Hierarchical Visit to the Historic “Saint George” Parish, New Westminster, BC

During March 28-30, the “Saint George” Parish in New Westminster, BC (the first Romanian Orthodox parish established in British Columbia in 1986), spiritually enjoyed the official visit of His Grace Ioan Casian.

The program of the visit included several events, of which we note some important milestones.

On Friday, March 28, 2025, the Romanian hierarch of Canada arrived at the “Saint George” parish. This visit was part of a series of meetings with priests and pastoral visits to several parishes and missions in the provinces of Saskatchewan, Alberta and British Columbia. The hierarch was greeted by the prayerful crowd of believers, who came with enthusiasm to participate in this spiritual event.

The young people of the parish welcomed the hierarch with flowers, bread and salt, according to the Romanian Orthodox tradition. Next, His Grace Bishop Ioan Casian celebrated the Sacrament of the Holy Unction, accompanied by Fr. Cornel Dragomir - stavrophoros from “St. Nicholas and St. Elijah the Prophet” Parish in Surrey, BC, and Fr. Nicu Liuță, parish priest. The religious service was followed by a fraternal agape, with fasting dishes.

On Saturday, His Grace Ioan Casian, accompanied by Fr. Nicu Liuță, visited several of the significant places of the city of Vancouver, including the Museum of Anthropology of the University of British Columbia, where they admired and appreciated art exhibits and artifacts created by the local Aboriginal culture, as well as other cultures, such as the European, Japanese, Korean, Chinese, Polynesian or Inca and others civilizations from South America, given the multicultural aspect of the pastoral mission specific to this geographical area.

During the afternoon, the hierarch met with members of the Parish Council. The possibilities of collaboration for the development of this historical community were discussed, as well as the necessary works to strengthen the place of worship, built in 1930, which requires appropriate repairs and modifications. The evening ended with the recitation of the Akathist to St. Great Martyr George, the patron saint of the community. In his sermon, the hierarch emphasized the need to confess Orthodoxy in contemporary secularized society, especially by calling on each believer to look at himself in the mirror of the soul, given by God, where he can find the most faithful reflection of the vocation received from the Creator. The icons of the saints represent images of Christian testimony and identity viewed from the perspective of God's eternity.

The fourth Sunday of Great Lent, of St. John the Ladder, was marked by the hierarchal service of the Holy Liturgy, in an uplifting and grace-filled atmosphere, and by the numerous presence of the faithful who received the Sacraments of Confession and of Eucharist. The participants were encouraged by the teaching words of His Grace Ioan Casian, full of spiritual significance.

A special honor was the presence of members of the diplomatic corps, Ștefana and Gabriel Rotaru, who develop a fruitful diplomatic activity to promote authentic Romanian values, but also to strengthen the bond between Romanians in the diaspora and the mother country, Romania.

The event ended with several interviews conducted by Mrs. Adelina Șuvagău from RomPost TV and with a fraternal agape, with Lenten culinary dishes cooked by the women of the parish.

We can say, in conclusion, that the presence of His Grace Ioan Casian in the midst of our community brought much comfort, peace and guidance towards God, through Whom all things are sanctified, renewed and perfected.

(Notes by Fr. Nicu Liuță)