The Episcopal Theological Seminary of the Southwest

Efraín Huerta-Fierros

Builder of churches in three countries and retired Executive Director of Province VII's Center for Hispanic Ministries, you have shared an abiding love for the Episcopal Church during your ministry of thirty-seven years.

After graduation from Seminario de San Andres in Mexico City, you were regional coordinator within the Diocese of Mexico and priest-in-charge of several missions there before moving to Guatemala in 1968. You literally built the church buildings of two of the three missions you served, in addition to completing studies for a law degree. You also helped to build sixty houses for poor people during your eleven years in Guatemala.

You came to the Seminary of the Southwest in 1979, received the Master of Divinity degree two years later and were soon called to San Juan Apostol in Fort Worth, Texas. You bought a fire damaged church for the mission and refurbished it with the hands of a craftsman. Later appointed Executive Director of Province VII's Center for Hispanic Ministries on the seminary campus, you have spent the last decade being a pastor to all Hispanic clergy of the Province while nurturing the variety of Hispanic ministry in parishes throughout the Southwest and the United States.

You have brought honor to the Seminary of the Southwest and to your birthplace - San Martin de las Flores in the Mexican state of Jalisco - where the Episcopal Church has a strong, historical presence and many of its other sons have likewise distinguished themselves in ministry.

In recognition of you being a flower of St. Martin's, we are pleased to confer upon you the degree of Doctor of Divinity, honoris causa.

May 21, 2002 Austin, Texas