A new mission and a new priest in Airdrie - Alberta.

Inauguration of a place of prayer in Howser - British Columbia.

May 27, 28, 30 were moments of joy and communion in two places – Calgary (Alberta) and Howser (British-Columbia).

The events that followed began with Vespers on the evening of May 27 at St. Andrew the Apostle Parish in Calgary, pastored by parish priest Vasile Moisi. Together with His Grace Bishop Ioan Casian served Fr. George Bâzgan vicar-administrative, Fr. Mircea Panciuk, Archpriest Canada West, Fr. Ioan Bujor, Fr. Vasile Moisi, Fr. Ovidiu Moldovan, Fr. Ciprian Pavel Roman and Deacon Ioan Cristian Bujor. The answers at strana were given by theologians Marian Apătăchioae and Gabriel Buboi and by Mr. Sherban Comanescu.

“We are in a period of joy and light - said Bishop Ioan Casian at the end of Vespers. We celebrated the Ascension of the Lord which ends the period of the 40 days spent by the Savior Christ with His disciples in which He appeared to them innumerable times to strengthen them in faith and in the mission they will have to fulfill. The Lord's ascension is the necessary step that had to be taken, says the Savior, so that the Comforter, the Spirit of Truth, can come to renew the world through the grace of redemption acquired by the Son of God for us humans.”

Fr. Vasile Moisi thanked the hierarch, the priests and all those present for their participation.

The next day the Divine Liturgy was held at St. Simeon Mirotocivi Parish (Serbian Orthodox Diocese of Canada). Several new priest added to the assembly: Fr. Obrad Filipovic, parish priest and archpriest, Fr. Călin Dorin Mărincaș, Fr. Gheorghe Petrovan and Fr. Lucian Moldovan. At the appointed time during the Divine Liturgy, Deacon. Ioan Cristian Bujor received the sacrament of priesthood on behalf of the new Nativity of the Mother of God Mission in Airdrie (Alberta).

“On this 7th Sunday after Easter we remember the Holy Fathers from the First Ecumenical Council (325) - said the hierarch in his speech. It is the synod that inaugurated the series of seven ecumenical councils that established the Church's teaching of faith. One of the major things that has remained with us to this day is the first part of the Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed that we recite in the Church and which talks about God the Father and God the Son Jesus Christ. Another import thing was the establishment of the way in which the date of Easter is calculated. The Arian heresy was also condemned.”

Regarding the sacrament of ordination in priesthood, the hierarch said: “Today was an important event for the local community here in the Calgary area, more specifically in Airdrie, who have a new servant of God. Even if the event is local, it has a universal resonance because the Church as a whole is strengthened with a new priest who prays to God and invites everyone else to pray for the salvation of souls.

One of the prayers uttered by the bishop on the occasion of the ordination of the new priest reminds several important things: all the priest's work is done thanks to the gift of the Holy Spirit that is given to him at the ordination; he has the duty to stand clean before the Holy Altar; he has the duty to preach the Gospel of the Kingdom and no other teaching; he must fulfill the word of the true God; he has the duty to offer spiritual sacrifices; he has the duty to reborn the faithful through the Sacrament of Holy Baptism. If he fulfills all these, he will receive the reward of the good management of the responsibilities of his priestly rank.”

HG Bishop Ioan Casian mentioned that the last Sunday in May is the Day of Romanians Abroad, a day of joy and celebration for all Romanians from all continents.

The hierarch further thanked His Grace Mitrofan – Serbian Orthodox Bishop of Canada, Rev. Obrad Filipovic and the Serbian community in Calgary for hosting the event.

The celebration ended with a special fraternal agape prepared by several presbyteras. The hierarch spoke also with some of the members of the new mission. He addressed them words of encouragement and congratulations for the initiative and blessed them.

Tuesday May 30 HG Bishop Ioan Casian was present in Howser (British-Columbia) for the inauguration of a chapel dedicated to the Annunciation of the Mother of God built at the initiative of Mr. Daniel Damian and a group of believers of different ethnicities who came from a distance of 6/7 hours. The objects necessary for the performance of the Divine Liturgy and the other services were consecrated and the first Divine Liturgy was celebrated. The answers at strana were given by Mrs. Cristina Damian.

The hierarch spoke to those present about the blessing of being able to have services in these places where there is not a large Romanian community but there are brave people who took the initiative to build a place of prayer towards God. A spiritual contribution to the fulfillment of this project was made by Fr. Ștefan Nuțescu from Mount Athos through the guidance and advice given to those involved in this spiritual project.

Also, HG Bishop Ioan Casian discussed with some of those present interested in studying theology about the different possibilities that exist now to be able to follow a theological cursus.

The day ended with a beautiful moment of brotherly communion around the usual fraternal agape.