Archbishop Casian of Lower Danube blessed firefighters in Galați on Tuesday on the feast of St. Joseph the New of Partoș, their spiritual protector. “We rejoice in this wonderful army of good,” His Eminence said.
Officers, non-commissioned officers, and other personnel from the General Eremia Grigorescu Inspectorate for Emergency Situations in Galați attended the service, along with representatives of local authorities, clergy from the diocesan administration, and faithful.
‘We remember the firefighters’ victories’
Archbishop Casian highlighted the sacrifices firefighters made to save lives and property, as well as their constant readiness to intervene in dangerous situations.
The Archbishop of Lower Danube recalled the firefighters’ interventions to assist people affected by natural disasters and the support they provided on those occasions.
“We remember the victories of the Lord, the Church and the firefighters on the Covurlui Plain, on the Feast of the Holy Cross, two years ago.”
“Recently, we greatly appreciated the hospitality of their open doors. And now the Lord and our God and Saviour Jesus Christ Himself opens the doors of their hearts. As the firefighters and SMURD emergency workers open their souls, the Lord opens to them the doors of His love for humankind,” His Eminence emphasised.
Christ, the firefighters’ friend
The Archbishop also highlighted the inner composure required of those responding to emergencies.
“Together, we can give thanks in the cathedral, asking God, as the Gospel teaches, that their prayer may be: Lord, grant me calm when the world is in haste to call us to disasters!”
“We ask the Saviour to remain the first friend in the firefighter’s heart, so that He may first extinguish the fires within us, and we will become wiser in kindling fewer fires among ourselves and our possessions,” Archbishop Casian said.
At the end, the Archbishop of Lower Danube invited the Galați firefighters to the park at the Diocesan Centre, near the headquarters of the Galați Inspectorate for Emergency Situations.
Photo: Facebook / Archdiocese of Lower Danube
