New Diocesan Military Missioner

The Diocese of San Diego is pleased to announce the call of The Rev. Frank P. Munoz as our part-time Missioner for Military Ministries, beginning March 1, 2020. In this role, he will assist our congregations in evangelism and service to active-duty military members, their families, and veterans. He will consult with vestries and bishop’s committees on ways they can reach out to military populations, will coordinate events and training, will maintain relationships with military chaplains, and will provide resources to our diocese to assist in military ministries. The large and growing population of military members and retirees in our area makes this an ideal focus for our diocese’s evangelism and service work.
“Being in the military is challenging. Many times, military members deploy and are gone for months on end and families, who are left behind, find themselves isolated, disconnected from their hometown and family network. We have an opportunity to serve these families and those military service members,” said Rev. Munoz.

Often, families and marriages experience profound anxiety and stress during deployment. Unfortunately, military branches have cut programs to help heal families in need of guidance. The Episcopal Church can immediately live into providing childcare, spiritual guidance, and support to our military members and families.

Rev. Munoz’s first step is to identify churches near military housing or bases that are willing to open their property up to hosting programs that serve active military, veterans, and their families. If your congregation is interested in getting more information about these programs, hosting, and/or Rev. Munoz’s work as Missioner for Military Ministries, you can email him at fmunoz@edsd.org for more information about ministering to the military of Southern California.

Rev. Munoz completed a BA in Theology from Loyola Marymount University and studied at the Jesuit School of Theology at Berkeley, completing a master’s in theology from Mt. St. Mary’s College in Los Angeles. He holds an MA in Management from National University and a Doctor of Ministry from Fuller Theological Seminary.

Rev. Munoz went on to teach Theology for 12 years in Los Angeles area Catholic High Schools and parishes. In 1992 he was received into the Episcopal Church, earned a Certificate in Anglican Studies at Episcopal Theological School at Claremont and, was ordained in January 1997 to the priesthood. Upon ordination, he served at Trinity Episcopal Cathedral in Miami and later as the Rector and Headmaster of All Angels Church and School in Miami Springs, where he founded and built a parish pre-k through eighth-grade school called All Angels Academy. In 2004, he returned to active duty as a Navy Chaplain.

Rev. Munoz served at Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego, on USS JUNEAU (LPD-10) and USS DENVER (LPD-9) in Sasebo, Japan, with 3D Marine Air Wing, and deployed to Afghanistan in 2010. He completed a one-year Pastoral Care Residency at the Naval Medical Center San Diego and La Jolla Veterans Hospital in 2012.

Serving as Command Chaplain of Naval Hospital Camp Pendleton, Rev. Munoz went on to serve as CREDO Director and finally at Naval Base Coronado. He also served for four years at St. Peter’s Del Mar as a part-time Associate Priest. Rev. Munoz is joyfully married to Estella Munoz for 37 years. They live happily in Escondido.

Rev. Munoz will work throughout the diocese and our congregations to help reach and serve active duty military members, their families, and veterans. You can email the Rev. Frank Munoz at fmunoz@edsd.org for more information about ministering to the military of Southern California.