Political Quotes

“In honor of Hispanic Heritage Month, I recognize Father Jose Rodriguez. Father Jose Rodriguez is a vicar of the Iglesia Episcopal Jesus de Nazaret in Orange County, Florida. Originally from Puerto Rico, he arrived with his family to Azalea Park in 1987 and has been part of that community now for over three decades. He learned from his parents the importance of service and advocating for others. His father was a soldier, and his mother, a shop steward for UNITE HERE Local 737 at Walt Disney World. He was the first in his family to go to college. He graduated from Rollins College with a BA and the University of Central Florida with an MBA. For many years, he served as the Episcopal chaplain to the University of Central Florida, where he and his wife served local students and young adults for nearly a decade. In 2017, he was assigned to Iglesia Episcopal Jesus de Nazaret, just months before Hurricanes Irma and Maria. For both storms, the local church mobilized to meet the people's needs. Their work is far from over. Welcoming newcomers has been a hallmark of the local Episcopal Church along the Semoran Corridor in Orlando and Kissimmee, including feeding programs, advocacy for those in need as well. Father Jose and the local church empower people to accomplish their goals by working with civic and elected leaders to promote and remove barriers to equal access to opportunity.…”