Romanian Orthodox Parish in Quito to be registered: The community has welcomed Jordanians and Ecuadorians

Fr Daniel Ene, Romanian Orthodox Dean of New York and the US East Coast, travelled again to Ecuador last month, as a delegate of Metropolitan Nicolae of the Americas.

He was accompanied by his wife, Flavia, and by two members of his parish – “Holy Trinity” in Victor, New York.

With the help of Maria Fernanda Parra, Ad-honorem Consul of Romania to Guayaquil, Fr Daniel Ene found out what are the necessary steps for registering the parish Iglesia Ortodoxa Rumana San José de Partos de Ecuador – Metrópolis Ortodoxa Rumana de las Dos Américas as a religious organization according to Ecuadorian law.

The future Romanian parish of Quito could offer the faithful of various nationalities the first canonical Orthodox church in the city. The community has already welcomed Jordanians and Ecuadorians among its members.

In the near future, the Romanian Orthodox Dean of New York is scheduled to meet with the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Quito, Monseñor Alfredo José Espinoza Mateus.

Ionuț Gabriel Neagu, the Romanian Consul to Lima, Peru, participated in one of the meetings of the Romanian community in Quito via video call. The diplomat expressed his wish to meet the Romanians living in Ecuador in October, when he will organise a travelling consulate to Quito.

On Sunday 16 July, Father Daniel Ene celebrated the Divine Liturgy and the Commemoration of the Dead in the presence of 65 participants. The religious services were followed by the Sacrament of Baptism for five Ecuadorian children.

Liturgical responses were given by the cantor of the “Holy Trinity” Parish in Victor, New York, where the Dean of New York serves as a priest. The service was followed by a communal meal.

The religious services were held in Capilla Católica de la Resurrección (“The Catholic Chapel of the Resurrection”), situated on Francisco de Orellana St cornering Juan León Mera, at the ground floor of the Juan León Mera Building from across the JW Marriott Hotel in Quito.

Father Daniel’s next visit is scheduled for September 17, when the patronal feast of the Romanian Orthodox Mission in Quito will be celebrated for the first time: the community is protected by a Romanian saint, “St. Joseph of Partoș”.