On Sunday, His Grace Patriarchal Auxiliary Bishop Varlaam of Ploiești blessed the new auxiliary missionary centre of Bucharest’s Dorobanți Parish, emphasising its purpose of providing a supportive environment for youth engagement and spiritual growth.
“This centre’s primary mission is youth activities,” Bishop Varlaam noted on Nov. 3.
“By hosting appealing Christian activities here, we hope to draw young people in and inspire them to find their path to the Church. Today, young people face unprecedented challenges and distractions.”
He highlighted issues like the disarray of unstructured lifestyles, excessive use of technology, exposure to drugs and alcohol, and other temptations, which, he pointed out, are often perpetuated by older generations seeking profit.
Bishop Varlaam expressed his hope that the centre will be “constantly filled with young people coming together for spiritual enrichment through reading, educational documentaries, diverse activities, and volunteer initiatives that encourage service within the Church.”
The blessing ceremony followed the Divine Liturgy, during which the Bishop reflected on the Parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus.
Following the blessing, distinctions and certificates of appreciation from Patriarch Daniel were presented by Father Victor Lucian Georgescu, dean of Bucharest’s Sector 1, honouring those who contributed to the establishment of the centre.
A Project of Innovative Architecture
“We thank God and His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel for His blessing, which has inspired our responsibility,” said Archdeacon Nicolae Stanciu, legal and property advisor for the Archdiocese of Bucharest and project coordinator.
The site of the new centre once housed the parish’s original building, which was unjustly demolished by communist authorities 45 years ago. Construction on the current centre took five years, supported by Sector 1 Local Council, which recognised the project’s public benefit.
“Beyond meeting the community’s needs, this building has been recognised for its architectural merit, receiving a nomination in the Public Architecture category of the Romanian Order of Architects’ Biennale in 2023,” Archdeacon Stanciu told Lumina Newspaper.
“Only through innovative architectural and engineering solutions can we meet both the spiritual needs of the Dorobanți Parish and the urbanistic demands of this area.”
The new centre includes a chapel, candle room, bell tower, parish office, archive, multifunctional hall, educational activity space, and a storage area for liturgical items.
Photo: Lumina Newspaper / Luigi Ivanciu
