Quito, ECUADOR
The Festivities dedicated to the National Day of Romania began on November 26th, 2023, when Fr. Daniel Ene, as delegate of His Eminence Nicolae, Metropolitan of the Orthodox Metropolia of the Americas, was among the community of Ecuadorians at the Mission of St. Joseph the New of Partoș, Metropolitan of Timisoara. After the celebration of the Divine Liturgy in Romanian and Spanish, the Te Deum service followed, during which prayers of thanksgiving were offered for the unity of the Romanian people, and for the preservation of the Romanian tradition, culture, and spirituality in the distant American lands.
Additionally, at the end of the event, the new parish council of the Mission of St. Joseph the New of Partoș was sworn into office, and Mrs. Gladys Perez was awarded, with this year being dedicated to pastoral elders, for being one of the most active people in the Mission.
The next service in Ecuador will take place on Sunday December 17th, when Divine Liturgy will be celebrated by Father Esteban from Barranquilla, Colombia, and after, the children of the parish will perform the singing of traditional Romanian carols, and will, God willing, bring joy to all present.
Barranquilla and Bogota, COLOMBIA
On November 29th, Father Esteban Díaz and the faithful of St. John the Evangelist Parish celebrated Romania Day with the tenth and eleventh graders of the Francisco Javier Cisneros Commercial Technical Educational College in Puerto Colombia, Atlántico. There they discussed about Romania, and Saint John the Vlach. Mr. Virgil Fadur spoke about scholarships offered by the Romanian government for students in Colombia. After an uplifting moment of prayer, the projects of the Romanian parish in the Barranquilla area were presented.
On December 1st, Father Esteban Díaz travelled to the capital of Colombia to attend the reception organized by the Romanian Embassy for the various diplomatic delegations present in Bogotá. There was a moment of prayer with the diplomatic corps present at the Romanian Embassy, which preceded the protocolary ceremonies, followed by discussions with prominent figures in the religious life of Colombian society. Recalling the presence of His Eminence Timothy of Assos of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, together with priests Michael and Alexander. Also present were Apostolic Nuncio of the Catholic Church, Mons, Paolo Rudelli.
Furthermore, on Sunday, December 3rd, in Barranquilla, at the end of the Divine Liturgy, the Te Deum service was celebrated on Romania's National Day, when prayers were said for the Romanian people and the entire diaspora. This event was attended by the parishioners; some guests were exposed to Romanian culture for the first time. May God grant that all this will be the beginning of a great work, in which the presence of the Church and the Romanian culture will bring valuable contributions to the construction of the Colombian society, as a foretaste of the Kingdom of God on earth.
Caracas, VENEZUELA
At the beautiful maramureș style Romanian Church of Saints Constantine and Helen in Caracas, Venezuela, Father Antonio Garcia celebrated the Divine Liturgy on Sunday, December 3rd, 2023, followed by the Te Deum service. The Romanian anthem was sung and the faithful of Venezuelan origin prepared a cake in the colors of the flag in honor of all Romanians and those who feel Romanian in the beautiful and tried parish. Father Antonio then emphasized the love of the Romanians for the Venezuelan people and the importance of the spirituality and optimistic culture of the Romanians.
Signed,
Fr. Daniel Ene
