On November the 9^th through the 10^th His Eminence Nicolae visited Saint Michael’s Church in Southbridge, Massachusetts. The church is 95 years old, marking it as one of the older in the Romanian Orthodox Metropolia of the Americas. The Metropolitan’s presence added a special radiance and honor to the parish’s Feast Day celebration of Vespers and Divine Liturgy. 

The pastoral visit has begun on Saturday afternoon November the 9^th with the meeting of Metropolitan Nicolae with the parish council. Pastoral issues and projects of the parish were discussed. Metropolitan Nicolae mentioned the meetings at the level of the Metropolia during this year 2019 in between Congresses. After the meeting Vespers were served by the parish priest, Father John Downie with Metropolitan Nicolae assisting.

On Sunday November the 10^th, His Eminence Nicolae celebrated the Divine Liturgy along with Father John Daly from the local Albanian Orthodox Church and with Father John Downie. In the homily His Eminence urged the parish to continue in the work and mission of the Gospel in America by loving and paying attention to all of the people that surround them. This aspect of Christs’ call, he stated, is notably demonstrated by the parable of the Good Samaritan. His Eminence emphasized that we never know what one small gesture of kindness, a word or helping hand, might indeed completely change a life or even save a soul. Therefore we should be eager to do even the little things that are immediately around us and not neglect them or any person as insignificant.

On this occasion His Eminence presented to the parish a new antimension which was consecrated upon his elevation to Metropolitan of the Americas. His Eminence also brought the relics of Saint Irodion of Lainici for veneration and an icon of the saint as a gift to the parish.

The banquet concluded the two day visit. Father Vicar Nicholas Apostola from St. Nicholas parish in Shrewsbury joined the festivities. Metropolitan Nicolae urged the people to take the opportunity of the preparation of the 100 anniversary to reach to those to have lost connection with the parish over the last years. The Centennial anniversary should be a moment of joy and communion between generations.