Meeting of the Deanery for Central Canada

Descent of the Holy Spirit Parish Windsor, ON

3-4 November 2023

On the occasion of the parish's 90th anniversary, on November 3-4, 2023, Descent of the Holy Spirit Parish in Windsor, Ontario, hosted the Meeting of the Deanery for Central Canada. The work of the meeting was presided over by the Most Reverend Fr. Ioan Casian, the Romanian Orthodox Bishop of Canada, and the topics discussed during it were in accordance with the theme of the year 2023 established by the Romanian Patriarchate: "The Tribute Year of Pastoring the Elderly" and "The Commemorative Year of hymnographers and church chanters".

Friday, November 3, 2023, in the presence of the priests and delegations of the Romanian parishes within the Deanery of Central Canada, Rev. Protos. Corneliu Andrașco, from the Cathedral dedicated to "St. George and St. Hierarch Andrei Șaguna" from Windsor, Ontario presented the paper entitled "Hymnographers of the Church, the source of spiritual life". Afterwards, Fr. Călin Toderita from the "Resurrection of the Lord" Parish in Hamilton, Ontario held the conference entitled "The life experience of the elderly - theological, liturgical and pastoral perspectives". Both presentations were appreciated by the audience. The first day of the Deanery Meeting ended with the celebration of the Sacrament of the Holy Anointing of sicks made by the Primate of the Romanian Orthodox Diocese of Canada, His Grace Bishop Ioan Casian, together with all the priests presents.

The proceedings of the Deanery Meeting continued Saturday, November 4, 2023. The Committee for the Attestation of Mandates, consisting of two clergy and one layman, and the secretary of the meeting were appointed. Afterwards, Fr. Nicolae Codrea from the "Descent of the Holy Spirit" Parish in Windsor, Ontario, read the Minutes of the previous Deanery Meeting for Central Canada which was hosted by the "St. Andrew the Apostle" Parish in Mississauga on October 15-16, 2021.

Through the Zoom online platform, Fr. Constantin Jinga, from the Faculty of Orthodox Theology of the Western University of Timișoara, held the conference "Old age - an age with spiritual benefits - Ecclesiastes chap. 11-12”.

The administrative part of the meeting followed during which the biennial report of the activity of the Deanery for the period 2021-2023 was presented by Fr. Viorel Țencliuc - archpriest. Next, the priests present at the meeting were invited to briefly present the activity carried out in their parishes. The Financial Report of the Parishes in the Province of Ontario was presented by Mr. Adrian Patru - treasurer. Also, the members of the Attestation Commission and of the Deanery Consistory for the next two years were elected.

Afterwards, Mrs. Nicoleta Ștefan, from "St. Dimitrie" Parish - Richmond Hill, Toronto, the representative of AROLA, described the beautiful projects, programs and activities carried out by the ladies' organization of the Romanian Orthodox Metropolia of the Americas. The need for more effective communication between AROLA and the parishes of the Deanery of Central Canada was found necesary.

Later, Mrs. Carmen Ognean, from the Cathedral dedicated to "St. George and St. Hierarch Andrei Șaguna", from Windsor, Ontario, the coordinator of the Department of Religious Education of the Romanian Orthodox Diocese of Canada, presented the activities and camps organized during 2021-2023.

At the same time, Mr. Valentin Cioană, vice-president of ROYA (Romanian Orthodox Youth of America) presented the activity and programs currently carried out by the Orthodox youth organization on the North American continent and urged the priests present to send and support the young people from the parishes they shepherd to ROYA activities and camps.

At the end, His Grace Bishop Ioan Casian emphasized the importance of the participation of all priests and delegations in the meetings of the Deanery and thanked Rev. Nicolae Codrea and the "Descent of the Holy Spirit" Parish in Windsor, Ontario, for the hospitality shown by hosting the Deanery Meeting of Central Canada.

Then, His Excellency, Oana Raluca Gherghe, Consul General of Romania in Toronto, present in the city, addressed a word of greeting to all those present, showing the availability of offering consular services to Romanian citizens living in the Province of Ontario. At the same time, it was decided that the next Deanery Meeting of Central Canada will take place in the Toronto area, at the "All Saints" Parish in the year 2025.

After the Deanery Meeting which ended with the recitation of the prayer dedicated to the Mother of God, all those present enjoyed the fraternal agape lovingly prepared by the host parish.

(notes by Rev. Fr. Nicolae Codrea)