Big Bend :: Circuit Riding PriCircuit-Riding Priessthhood in Faod in Far West Texas West Texas Bend :: Circuit Riding PriCircuit-Riding Priessthhood in Faod in Far West Texas West Texas

Circuit-Riding Priesthood in West Texas: Five Episcopal Communities in the Big Bend Traveling toward Marfa, Texas, Bishop Michael Hunn follows Episcopal priest Mike Wallens as he describes serving a wide Big Bend circuit that grew from a part-time call at St. Paul’s in Marfa to weekly ministry across Marfa, Alpine, Fort Stockton, Terlingua, and Lajitas, with long drives between each. He explains adapting worship to local needs, including Roman Catholic devotions and culturally rooted celebrations in Terlingua, community outreach through Otra Vez, and a Saturday congregation at Lajitas where baptisms and a border festival begin with Eucharist in the Rio Grande. Wallens says the rhythm of travel is life-giving, offering time for prayer and renewal, and he outlines how each town’s distinct culture—art and racial history in Marfa, a college and tourist hub in Alpine, ranching and arts in Fort Stockton, and border communities near Big Bend—shapes his priesthood.

00:00 Life Giving Ministry

00:43 Meet The Circuit Priest

01:37 Three Town Sunday Route

04:15 Terlingua Traditions

07:51 Lajitas River Baptisms

08:30 Why This Works

13:08 Marfa Culture And History

17:03 Alpine College Town

19:59 Fort Stockton Community Arts

23:37 Terlingua Guadalupe Revival

27:05 Border Eucharist Fiesta