Clergy at Saint Anselm of Canterbury Episcopal Church
The Reverend Wilfredo Benítez, Rector of Saint Anselm'sThe Rev. Wilfredo Benítez serves as Rector of Saint Anselm of Canterbury Episcopal Church in Garden Grove, CA. He is a native of the Bronx, New York, and the son of Cuban and Puerto Rican immigrants. Fr. Wilfredo is a graduate of the Universidad InterAmericana de Puerto Rico, where he received his Bachelor of Arts degree; he is also a graduate of the Bank Street College of Education, in New York City, where he received a Master of Science in Education in Bilingual Counseling. His seminary education was completed at the General Theological Seminary in New York City, where he received his Master of Divinity degree. Prior to becoming a priest at the age of 35, Fr. Wilfredo had a career first as a Community Organizer in the Lower East Side of Manhattan, and later as a College Counselor at the City College of New York, C.U.N.Y., and E.M. Hostos Community College, C.U.N.Y. Fr. Wilfredo was ordained to the diaconate and the priesthood at the Cathedral of Saint John the Divine, in New York City, in 1991. He has been serving Saint Anselm of Canterbury Episcopal Church since 1993 and is now canonically resident in the Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles. Many would describe him as a priest, artist, and activist. He is a recognized photographer, and has exhibited his work in galleries and institutions, both on the East and West Coast. His photography website can be found at www.BenitezRivera.com. He recently received awards for his activism and interfaith work: the “Social Justice” award from the Elections Committee of the Orange County; the “Bridge Award” from the Orange County Labor Federation; the “Certificate of Congressional Recognition” and the “Interfaith Courage Award” from the Council of American Islamic Relations. Fr. Wilfredo is also a member of the Board of Directors of Planned Parenthood for San Bernardino and Orange counties. A strong believer in the mind, body, spirit connection, Fr. Wilfredo earned a First Degree Black Belt in Tang Soo Do, Korean Karate; and exercises regularly. Building bridges across ethnic and religious boundaries, Fr. Wilfredo is a founding member of the Interfaith Council of Garden Grove, Westminster, and Stanton, and has served various terms as president. He is an active member of Clergy and Laity United for Economic Justice (CLUE) and was engaged in organizing the first chapter of CLUE in Orange County. He has also served on the Board of Directors of Progressive Christians Uniting (PCU) and remains active with the Orange County chapter of PCU. Fr. Wilfredo has been instrumental in making St. Anselm of Canterbury Episcopal Church a visibly prophetic voice on a host of issues, which include economic worker justice, peace in the Middle East, and marriage equality. Celebrating multicultural diversity is also one of his gifts. Currently St. Anselm’s Church celebrates the liturgy in four languages: English, Vietnamese, Spanish, and Korean. Under his leadership this diversity has been fostered and expanded. |
The Rev. Minh-Hanh Nguyen,
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St. Anselm of Canterbury Episcopal Church The Rev. Wilfredo Benítez, Rector Phone 714 537-0604 |
