Episcopal Services from St. Chad’s Tampa

 Rev. Christian Villagomeza, a priest from the Philippines met  St. Chad’s on Maundy Thursday, April 12, 2001.  Fr. Christian has since been the spiritual leader to the people of St. Chad’s. He became priest-in-charge soon after his reception to the Episcopal Church in January 2002. In a message Father Christian wrote to members in July 2001 through the HartBeat newsletter, he said, “it humbles me to realize that St. Chad’s  Mission was established five years before I was born.”

It appears that the age difference and the cultural difference between Father Christian and the St. Chad’s members have not hindered the shaping of a spiritually amazing relationship. Members have been very warm and welcoming to Father Christian and to his entire family. Initially, arrangements were similar to that of the St. Chad’s-St. Cecilia’s shared ministry. Fr. Christian was serving two churches, St. Chad’s and St. Francis. With this arrangement, in addition to his seafarer ministry, Fr. Christian felt that he was superficially ministering to both congregations.  He encouraged the English-speaking members of St. Francis to join St. Chad’s so as to serve both congregations better.  A special Holy Eucharist celebrating their transfer was held in June 2002.