Biennial Deanery Meeting for Western Canada

held via Zoom

October 22 - 23, 2021

The Deanery Meeting for Western Canada within the Romanian Orthodox Diocese of Canada was held on Friday and Saturday, October 22, and October 23, 2021, respectively, via Zoom.

On Friday, October 22, HG Bishop Ioan Casian opened the meeting by the prayer. The year 2021 proclaimed by the Romanian Patriarchate at the initiative of His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel - “The Homage Year of the pastoral care for the Romanian abroad and the Commemorative Year of those asleep in the Lord; the liturgical and cultural value of cemeteries” was the framework theme of the meeting. Thus, Fr. Ovidiu Moldovan and Fr. Nicolae Liuță gave two presentations on “The role and importance of Godparents in Marriage / Baptism.” Fr. Corneliu Dragomir also had a presentation on “The Diaspora perspective in Canada – the mission.” Next, the meditation article prepared by Daniela Ciorogariu Ivan was read. A question-and-answer session followed. Friday evening ended with the final prayer.

At the opening of the meeting on Saturday, October 23, the secretariat was elected, the agenda was presented, and the minutes of the previous meeting were approved (Saskatoon 2019).

An extraordinary moment was the conference of Fr. Prof. Ioan C. Tesu who spoke on the topic - The role of Christian education and school in the preparation of new generations.

Next, Archpriest Mircea Panciuk presented the Biennial Activity Report of the Deanery for Western Canada. It was pointed out that although there were periods when the restrictions were quite severe, all churches were open to worshipers, and the Divine Liturgy was celebrated regularly, as well as other liturgical and pastoral-missionary activities.

A word of appreciation and encouragement came from HG Bishop Ioan Casian because during this difficult period, however, two places of worship were bought - in Western and Eastern Canada.

Mr. Adrian Patru presented the Financial Report and then the Attestation Commission and the Deanery Consistory were elected for the next two years.

In the 3rd part of the meeting - the associations AROLA (Mrs. Daniel Stroescu), ROYA and the people involved in religious education (Carmen Ognean) presented a very rich activity report.

The Assembly of the Deanery for Western Canada elected Winnipeg Parish for the next meeting.

HG Bishop Ioan Casian concluded with a word of thanks addressed to all participants and urged everybody to intensify the efforts in the service of God and the neighbor.

The hymn to the Mother of God and the hierarch's blessing ended the meeting.

(notes by Gheorghe Crisan)