Foundations of Giving
For over seventeen years The Church of St. Clement has been cultivating community spirit and fellowship through the ministry of Ciudad Nueva. Together, they have designed programs to reach out to the children and families of the Rio Grande district of downtown El Paso. What started out as a small idea with a big goal has grown to a fully developed program that fosters the spirit of loving the community and giving back to it.
Dr. Tom Beeman, a former military nurse and nursing professor at UTEP, found a place in Ciudad Nueva. As a member of The Church of St. Clement, he became acquainted with Rev. Cliff Warner, an associate priest of that time. Dr. Beeman recalls that Fr. Warner’s vision for St. Clements started out with ten children, three volunteers, and the church basement. This gathering planted the seeds for Ciudad Nueva, which now operates as an independent, 501(c) non profit organization in its own facility to serve the children, parents, and local community.
Father William Cobb, rector of St. Clements for the past fifteen years, states that Ciudad Nueva is the ideal way for the parishioners to “invest in the children and families of the neighborhood.” The Church of St. Clement provides the facilities, mentors, and some funding to Ciudad Nueva.
Looking to the Future
Fr. Cobb and Dr. Beeman delight in seeing the fruits of years of hard work as they watch those children grow, with some even continuing to participate as adults. According to Fr. Cobb, a brief summary of the church’s vision is, “We envision an intimate community embodying the Gospel of Jesus as we live out Isaiah 61 in the El Paso area.” This refers to Jesus’s mission to bring good news and help those in need.
As they have been doing for the last 150 years, the Church of St. Clement will continue to bring the good news of Jesus Christ in word and deed, and believes Ciudad Nueva is one of the ways to proclaim the Gospel in the Rio Grande neighborhood. The Church of St. Clement will continue to partner with Ciudad Nueva to serve the neighborhood despite how it might change over time.
Become a Community Partner
Ciudad Nueva is continuously grateful for the support of our community partners. If you would like to learn more about the church’s involvement and discover ways to help the Ciudad Nueva carry out its mission, please contact us online by visiting ciudadnueva.org/contact!
