Anglican Church Puerto Vallarta began shortly after Father Jack and his wife, Shirley, sailed to Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, Mexico in 2001.
While there, they invited fellow boaters by VHF radio to join them for Eucharist aboard their sailboat, Snowbird. The group quickly grew, and they moved to a larger power boat and then to the fly bridge of an even larger power boat. In 2004 they leased and soon purchased a condo and moved the services to their patio.
Ten years ago with a new Mexican corporation “Casa De Celebration SA de CV they purchased the old Hacienda Restaurant across from the airport and which slowly got ready to provide for events.
They graciously invited Anglican Church Puerto Vallarta to have Sunday services in their new location. Father Jack said at the time “the new palapa has a very holy and spiritual feeling and we are very excited about the new location.” Father Jack is an Anglican priest employed as the minister of Mexico, Ministries & Mission, Inc. a California non-profit corporation involved in helping the schools and poor neighborhoods in Mexico but particularly Puerto Vallarta.
Services are interdenominational and English speaking using the Anglican prayer book and preaching the Gospel. Being the only English speaking Liturgical church with a traditional Holy Communion service Anglican Church Puerto Vallarta attracts people from many denominations.
Services are at 10:00 AM on Sundays, and a special Christmas service will be at 5:00 p.m. on Christmas Eve, December 24th with Carols, Holy Communion and a Christmas get together following. People are asked to bring an appetizer or dessert, if they can, beverages will be provided.
Fifteen years ago, several Americans and Canadians got together with a wonderful lady, an architect, from Guadalajara, Guadalupe Dipp. She began helping schools for the handicapped.
Father Jack found help from the Down-Syndrome Foundation in San Diego and St. Madeleine Sophia Center in El Cajon. He found that Down-Syndrome children could learn through computer programs. Since that time computer rooms were installed in various handicapped schools together with therapy pools, showers and new washrooms for other handicapped kids.
Twelve years ago it was realized that regular schools did not have computers and Anglican Church Puerto Vallarta with Mexico, Ministries & Missions, Inc, have been instrumental in installing computer rooms in local schools.
We realize now that if a child can learn English and learn computers they can immediately go from poverty to middle class by obtaining employment in the numerous resorts. This has become an important outreach for us at Anglican Church Puerto Vallarta.
We are reaching out by collecting eyeglasses, providing school supplies, food and clothing, and much more to the disadvantaged in the area. We hope that through our efforts we can help to provide better education and employment opportunities in Mexico through the power of Jesus Christ.
Tax deductible donations can be made to Mexico Ministries & Mission, Inc\ 2726 Shelter Island Drive #252 San Diego, Ca 92106. A charitable gift donation letter will be provided.