Priests and delegates from parishes of the Romanian Orthodox Archdiocese of the USA in Western US met on the weekend of 10 to 12 November 2017 at the parish of the Holy Ressurection in Sacramento, CA, for the Deanery Assembly. The meeting began on Friday, November 10, with the ceremony of bringing of the Icon of the Mother of God (copy of the wonder working icon from the Nicula Monastery) from Chicago by HE Metropolitan Nicolae.

The two themes of the year 2017 in the Romanian Patriarchate were the main points on the Agenda. Horia Groza, from the host parish, presented the theme of "The Burning Bush, a Spiritual Movement of the Antim Monastery in full Communist regime", and Paula Matei Platt, from the Elevation of the Holy Cross parish in Upland, CA, the theme "Church painting in the Romanian Orthodox Church”. After dinner, Metropolitan Nicholas met with the priests of the Deanery to discuss the provisions of the new "Rules of the Canonical Disciplinary Authorities and the Courts of the Romanian Orthodox Church" published in Bucharest in 2015.          

The next day, the Assembly's work continued with the Roll call, presentation of the Agenda, and reading of the Minutes of the previous meeting at St. George and St. Demetrios the New in Las Vegas, in 2015. It was noticed with joy the presence of priests and delegates from all parishes of this Deanery. Andrea Dumitrescu of Ss. Joachim and Anna parish in Seattle, WA, presented the report of the Youth Organization (ROYA), namely the camps, conferences, and meetings of the Youth of the Metropolia during the last year.

The theme of the 2017 commemorative year dedicated to Patriarch Justinian and the confessors of Orthodoxy during communism continued to be presented in a movie that evoked many priests and believers who confessed the Christian faith at the cost of their freedom. The Icon of the Mother of God of Nicula Monastery and the annual pilgrimage on the Dormition of the Mother of God were presented in a Trinitas TV production. Metropolitan Nicolae talked about the importance of the works that are nearing completion at the Cathedral of the Nation's Salvation in Bucharest, urging the priests and the faithful to organize in the next period a collection in each parish for this purpose. The material watched by the participants and prepared again by Trinitas TV was a very useful mean of presentation.

The next part of the Assembly was dedicated to reports on the activities of the Ladies' Auxiliary (Mrs. Anca Daian of Ss. Joachim and Anna, Seattle, WA) and the Religious Education Commission of the Metropolia. Mrs. Ioana Groza from the Sacramento parish made a presentation on the situation of Sunday Schools in the Deanery. The election of the Deanery Consistory was the last point on the Agenda of this meeting. Metropolitan Nicolae thanked the Parish Priest Teodor Garlonta and all the faithful for the beautiful organization of this Deanery Assembly.    

On Sunday, November 12, the Divine Liturgy was officiated by HE Metropolitan Nicolae, the new Dean of the Western US Deanery, Mihai Balan from St. George and St. Demetrios the New parish in Las Vegas, and the local priests, Teodor Garlonta and Emanuel Sigartau. The priests and people enjoyed and the end a festive meal offered by the parish.