From February 15 to 21, Bishop Mark Sisk traveled to the Dominican Republic, the country of origin of one of the largest populations of Hispanics in the Episcopal Diocese of New York.

Bishop Sisk, along with his wife Karen, and the Ven. Michael Kendall and his wife Anne, visited the Diocese of the Dominican Republic at the invitation of the bishop of the diocese, the Rt. Rev. Julio C. Holguín. The visit allowed Bishop Sisk the opportunity to become familiar with the country of origin of many parishioners and clergy in the Episcopal Diocese of New York. A majority of the Hispanic clergy in the New York diocese comes from the Diocese of the Dominican Republic.

“We made a pilgrimage to experience the life of the Diocese of the Dominican Republic and visit the congregations and ministries of that diocese,” Archdeacon Kendall explained. “Besides becoming acquainted with the ministry of the diocese, Bishop Sisk is anxious to form a partnership with Bishop Holguín to assist him in his pastoral oversight of the Dominican clergy and lay people in the Episcopal Diocese of New York.”

Bishop Sisk commented, “I was extremely impressed by the work Bishop Holguín is doing to establish infrastructure in the diocese for church growth by building new churches, schools, conference centers and medical facilities. It meant a great deal to me to visit the home diocese of so many people in the Episcopal Diocese of New York.

“I have grown through their witness to the Gospel of Jesus Christ,” Bishop Sisk continued. “I look forward to sharing ministry with the Diocese of the Dominican Republic. And we thank Bishop Holguín and his wife, Milagros, for their hospitality.”

The group from New York visited a number of places around the country, including Santo Domingo, Mozovi and La Romana.