A Warm Welcome (and Welcome Back) to our Seminarian Interns: Iwao Asakura and Tina Francis:
For the past decade or so, St. Julian's has been blessed to participate in the Field Education Program at the Seminary of the Southwest. Field Ed (for short), in some sense, serves as an internship for students preparing for ordination. Field Ed sites provide a space for students to explore the practice of ministry alongside what they are learning in the classroom. Their role among us is to both learn and lead. I believe St. Julian's is a wonderful community in which to learn, in large measure, because of our engaged and empowered lay ministry (meaning each of you!). And, at the same time, we have been profoundly blessed by the presence and ministry of each of the seminarians who have served among us.
To this end, I wanted to welcome back for her second year Tina Francis and her family, Kupa and Ezra Muntungu. And, welcome to St. Julian's Iwao Asakura who is beginning his first year with us. As Iwao is still very new to St. Julian's, I am including the bio below and the pic above. I encourage you to connect with both Tina and Iwao over the coming weeks/months. I know each of us has a gift to share with them and them with each of us. I know they are both always happy to gather for coffee or a Sunday conversation. Please read on!
Bio for Iwao Asakura:
Currently in the second year (middler) at the Seminary of Southwest, Iwao Asakura is originally from Nagoya, Japan. He has received degrees in music (vocal performance) from the University of Southern Mississippi and Florida State University. He has sung in opera productions such as Figaro in Rossini’s “The Barber of Seville” and both roles of Figaro and Count Almaviva in Mozart’s “The Marriage of Figaro.” His solo concert experience includes Handel’s “Messiah,” Bach’s “St. Matthew Passion,” and Mozart’s “Requiem.” Iwao has taught music at the college level, including at Mississippi State University and Ouachita Baptist University in Arkansas. Before starting seminary studies, Iwao was on the music faculty at Tarleton State University in Stephenville, TX for fourteen years. Iwao is so excited about serving the community of St. Julian of Norwich for the next two years as seminarian.
If you have any questions about our partnership with the seminary or anything in our shared life, please don't hesitate to reach out to either of us. I hope this reaches you and yours well.
Peace and Warm Friendship,
Miles+
The Rev. Miles R. Brandon, II, Vicar
with
The Rev. Kelly Koonce, Interim Associate Vicar