Deanery Meeting for Central Canada

Mississauga

 November 15-16, 2021

Friday and Saturday, October 15-16, 2021, the annual meeting of the Deanery for Central Canada was held in person at St. Andrew Parish in Mississauga. It was a blessed reunion now that due to the current situation in Ontario, because clergy and believers were able to pray together, exchange impressions and see each other again.

The proceedings of the meeting were opened with the usual prayer, after which Fr. Iulian Stoica and Fr. Petre Busuioc presented two very well documented presentations. Being in the context of the Homage Year of the pastoral care for Romanian abroad, the speakers made extensive presentations on the topic “Mission in the diaspora / elements and perspectives.”

HG Bishop Ioan Casian pointed out that the religious education has a crucial importance in the growth and development of the personality of young Orthodox Christians in the diaspora and it has to be a priority in the daily life of parishes within the Romanian Orthodox Diocese of Canada and Deanery for Centre Canada. Based on this diocesan priority, Fr. Ionuț Tencaliuc and Fr. Lucian Azoiței had presentations on the topic: “Sunday schools - role and vocation.”

Friday evening ended with the Sacrament of the Holy Unction with the participation of all the priests, being led in prayer by HG Bishop Ioan Casian.

In the opening of the proceedings on Saturday, the Attestation Commission was chosen as well as the Meeting Secretary. Father Nicolae Codrea presented the Minutes of the previous Assembly (Hamilton 2019), which was approved unanimously by the priests and delegates present.

This was followed by the conference presented via zoom from Brussels, by Fr. Patriciu Vlaicu – Mission in diaspora - pastoral and practical perspectives. Based on extensive experience in diaspora parishes, the examples and data provided by him have undeniably had a profound impact on the audience.

Father Viorel Țencaliuc further presented the Biennial Report on the Activity of the Deanery for Centre Canada 2019-2021, highlighting the difficulties of the period but offering encouragement to those present. The report was approved unanimously.

The financial report was prepared by Mr. Adrian Pătru and presented to the assembly by Fr. Petre Busuioc being approved unanimously. This was followed by the election of the Attestation Commission and the appointment of the Deanery Consistory.

Mrs. Claudia Aileni, President of AROLA, presented the activity report of the association for the last period, making a brief review of the programs and scholarships that the association carries out in Canada with the blessing of HG Bishop Ioan Casian.

Ștefan Geleriu, the representative of ROYA Canada read the Activity Report of the organization in Canada. HG Bishop Ioan Casian congratulated the young people and encouraged them to intensify their ties with the parishes, thus facilitating a better knowledge of this organization and of the actions undertaken with and for young people.

Also, Mrs. Carmen Ognean presented the activity of the Department of Religious Education, the youth camps - St. Teodora of Sihla as well as ITO Canada 2021.

The proceedings of the Deanery Meeitng for Centre Canada ended with the words of thanks of HG Bishop Ioan Casian addressed to all participants, urging to increase efforts to serve God and people and emphasizing the importance of intensifying actions in the pastoral-missionary field but a particular attention has to be paid to young people and their education.

The final prayer and the hierarch's blessing ended the meeting.

(notes by Carmen Ognean)