Fall
Rector Elected at St. Thomas Episcopal Parish
Auction Chair Christy Veloso, Outreach Members Jane de Cardenas & Massiel Pena with Senior Warden Elect Nikki Suarez & Rector Mario Milian
The Vestry of St. Thomas Episcopal Parish in Coral Gables
recently announced that the Rev. Mario E. Milian, 34, was appointed Rector. Milian, who is the youngest person ever to be called as Rector of St. Thomas, brings a rich background of life experience, education, mission, and diversity to the Parish's leadership position. Milian, who came to St. Thomas three years ago as Associate Rector, is a native of Cuba. His theological training for the priesthood began in Matanzas, Cuba, immediately after high school and continued in Honduras. He completed a B.I.S. at Arizona State University, summa cum laude and received his Master of Divinity degree in Berkeley, CA, at Church Divinity School (CDSP). He served Episcopal churches in Arizona and California in positions of Associate Rector and Rector prior to coming to St. Thomas Episcopal Parish. Active in the Diocese, Milian hosts the Diocesan radio show Fe y Vida. The Search Committee, appointed last December by the Vestry, undertook a national search under the guidelines of the Diocese. After an extended search, the Committee recommended Milian. The Rt. Rev. Leo Frade, Bishop of the Diocese of Southeast Florida, issued the formal invitation to to Milian to serve as the new Rector of St. Thomas Episcopal Parish. “To say that St. Thomas Parish is fortunate to have Fr. Mario as our Rector is a huge understatement”, said Meg Kerr,
Senior Warden. “After nearly a year-long search, it is exciting and wonderful to report that he was unanimously recommended by the Search Committee and elected by the Vestry and then approved by Bishop Frade”. Milian summarizes his goals as a priest: "to lead Christ's Church in love and without fear so that it continually grows spiritually and intellectually in its mission in an increasingly diverse world.” Experienced with missions, Milian worked as the Overseer for reconstruction after Hurricane Mitch for the Diocese of Honduras. At Good Shepherd Church in Arizona, he established a Day Labor Worker Program. At St. Thomas, he immediately assumed the clergy leadership of the largest outreach program in the history of the parish: a partnership between St. Thomas Church and School with the community ministries of Holy Comforter Episcopal Church in little Havana. St. Thomas is a church with a 60-year history and the school with a history almost that long. Consistent with Anglican tradition, spiritual formation and education of young minds go hand in hand. Milian is married and he and his wife Julie are expecting a baby boy in December. The family will be moving to the church rectory in Coral Gables.