The rEV. Roberto Maldonado-Mercado

St. Matthew’s, National City

Nominee’s Bio: I want to start by saying how glad I am to have been called to be new vicar of St. Matthews, National City. Here in the Dioceses of San Diego. My wife Leticia and I are very excited to be able to return to California. The call to serve a multicultural community like the community of Saint Matthew’s is extremely exciting, for me and for her.

This is “my formal name” – Rev. Father Roberto Maldonado Mercado – but everybody calls me Father Roberto. I have been a minister in the Diocese of Oregon since moving to Gresham in 2013. Before this time in Oregon, I lived in Sylmar, California and was a part of the Diocese of Los Angeles. I have also lived and worked as priest in Baltimore, Maryland, Fort Pierce, Florida, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and Puerto Rico.

I have a daughter, Lucia Isabel. In July of 2017, I married Leticia Ramirez Figueroa, and added her children Nirvana, Priscilla and Gerardo to my family. After a career in sales, I felt the call to ministry. I was ordained as a deacon in 1988 and ordained as a priest in 1989.

I was up recently, serving Holy Cross/Santa Cruz Episcopal Church, Cristo Rey Lutheran Church, and as the Metro-East Latino Missioner for the Diocese of Oregon. I also serve the Diocese of Oregon on the Task Force to End Racism and the Commission on Ministry for Ordination, as well as being a Clergy Deputy to the General Convention in 2022.

I enjoy walking in my spare time, recently spending time exploring new towns in Oregon with my wife Leticia. I also enjoy reading and car racing (while I formerly raced cars himself, I am now just a spectator).

When looking to the future, for the church and himself, I have a few hopes. First, that the church continues to be open and honest, doing the work of Christ. And second, that I continue to be a faithful servant to the Lord in all that I do.

Nominee’s Statement in Favor of Their Candidacy: Let me introduce myself, I am the new vicar of Saint Matthew's Episcopal Church, National City. Although new to the Diocese of San Diego, I have been a deputy to General Convention twice, the first time as the first Alternate Clergy Deputy and a second time as the second Clergy Deputy. During the last General Convention I served as a member of committee 11 Evangelism and Mission. This being two of my passions, Evangelism and mission. As a Latinx, I try to bring to the conversation a perspective of the reality of people of Latinx origin. I try to be sincere and honest when he expressed my feelings and opinions. I also believe my many years of experience and almost 32 years of service to this Episcopal Church that I love so much. They give me a very different perspective. My work and my ministry are community service in a bilingual and bicultural context. If it is the desire of this Convention to give me an opportunity to serve my new diocesan family as a clergy deputy to the General Convention it will also be an opportunity to continue the task begun at the last General Convention. I look forward to serving Christ and his gospel through service to The Episcopal Church and the Diocese of San Diego.