The Deanery Meeting for Eastern Canada 2023

On October 20-21, 2023, the Deanery Meeting for East Canada was held at St. George and St. Epictetus and Astion the Cathedral in Saint Hubert, Québec.

On Friday, October 20, 2023, around 4:30 pm, His Grace Bishop Ioan Casian opened the work of the deanery, with the prayer to the Heavenly King, followed by a word of welcome addressed to the priests and delegates present.

Next, the hierarch reminded that the Holy Synod of the Romanian Orthodox Church established that 2023 is the Homage year for the pastoral care of the elderly and the Commemorative year of hymnographers and church chanters.

      In the light of this theme, Fr. Constantin Lupașcu gave a presentation entitled: Considerations on the pastoral care of the elderly, and Fr. Daniel Sandu also made a presentation entitled Spiritual accompaniment of the elderly in the context of old people's homes. Both presentations were watched with great interest by those present. The two presentations were followed by a question-and-answer period.

Then the Sacrament of the anointing of sicks was performed by the clergy present, followed by a pastoral word from Bishop Ioan Casian. The evening ended with the meal expertly prepared by Nun Ana together with the ladies from St. George's Cathedral.

Saturday, October 21, 2023, in the morning at 9:00, after the Heavenly King prayer, Bishop Ioan Casian made a short presentation of the special guest, Prof. Dr. Sebastian Moldovan from the Faculty of Theology in Sibiu, after which the guest-speaker held, on Zoom network, the conference with the theme "On Reconciliation".

Following the announced program, the Attestation Commission and the Secretariat were established. In the absence of Fr. George Chișcă - dean, Bishop Ioan Casian asked Fr. Grigorie Țăpuc to make a presentation of the activities of the Deanery for Eastern Canada. After this presentation, the priests present were invited to share with the audience the achievements and difficulties encountered in the parishes, during the period 2021-2023.

The financial report was then presented, by Mr. Adrian Pătru, after which the elections for the Deanery Consistory and the Attestation Commission for the next 2 years followed.

Mrs. Oana Grosuliac, the representative of AROLA for Eastern Canada, presented the activity report of the Ladies' Association, mentioning the projects carried out and the scholarships awarded to ladies from the Metropola of the two Americas.

Mihaela Amohnoaie and Anca Coza spoke about the Sunday religious education program.

The young Valentin Cioană, the vice-president of the ROYA Youth Association, gave a very nice presentation of the activities of the young people of the Diocese.

Bishop Ioan Casian thanked all the priests, deacons and delegates who participated in this event.

All the participants in the Deanery Meeting were then invited to the lunch, prepared by Nun Ana together with the unsurpassed women from St. George and St. Epictetus and Astion Diocesan Cathedral.

(notes by Fr. Grigorie Țapuc)