THE REV. ANGELA MARIA CORTIÑAS ORDAINED AND CONSECRATED AS SEVENTH BISHOP OF THE EPISCOPAL DIOCESE OF WEST TEXAS
The Rev. Angela Maria Cortiñas was ordained and consecrated Bishop Suffragan of the Episcopal Diocese of West Texas on Saturday, March 15 in St. John’s Episcopal Church, McAllen, Texas. Bishop Cortiñas will work alongside the Rt. Rev. Dr. David G. Read, D.D., Bishop of West Texas.
The Most Reverend Sean W. Rowe, Presiding Bishop of The Episcopal Church, was the chief consecrator. Co-consecrators were the Rt. Rev. C. Andrew Doyle Bishop, Diocese of Texas, the Rt. Rev. Mary Gray-Reeves, Managing Director at the College for Bishops of The Episcopal Church, the Rt. Rev. Hector Monterroso, Bishop Assistant, Diocese of Texas, the Rt. Rev. Brian N. Prior, Assisting Bishop, Diocese of Alabama, and the Rt. Rev. Kathryn M. Ryan, Bishop Suffragan, Diocese of Texas.
A total of 15 bishops were in attendance for the traditional laying-on of hands. Over 450 in-person attendees participated in the joyful service, with more than 1,300 people joining the livestream concurrently from across the diocese and the country. This was the first consecration of an Episcopal bishop to be held in the Texas Rio Grande Valley. The service incorporated Spanish throughout.
In his sermon, Bishop Read reflected on living and serving in challenging times stating, “The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit is what our nation needs. We have this gift of life from God. We know and have experienced how amazing is the gift of grace. We know and have experienced the power of being forgiven, and the power of forgiving others. We know and have experienced the support of blessed, beloved community. We have all that we need, and today, the Holy Spirit gives to +Angela all that she will need to do the ministry she has been called to do in this time.”
Cortiñas was elected bishop suffragan for the Episcopal Diocese of West Texas during a special Council at the Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd in Corpus Christi on October 19, 2024. She is the seventh bishop suffragan in West Texas. In her role, she will celebrate the sacraments of the new covenant and confirm, receive and reaffirm individuals within the 87 congregations throughout the diocese. Additionally, she will assist Bishop Read in the pastoral care of clergy, clergy families, and retired clergy and their families and the development and on-boarding of new clergy, curates and seminarians. She will oversee the development of lay ministry, Christian formation, and discipleship.
Giving thanks, Bishop Cortiñas shared, “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. 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, Bishop Cortiñas is a native Floridian who grew up in Miami in a large family of eight children.
She was ordained as a deacon in the Episcopal Diocese of Southeast Florida in 2009 and into priesthood in 2010. From 2010-2012, she was Associate Priest at All Saints Episcopal Church, Fort Lauderdale, FL, and then served as Associate Rector at St. Gregory’s Episcopal Church, Boca Raton, FL from 2012-2017. She served in the Episcopal Diocese of Texas as Rector at St. Thomas Episcopal Church, College Station from 2017-2021 and as Associate Rector at St. David’s Episcopal Church in Austin from 2021 through December 2024.
Bishop Cortiñas has a 23-year-old daughter, Victoria Fletcher.
Click here for the video and photos of the service, as well as the service booklet.
