The Essence of a Companion Relationship

A companion is someone with whom we share our lives. The root of companion comes from the Latin word for bread, pointing us to the fundamental connection between those who are companions.

When Bishop Walker initiated a companion relationship with Honduras in the 1980s, he envisioned that the Dioceses of Honduras and Washington would nourish each other and accompany one another as life unfolded in their separate worlds. For over ten years, the two dioceses have done this. There have been ups and downs as there are in all relationships. Currently, both dioceses are in major transition as they each prepare to select new Bishops. However, the relationship continues. The following story is just one example of how Bishop Walker's vision of a companion relationship is being fulfilled despite great distance, periodic visits, different cultures and leadership transitions.

In the summer of 2000, Art Engler visited Honduras for the first time with his church, St. Mark's on Capitol Hill. His work was focused in Colonia Episcopal where he spent four weeks on health concerns. Being a medical professional, he was able to treat many people in Colonia for basic afflictions that are prevalent whenever sanitation conditions are poor. He returned to Honduras in March and sent this email:

Today I visited Colonia Episcopal with Fr. Carcel. It was great to see the progress since last summer -- church nearly finished, clinic up, new kindergarten under way, community building up (but empty). I ran out of film as soon as we got there yesterday so I went back this a.m. by myself. I had a very enjoyable time hiking up and down, seeing families I had gotten to know last summer. I was especially glad to see Wilmer and Blanca Tobias and their 2 daughters, Blanca and Wendy. Wendy was only 3 weeks old when we were there and she's thriving. Her older sister Blanca also seems to be doing well and didn't have a single visible skin eruption! They were so nice. They gave me 2 framed photos of themselves with Blanca (and Wendy in utero), and told Blanca I'm her padrino, meaning Godfather (I think).

A connection made, companionship established, lives changed…on both sides of the relationship. I imagine Bishop Walker smiling that infectious smile whenever an exchange like this occurs.