TeDeum and Reception of the Historic Bell Destined for the Hairy Hill Project

On Tuesday, September 9, His Grace Bishop Ioan Casian was present at the site of the former Nativity of the Mother of God Parish in Hairy Hill, Alberta. The hierarch led the service of the TeDeum and a memorial service (parastas) for the departed in the local cemetery. Joining the Romanian bishop of Canada were Father Petre Busuioc, administrative vicar, Father Mircea Panciuk protopresbyter emeritus, Protopresbyter Călin Marincaș, Father Gheorghe Petrovan and Father Florin Porumb.

Members of the Hairy Hill / Boian and Edmonton communities also attended the event.

“Today we rejoiced in giving glory to God for all His blessings. We thank God always for the gifts He bestows upon us in life. This is the gesture of gratitude to which a Christian is called. Through it, one enters into communion with God. Giving thanks to God is the natural state of the person who understands he has been created by Him.

The project we have envisioned – St. Metropolitan Dosoftei Center – is founded on the desire to strengthen the mission of the Church in western Canada and to provide spiritual and concrete support to the historic Boian region. The Church has been and remains part of the deep identity of the Romanian people. It allows generation after generation to come, pray to God, and grow in faith. Just as the Romanian pioneers of the late 19th and early 20th centuries left behind a church in which generations have gathered to glorify God, so too should we, in these new times, follow their example and extend and strengthen their work and legacy.

We also prayed for all those laid to rest in this cemetery, that God may grant them eternal rest, and we also reflected on their prayers for us.”

Afterwards, there was the official handover of the historic bell of the Holy Cross Church and Cemetery by Mr. Ron Bobocel to the hierarch. It is to be preserved until it can be installed at Hairy Hill when the center will be inaugurated. Father Mircea Panciuk spoke about the history of the bell and the significance of the moment. Father Petre Busuioc reminded everyone of the need for shared effort to advance this project and for the involvement of the local community in this regard.

The hierarch then thanked those present and those who have been involved thus far in launching the project.

The event was followed by a fraternal agape meal prepared by Presbytera Simona Mărincaș.