Liturgical celebration, Spiritual Encouragement, and Commemoration

at St. John the Baptist and St. Hierarch Calinic of Cernica Cathedral in Montreal

On the 9th Sunday after Pentecost, His Grace Bishop Ioan Casian was present among the faithful of St. John the Baptist and St. Hierarch Calinic of Cernica Cathedral in Montreal, Quebec. The hierarch celebrated the Divine Liturgy and the memorial service in remembrance of the repose of the late Protopresbyter Emeritus Father George Chișcă.

In his homily, delivered at the end of the service, the Romanian hierarch said:

“The first reading, from chapter three of the First Epistle to the Corinthians, reminds us of a truth the Church has confessed for over two thousand years: the Son of God, incarnate of the Virgin Mary, made us partakers in His work of deification of humankind and transfiguration of the world. Through the humanity He puts on, He made us His brothers and close ones, sharing in our suffering and burdens.

We see these burdens in every era — whether from the pages of history or in today's reality: conflicts, wars, injustices, poverty. In the face of these, Christ is the foundation of our hope. Through His birth, passion, crucifixion, death, and especially through His resurrection, He opens for us the path to eternal life.

The Holy Apostle Paul reminds us that the ‘foundation’ is none other than Christ. We are co-workers with Him, and the Church — understood not merely as buildings but as the living assembly of the faithful — is built upon this foundation. You are ‘temples of the Holy Spirit,’ and the Spirit of God dwells in you.”

Referring to the Gospel reading, the hierarch continued:

“The Gospel presents us with the image of the Church journeying through time — sometimes peaceful, other times stormy — like the disciples’ boat on the Sea of Galilee. Each of our lives resembles this journey: moments of calm but also times of trial, doubt, illness, and more.

After teaching the people, Christ sends the disciples to cross the sea while He goes up the mountain to pray. This shows us how important it is to withdraw at times from the world’s noise and spend time in silence, in God's presence.

The disciples set off at night in a fishing boat. The wind rises, and fear overtakes them. Amid the storm, they see Christ walking on the water and are terrified, thinking it’s a ghost. But He reassures them: ‘Take heart; it is I; do not be afraid.’

Peter, wanting to be sure, asks Christ to command him to come to Him on the water. At first, he walks with faith, but when he sees the waves, he doubts and begins to sink. He cries out: ‘Lord, save me!’ and Christ gently rebukes him: ‘O you of little faith, why did you doubt?’

This scene is an icon of our human life. If we keep our eyes on Christ, we walk over the waves. But when we allow doubt into our hearts, we begin to sink. This often happens at the death of a loved one when we ask why God allowed it.

The Church’s answer is clear: death is the consequence of sin, but Christ has conquered it. The body returns to the earth, but the soul continues its journey toward God, and at the end of time, the body will be resurrected, transfigured, and reunited with the soul to stand before the Lord.”

His Grace Bishop Ioan Casian then memntioned the personality and ministry of Father George Chișcă, who served as parish priest of the Cathedral for over 50 years and recently reposed in the Lord.

“Today is also a Sunday of commemoration. We remember your pastor, Father George, who passed away in the night from Friday to Saturday, after receiving Holy Communion on Friday morning. A man of faith who carried throughout his life the banner of hope in God. He lived through the persecution of the Church in communist Romania and the joy of religious freedom in Canada, where he arrived in 1969. He understood the meaning and power of faith in both good and difficult times.

Even though today we accompany Father George on his final earthly journey, faith tells us that his soul is alive, and the complete joy will come at the Resurrection. The community he served for over fifty years will remain a testimony to his dedication.

We pray for him, for his presbytera, and for all those in mourning. In these days, the Church will accompany him with prayer and vigil.

All of us, whether we have believed or not, will discover after death that the soul continues to exist and moves toward God. For the faithful, this is joy; for the unbelieving, it will be a new hope — that God may show mercy upon their weakness.”

Further, the hierarch read a message of comfort for the grieving family, the cathedral faithful, and the Romanian community in Montreal.

Concelebrating with His Grace Bishop Ioan Casian were Protopresbyter Emeritus Fr. Mircea Panciuk and Fr. George Drăgan. The responses were offered by the cathedral choir, directed by Mr. Marius Grosuliac.

At the end, those present attended a communal meal (agape) in memory of Father George Chișcă.

(notes by Nun Ana Bulgariu)