By Elizabeth Holland, M.Div Middler in the Latinx Concentration and Postulant from the Diocese of Olympia
Hispanic/Latinx Heritage Month is a time to celebrate and recognize the rich cultural contributions and historical impact of Hispanic and Latine communities. At Seminary of the Southwest, this celebration takes place from September 15 to October 15, and this year’s celebration started off with Loteria!
“I am grateful to the Rev. Nancy Frausto for the great start to Hispanic Heritage Month,” shared Dr. Scott Bader-Saye, dean and president. “From the raucous round of Lotería at community hour to the beautiful kick off Eucharist with our guest the Rev. Canon Franklin Morales, we are uplifting the particular gifts of Latinx worship and culture. Our Latinx Studies Program is over 40 years old and is a centerpiece of our mission. It is great to have an opportunity celebrate this commitment.”
On Monday, September 15th, Reve Nancy Frausto and the Latinx committee kicked off the weekly Community Hour with an unforgettable event. Attendees were treated to a mouthwatering taco and elote bar, a feast to remember! But the highlight of the evening? A unique spin on Loteria! Reve brought the party to life, getting Millennials and Gen Z grooving and vibing with a special Millennial and a Gen Z version of the game. For those unfamiliar, Loteria is like Bingo, but with colorful images instead of numbers and a deck of illustrations rather than ping pong balls. These fresh designs resonated with the Millennial and Gen Z crowds, sparking even some Gen X players to toss around a few slay-worthy phrases. 
One unforgettable moment came when the card “Cheugy” was pulled, prompting someone to ask, “What does this mean?!” and another voice shouted across the room, “Timothy, explain!” M.Div Middler, Timothy Beltran del Rio explained that he doesn’t know the meaning but offered a Googled definition that cheugy is a slang term for something uncool or out of date. Then, when the card “Spill the Tea” came up, Reve chimed in with, “also known as ‘el chisme!’” The whole room erupted in unison, “el chisme!”—instant connection and laughter all around!
On Wednesday, September 18th, the Rev. Canon Franklin Morales arrived from the Diocese of North Carolina, where he serves as the Canon Missioner for Hispanic and Latinx Ministries. The Latinx concentration group treated him to dinner at the Salt Lick in Dripping Springs, TX, where we enjoyed delicious food and invaluable company. The conversation flowed easily, and the shared moments brought laughter and joy. We capped off the evening with a group photo on stage, leaving us excited for the festivities to continue the next day.
“Celebrating the rich beauty, diverse cultures, and unwavering faith of the Latine/Hispanic community at the Seminary of the Southwest is truly a profound gift,” shared Reve Frausto. “This year, we were honored to welcome the Rev. Cn. Franklin Morales, Missioner of Latino Ministries in the Diocese of North Carolina. His inspiring sermon centered on the remarkable blessing of being called to this sacred vocation and the essence of authentic servant leadership. Our recent graduate, the Rev. Liam Barr, is currently collaborating with Rev. Morales, allowing him to witness firsthand the transformative formation we provide at the Seminary of the Southwest. We are dedicated to preparing priests who are equipped not only for the entire church but, in particular, those who feel a profound calling to serve within Latine/Latinx communities.”
On Thursday, September 19th, we celebrated the opening service for Hispanic/Latinx Heritage Month, with the Rev. Canon Franklin Morales was our distinguished guest. Francisco Chávez Silva beautifully led the music. Rev. Morales delivered a heartfelt sermon that resonated deeply and inspired all present. After the service, there was food, music by Banda Cubana, and dancing!
“This celebration of Hispanic or Latinidad is to be part of God’s plan of being one! (1 Corinthian). We need to see each other and recognize the important value that every one of us has in this particular church. It’s important to feel that we can take care of each other, that we are there for the hard moments, and that nobody can be left behind,” shared the Rev. Canon Morales during his sermon.
The festivities continued: On October 1, M.Div Middler Jimmy Haney and musician Francisco Chavez lead a Sung Spanish Evensong. Additionally, on October 11th, the Latinx Concentration will embark on an outing.
