The Diocese of Costa Rica has elected the Rev. Orlando Gómez as its bishop.

The election convention gathered July 14 but was soon forced to suspend the convention. A tropical storm caused the closure of national roads, preventing delegates in the Caribbean region from traveling to San José to attend the convention.

The extraordinary convention resumed July 21, and elected Gómez on the third ballot.

Gomez has served in the priesthood since 2000 and has been part of the mission of the Episcopal Church since 1991. He is priest in charge of All Saints Mission in San Rafael Abajo, one of the poorest districts in the south of the province of San José. There he has developed a social, communal, and environmental ministry in conjunction with the local government and other social organizations.

Originally from Turrialba, Cartago, Gómez grew up in the countryside as a farmer in a family of Roman Catholic tradition. He is the sixth of 10 children; in 1978, he emigrated from the countryside to the city and began his high school studies. In the city, he stood out as a carpenter specializing in cabinetmaking.

In 1991 he and his wife were invited to participate in an activity of the Episcopal Church. They immediately became active members of La Ascensión. In 1993, he was transferred to serve All Saints Mission, where he felt called to ordained ministry. He completed his biblical and theological studies at the Latin American Biblical Seminary (later Latin American Biblical University).

He will be ordained and consecrated October 13 in San José.

Adapted from the Diocese of North Carolina