On March 15, 2025, at St. John’s Episcopal Church in McAllen, TX, the Rt. Rev. Angela Maria Cortiñas,‘10, was ordained and consecrated bishop suffragan of the Diocese of West Texas.
Presiding Bishop Sean Rowe served as chief consecrator, with co-consecrators Texas Bishop C. Andrew Doyle; former El Camino Real Bishop Mary Gray-Reeves, who now serves as managing director of the College of Bishops; Texas Assistant Bishop Héctor Monterroso; Alabama Assistant Bishop Brian N. Prior; and Texas Bishop Suffragan Kathryn M. Ryan.
A total of 15 bishops were in attendance at the large service. It was the first consecration of an Episcopal bishop to be held in the Texas Rio Grande Valley and the service incorporated Spanish throughout. The host parish, St. John’s Episcopal, is led by the Rev. Rod Clark, Southwest class of 2014.
Also in attendance were Dr. Scott Bader-Saye, Dean and President of Seminary of the Southwest, and April Kerwin, Southwest’s Director of Major Gifts and Planned Giving.
“What a joy to be in McAllen, TX for the consecration of our alumna, Angela Cortiñas!” said Dean Bader-Saye. “I was honored to be part of the community that gathered to hear her accomplishments named, her calling affirmed, and her new ministry inaugurated. Bishop Read preached a powerful and moving sermon, and bishops from Texas and throughout the church gathered to lay hands on their newest colleague. It was a joy to see so many seminary alumni and to connect with all the good people in the Diocese of West Texas.”
“The Rev. Rod Clarke and the parishioners at St. John’s Episcopal Church extended exceptional hospitality to all at the consecration and reception,” said Kerwin. “Many alumni from Southwest took part in the procession, including several clergy who served as presenters during the service. The consecration held profound significance in various ways. Personally, I was moved when Presiding Bishop Rowe stated, ‘With your fellow bishops you will share in the leadership of the church throughout the world.’ When Bishop Rowe introduced the new Bishop Suffragan to the congregation, the applause was so thunderous that I’m certain the neighbors could hear the celebration!” Kerwin and Bishop Cortiñas were on staff together at St. David’s in Austin.
Cortiñas was elected bishop suffragan for the Diocese of West Texas during a special council at the Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd in Corpus Christi Oct. 19, 2024. She is the seventh bishop suffragan to serve West Texas.
“My heart is full of gratitude and love at seeing all the wonderful people who have gathered both near and far to be here for this special day. I am grateful for the God who has called me and the people who have so persuaded me to take on this new ministry. I am particularly grateful for all the people who have formed me as a priest and now as a bishop of God’s church,” said Cortiñas in an article on Episcopal News Service. “I am looking forward to sharing this ministry with Bishop Read and the clergy of the Diocese of West Texas. I have felt the love and the hand of God throughout this entire process and am excited to share God’s redeeming and reconciling love with all of God’s people here in West Texas and beyond.”
Born to Cuban immigrants, Cortiñas is a Florida-native who grew up in Miami in a family of eight children. She is the second Latina elected as bishop in The Episcopal Church and the third Latina bishop.
The Rt. Rev. Cortińas received her Master of Divinity from Seminary of the Southwest in 2010. She was ordained a deacon in the Diocese of Southeast Florida in 2009 and a priest in 2010. From 2010-12, she was associate priest at All Saints Episcopal Church in Fort Lauderdale and then served as associate rector of St. Gregory’s Episcopal Church in Boca Raton from 2012-2017. She served in the Diocese of Texas as rector of St. Thomas Episcopal Church in College Station from 2017-2021 and as associate rector of St. David’s Episcopal Church in Austin from 2021-2024.
