An Update from Fr. Jimmy Haney

Back in May I graduated from Seminary of the Southwest in Austin with the Master of Divinity degree. As part of the coursework in seminary is spending time in an actual congregation of some sort for 10 hours a week for field ed. For my field I served at a mission in Manor, TX named St. Mary Magdalene Episcopal Church (SMM). After graduation, I am now serving as the curate (or new assisting priest) at this same church for two years. That means that I am working in the Diocese of Texas, while I officially remain resident as clergy in the Diocese of Northwest Texas.  

I am very grateful to be continue to work at SMM and in the city of Manor. SMM was started as a church plant in 2010 where the congregation literally met in the priest's living room. Since its inception SMM is a multiethnic and multi-generational congregation where everything is bilingual. There is one service on Sunday and it is bilingual in English and Spanish (including the sermon, which goes back and forth paragraph by paragraph). Over the years friendships have developed throughout the congregation even between people who don't speak each other's language.  

SMM has also become well-known in the community as a church for Manor, the church on the hill with red doors. SMM is a wonderful congregation to be serving at. And I am extremely grateful for the vicar the Rev. Daniel Robayo Hidalgo for his mentorship both when I was a seminarian and now that I am a new priest. 

The city of Manor is an interesting place. It is only 15-20 minutes east of Austin and still in Travis County. That said Manor is not really a suburb of Austin, and has really been an independent small town throughout its history. And, after having lived in Austin for three years for seminary and now living in Manor, I am close enough to Austin to enjoy the perks, but far enough away to avoid things like traffic on I-35. 

And this past Saturday, Bishop Mayer came to SMM and ordained me as a priest there. My wife Allie and I both sensed that SMM is where I needed to be as I begin my ordained ministry in earnest, and I am extremely lucky and grateful that things worked out for me to be able to work there.

Peace and all good, 

Fr. Jimmy Haney+