Houston church plans bilingual Latin American music service for migrants

Trinity Episcopal Church in Houston will host a bilingual Latin American Signature Music Mass on September 6, combining celebration of sacred music traditions with prayers for migrants and justice advocacy. The service marks the 30th ordination anniversary of rector Hannah E. Atkins Romero, the first woman ordained a priest in El Salvador, and includes a official bishop's visitation by Texas Assistant Bishop Héctor Monterroso, a longtime friend of Romero's since they met in El Salvador in 1996. The service, themed "Cuando el pobre crea en el pobre" (When the poor believe in the poor), will feature mostly Spanish and English prayers and music directed by church musicians Ernesto Vega, Sandra Montes, and Paul Mortilla. The program includes the premiere of two commissioned works: "Trinity Cha-Cha-Cha" by Vega and "Canto de Hannah" by Angela Ortiz. Music will span Latin American genres and include a Portuguese hymn sung by a Brazilian musician, a Swahili arrangement of a South African hymn, and contributions from Trinity's choir and instrumentalists. Romero and her husband, also from El Salvador, co-founded the Houston Migration with Dignity Coalition and have led prayer vigils for migrants affected by immigration enforcement. The service will include prayers for those under Temporary Protected Status, with TPS for El Salvador ending September 9.

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Source: Episcopal News Service — https://episcopalnewsservice.org/2026/09/04/texas-church-to-host-latin-american-themed-service-as-a-celebration-and-joyful-protest/