St. Dimitrios the Myrrh-Streamer Parish in Winnipeg

celebrated 50 years of existence

The 22nd Sunday after Pentecost was a moment of great joy for the Romanian community in Winnipeg. All those present celebrated 50 years since the founding of St. Dimitrios the Myrrh-Streamer Parish in 1974.

On Saturday, November 2, His Grace Bishop Ioan Casian together with Father Victor Malanca, parish priest, on Saturday of the souls, performed the service of commemoration for those who fell asleep in the Lord. All the founders and benefactors trespassed were mentioned.

On Sunday, November 3, His Grace Bishop Ioan Casian served the Holy Liturgy in presence of Father Victor Malanca and the faithful who came to pray and rejoice spiritually at this festive moment. The answers at strana were given by Terry Holunga and Dan Tuduriu.

In the homily pronounced at the end of Holy Liturgy, the hierarch spoke about the importance of Sunday and explained the meaning of the evangelical parable:

"Sunday is a day of celebration for us Christians. It is the day we come to meet God in prayer, to partake of the Body and Blood of Christ for eternal life. The Christian comes to the Church to strengthen his faith and his personal life through the words of the Holy Gospels, through community prayer, through the grace that descends on those gathered in the name of the Lord.

Coming to Church is an act of faith in today's world as it was in the past. It is an act by which we confess our faith in God and in his living work among us and in the world. This has been and is needed in every time and in every generation. This testimony ensures the strengthening of the faith of believers and the growth of the Church."

Referring to the example of the rich man and the poor Lazarus, the hierarch said:

"Today's parable is important from several points of view. It first shows us the importance of our deeds and the need to search God's word for gaining eternal life. At the request of the rich man, who was in a place of suffering due to his carelessness towards those around him, i.e. the poor Lazarus, to send Lazarus to ease his suffering, the patriarch Abraham replied that both he and Lazarus had the time of their earthly lives to search the teachings of Moses and the prophets to be properly guided in their spiritual life. They both had the same opportunities that Lazarus made fruitful for salvation and the rich man ignored them and went to the place of suffering and far away from God.

Moreover, Abraham tells him that a deep abyss was set between the two places that no one can pass beyond. This abyss means the lack of God's grace in the lives of sinners. Because the sinful man does not practice the virtues and does not gain familiarity with God by cooperating with His life-giving grace in view of spiritual healing, he cannot approach God's benefits and gain eternal life."

Christ in the parable foretells what will happen at the end of His earthly life the hierarch said:

"At the moment when the rich man asks Abraham to send Lazarus to announce the true teaching of God to his brothers so that they will not come to the same place of suffering, because the testimony of one who has returned from the dead is more convincing, Abraham answers him that even this testimony is not enough for the unbelieving man to return to faith. We see this in the case of Lord's resurrection from the dead that even the close disciples, the myrrh-bearing women and others who knew Him circumstantially, were in doubt and did not know what to believe. Only after receiving the Holy Spirit, they are strengthened in faith and give strong testimony to the resurrection of Christ. The crowd continued to dispute the resurrection and believed in the different rumors that were being spread."

Next, the hierarch recalled the event of the celebration of the 50th anniversary of the foundation of the parish. On this occasion, he presented Father Victor Malanca with the diocesan anniversary diploma and medal and a pectoral cross. He has awarded several anniversary diplomas and medals and diplomas of merit to founders and benefactors who have distinguished themselves over time.

The day continued with a festive agape organized by members of the Parish Ladies' Association (AROLA) and the Romanian Association of Manitoba. Claudian Constantin Gheorghe - president of the Parish Council and Terry Holunga - treasurer took the floor and pointed out the important milestones for the parish and community in the 50 years of existence. His Eminence Archbishop Victorin's personal contribution to the start of this new mission was emphasized and the fact that he was also the first to serve in the parish during Holy Week and Easter in 1974 when the church was purchased. Several priests who served in this parish over time were remembered - Rev. Vasile Ignătescu, Rev. Iustinian Dalea, Rev. Dumitru Bodale, Rev. Johny Tocari, Rev. Mircea Panciuk, Rev. D. Diaconescu, Rev. Jerome Newville, Archim. Vasile Vasilachi and especially the contribution of Father Victor Malanca as parish priest from the beginning of the 80s until today.

A very edifying presentation about the history of participation in the establishment of this parish was given by Mrs. Camelia Stefanovici. Following a thorough research on the origins of the parish, the special contribution to the beginning of the parish and to the continuation of its mission over time of Holunga family to which was added Onofriechuck family was underlined. Over time many others were added who made the parish grow and flourish.

His Grace Bishop Ioan Casian, in his address to those present, spoke about the importance of the homage and commemorative year 2024 dedicated to the pastoral care of the sick and the unmercenary saints. He also mentioned the importance of the year 2025 as the Centennial Year of the Romanian Patriarchate and the Commemorative Year of the Romanian Orthodox priests and confessors of the 20th century. The hierarch encouraged those present to get involved in the pastoral work of the Diocese to strengthen the Orthodox mission on Canadian soil.

An artistic program, coordinated by Mrs. Angarta Frîncu, followed with well-known pieces by Ciprian Porumbescu performed on the piano and violin, traditional folk songs and dances that delighted those present.

At the end, Father Victor Malanca thanked everyone for their effort, organization, and participation.