
The Reverend Nancy Frausto is the Associate Rector at Luke’s Episcopal in Long Beach, a founding member of the Diocese of Los Angeles Sanctuary Task Force and a Dreamer (DACA recipient). A powerful preacher, teacher and witness to the power of God’s liberating love she is the Diocese of Los Angeles’ first Latina leader to have grown up in a Spanish speaking Episcopal Church and pursued ordination. She is the recipient of the Episcopal Church Foundation and Beatitudes Society Fellowship and was named one of the Future 50 Interfaith Leaders in Los Angeles to watch by the Interreligious Council of Southern California. The Rev. Francisco García is a PhD student in Theological Studies at Vanderbilt University, and serves as Assistant Chaplain at St. Augustine’s Episcopal Chapel in Nashville. A former community and labor organizer, his research entails developing a theology and practice of organizing rooted in Christian and interfaith liberation traditions to address the pressing justice issues of our time. Most recently he served as the Rector of Holy Faith Episcopal Church, a multiracial, multilingual congregation in Inglewood, California. In 2016, Francisco facilitated an organizing effort making the Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles a Sanctuary Diocese, and co-founded the resulting Diocesan ministry known as Sacred Resistance. The Very Rev. Miguelina Howell serves as Dean of Christ Church Cathedral in Hartford, CT. She is the first female and first Latina to serve in this position. Miguelina was Vicar of the Cathedral for three years until her appointment as dean. She serves as Chaplain to the House of Bishops. Miguelina serves on the Church Pension Group’s Client’s Council and is a faculty member of the Church Pension’s CREDO Wellness Program. She served as the seventh, and first female, Rector of the Church of the Epiphany, Diocese of Newark. Miguelina is originally from the Dominican Republic where she holds a licensure in clinical psychology. After finishing her graduate studies and licensing as a clinical psychologist, she earned a theological degree from the Centro de Estudios Teológicos and was ordained a priest in 2003. She served for over a decade as member of the Episcopal Church Latino/Hispanic Ministries Missioner's Council of the Advice. Miguelina served as member of the Task Force for Re-imagining the Episcopal Church. She served in the Episcopal Diocese of the Dominican Republic as priest-in-charge of three congregations, Executive Director & Administrator of the Diocesan Camp & Conference Center, and coordinator of Young Adult Ministries. Miguelina has also served as a member of the Presiding Bishop’s Staff, as a member of the Council of Advice of the President of the House of Deputies, and as a member of The Episcopal Church Executive Council. She is an avid reader and is passionate about racial justice, inclusion, and women’s involvement in the church and in society. Miguelina is married to Daniel M. Howell. Miguelina and Daniel have three beautiful children, Dominic, Darius and Dorian. Marivel Milien, Presbyter, Psychologist, married to Presbyter Smith Milien
since December 1992. Mother of three young women.
She was born in the Dominican Republic, where she met the Episcopal Church. She was received in 1984, and began to lead the youth group and later she became the coordinator of the ECW as well as serving in different diocesan committees.
She came to live in the USA in 2007, She now is now the Minister in charge of the Holy Church Trinidad in Miami and the coordinator of the Hispanic ministry of the Diocese Southeast Florida.
Maycol Morgan Ellis is a lay pastoral leader and the Vice Chancellor in the Episcopal Diocese of Panama. He is also in charge of a congregation, the Iglesia Episcopal San Mateo in Panama City. Postulant to the orders and student of Theology. Mildred Reyes is the Diocesan Missionary of Formation and Initiatives in the Episcopal Diocese of Washington. She belongs to the Society of the Third Order of Saint Francis, a Religious Order in the Anglican and Episcopal Communion. She has a passion for community work, christian formation, pastoral care, and everything focused on the importance of being present for others. Salvadorean/Latina, Educator in Pasadena ISD. Currently serves as a lay leader but previously served as a member of the vestry committee, Senior Warden, trainer of safeguarding, and facilitator of Academia Ecuminica de Liderazgo at St.Paul’s Episcopal Church Houston.She earned her Bachelor’s degree in Criminology. She is now a Postulant for Holy Orders for ordination to the Priesthood in the Dioceses of Texas. She will be attending the Seminary of Southwest where she will earn her Master’s of divinity with Latinx Ministry Concentration.Wilfredo Benítez
The Rev. Wilfredo Benítez is a priest, photographer, poet, and activist. He is "Priest in Charge" of the historic Saint John's Episcopal Church in Stamford Connecticut. Previously, he was Rector of the historic Saint George's Episcopal Church in Queens, New York; and prior to that call he was Rector of the Saint Anselm of Canterbury Episcopal Church in Garden Grove, California. Father Benítez has received a Bachelor of Arts degree from the Interamerican University of Puerto Rico, a Master of Science from Bank Street College of Education, New York; and a Master of Divinity from General Theological Seminary, New York. He has 29 years of ordained ministry. In 2019, he completed a certification program in Spiritual Direction, with the Haden Institute. The photography and poetry of Father Benítez can be seen on his blog page: www.ReligionIsGarbage.com. A blog aimed for people who have been wounded by institutional religion, and also dedicated to contemplative practices, and peace, and social justice. Father Wilfredo was born in New York from a Cuban and Puerto Rican parents, and grew up in New York and Puerto Rico. He knew the Episcopal Church for the first time in Puerto Rico. Nancy Frausto
Francisco García
Miguelina Howell
Marivel Milien
Maycol Morgan Ellis
Mildred Reyes
Maria Victoria Umana