The Rev. Alex Montes-Vela has accepted Bishop Doyle’s invitation to serve as a Missioner for Congregational Vitality on the diocesan staff, the Diocese of Texas announced August 9, 2021. 
Montes-Vela was most recently the vicar of St. Mary Magdalene in Manor (SMM). After an initial service in January 2010, the congregation spent four and a half years gathering in the Manor High School cafeteria, as well as at the Manor Lions Club Hall and Manor area parks. SMM broke ground on its future home in June 2014 and moved to its current campus in December 2014. Montes-Vela is fully bilingual, and since their early days the SMM services have been conducted in English and Spanish. Montes-Vela served as Assisting Priest/Campus Missioner (Baylor) at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church/Episcopal Student Center prior to becoming a church planter.
“We are thrilled that Alex will bring his gifts and experience to our exceptional team of missioners supporting our communities of faith. As someone who brings church planting experience, he offers new ideas and ways of being seen through a missional lens,” said the Rev. Canon Joann Saylors, canon for mission amplification. The Rev. Canon Christine Faulstich, canon to the ordinary, agreed. “I’m so excited that Alex is joining our diocesan staff. He is a creative leader in the church and truly has a pastor’s heart. He will bring wonderful gifts to the Mission Amp team.”
In the announcement to the SMM community, Montes-Vela thanked the congregation for their journey together, and added, “I am excited that through this new position I will have the opportunity to share with other churches, faith communities, and their leaders, what I have learned these past years, and to have the opportunity to encourage them in their work and ministry.”
Montes-Vela and his wife, Thi Montes, will be based in Houston. He begins his new ministry September 15, 2021.
