by William F Dopp

[ENS] As part of a short visit to Southern California, Presiding Bishop Frank T Griswold and his wife Phoebe visited San Diego July 20-21 to witness the work of two of the Jubilee Ministries in the diocese.

On the first evening, the Griswolds met with the staff of Episcopal Community Services (ECS), a Jubilee Center which is the largest agency of its type in San Diego and one of the largest social service agencies in the nation.

It has an annual budget of more than $20 million and more than 400 paid employees. ECS' director, the Rev. Amanda May, and San Diego Jubilee Officer Bob Morris gave the Griswolds a tour of ECS headquarters and the site of new facilities being planned for the downtown area.

"What impresses me about ECS is the enthusiasm of the staff. They are truly dedicated to work they obviously love," Griswold commented. "There is a real sense of joy here."

On the second day, the Griswolds visited the Friends-to-Friends Club House, an ECS outreach center for homeless persons in downtown San Diego. The Griswolds ate breakfast with the members of the clubhouse and spent time hearing their stories. San Diego bishop Gethin Hughes joined the Griswolds.

Hughes then escorted the Griswolds to St. Luke's Church in the North Park area of San Diego, where they were greeted by a crowd of more than 200 parishioners, mostly Sudanese refugees, who make up a large part of the membership of the parish. St Luke's, another Jubilee Center, is the home of the St. Luke's Refugee Network, which serves hundreds of refugees from war-torn Sudan with material and physical as well as spiritual needs.

Sudanese refugee Majur Samuel, the Refugee Network manager, welcomed the Griswolds and presented them with a plaque from the congregation. Samuel thanked the presiding bishop for the honor of his visit. "We appreciate your concern for us," he said. Griswold answered him by saying, "The Episcopal Church will> do everything in its power to help you."

The visitors were treated to Sudanese music and refreshments before leaving for a visit to Jubilee Centers in Los Angeles.

[The Rev Dr William F Dopp is Canon for Communications and Development for the Diocese of San Diego]