A week ago, with the occasion of Father Daniel Ene's visit to Quito, some of the members of the Romanian community in Ecuador were very joyful due to his visit. With the help of the Good Lord and with the blessing of His Eminence Nicolae, Metropolitan of the Romanian Orthodox Metropolia of the Americas (Romanian Patriarchate), Father Daniel, Dean of New York, New England, and Eastern USA, was able to return to us for the fifth time. In this way, he was able to continue to keep the promise he made to us in November 2021, and to fulfill other important missionary needs.
This time, the joy was all the greater because his special efforts generated opportunities for communion, allowing Orthodox people to meet with each other. Through his efforts, he crystallized a scattered and abandoned Romanian community, which began to bear fruit. His presence at the "Half of the World" also generated interest among compatriots that live outside the Ecuadorian capital. Mrs. Mihaela Badin, a journalist traveling through the beautiful city of Cuenca, traveled nearly 500km to meet Father Ene and to join our group to celebrate the Divine Liturgy in Romanian. The good news continued due to generous invitations from other Romanian community members, and we spent a very exciting day on Saturday, April 1st, in the town of Puembo, about 30 km from Quito. Husbands and wives accompanied us in the country where we have the honor of living, as well as our children who were born with the privilege of possessing two cultures.
On Sunday, April 2nd, in the Chapel of the Resurrection, opposite the Marriot Hotel, in a central and particularly accessible part of the city, the Divine Liturgy and Panikhida service were celebrated for all the Orthodox faithful of Quito who were seeking canonical pastoral care. The presence of Father Daniel in Quito has been the answer to the spiritual needs, not only of the Romanian Orthodox, but also of the Ecuadorian Orthodox, and those of other nationalities who attended the religious services on previous occasions, confessed, received Holy Communion, and listened with fervor and interest to guidance that led the way to salvation. On this occasion, the Orthodox community of Quito was visited by Father Rafail from the Patriarchate of Serbia, who shepherds the Orthodox faithful in Guayaquil and wished to join Father Daniel. With the aim of making Romania more known to other Orthodox faithful, a stand was set up with pictures and objects that reflected our national identity. After the Liturgy, the Romanian ladies served all the participants with homemade Lenten goods and coliva, which were offered in memory of loved ones that have passed away. The young, elderly and even children participated in this unique moment, which convinced us that this event is a good start; hopefully, it is the first of many moments that we will share over the years, with the help of the Good Lord.
We look forward to Father Daniel’s future visits, because they strengthen the Romanian community and the canonical Orthodox Church in Quito.
Sincerely,
A member of the Romanian community in Quito
