{"id":205475,"date":"2018-09-06T17:36:16","date_gmt":"2018-09-06T14:36:16","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/basilica.ro\/?p=205475"},"modified":"2018-09-06T17:36:16","modified_gmt":"2018-09-06T14:36:16","slug":"clergy-conference-of-the-romanian-orthodox-metropolia-of-the-americas-chicago","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/basilica.ro\/en\/clergy-conference-of-the-romanian-orthodox-metropolia-of-the-americas-chicago\/","title":{"rendered":"Clergy Conference of the Romanian Orthodox Metropolia of the Americas Chicago"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Cathedral of Ss. Constantine and Helen of Chicago hosted, between 31 August and 1 September 2018, the Clergy Conference of the Romanian Orthodox Metropolia of the Americas. The conference was organized for the first time in this format, namely as an annual pastoral-missionary meeting of the priests of the two dioceses of the Metropolia: the Romanian Orthodox Archdiocese of the United States of America and the Romanian Orthodox Diocese of Canada.<\/p>\n

HE Metropolitan Nicolae and HG Bishop Ioan Casian presided over the works of the conference that began with two themes presented by the hierarchs:<\/p>\n

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  1. HG Bishop Ioan Casian \u2013\u00a0Priest\u2019s Ministry – Reflections on a few texts by Father Dumitru St\u0103niloae.<\/em><\/li>\n
  2. HE Metropolitan Nicolae \u2013\u00a0Service and Responsibility of the Priest in the Sacrament of Confession.<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    The two themes occasioned priests’ comments, considering the importance of the two subjects about priestly ministry. In the two presentations, the hierarchs cited a number of theologians and Fathers of the Church, giving examples of the answers they gave to various questions about priestly ministry in general and the Sacrament of Confession in particular. A list of Fathers’ quotes and a bibliography on the Sacrament of Confession were offered for a more in-depth reading.<\/p>\n

    The conference continued with the following themes:<\/p>\n

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    1. The Pastoral Care of Persons with Mental Problems<\/em>, a theme prepared by Fr. Daniel Sandu and Fr. Traian Petre of St. George’s Cathedral in Saint Hubert \/ Montreal, Quebec, and Fr. Ion Gherman of the Annunciation Cathedral in Cleveland, Ohio.<\/li>\n
    2. Living and Dying in a Post Christian World Advance Directives: An Orthodox Christian Perspective<\/em>, a theme prepared by Fr. Julian Anitei from the Protection of the Mother of God parish in Houston, Texas.<\/li>\n
    3. Prison Ministry<\/em>\u00a0– Hieromonk Atanasie Popescu from the Ss. Constantine and Helen Cathedral in Chicago.<\/li>\n
    4. Pastoral Care for Homeless People<\/em>\u00a0– Father Cornel Dragomir of St. Nicholas parish in Vancouver, British Columbia.<\/li>\n
    5. Bishop Roman Ciorogariu of Oradea – Contribution\u00a0to\u00a0for the Awakening of National Consciousness and Orthodox Identity<\/em>, a theme prepared to mark the Centenary of Great Romania by Fr. Lucian Pu\u015fcariu from the Holy Resurrection parish in Hamilton, Ontario.<\/li>\n
    6. Improving religious education through a family-type approach<\/em>\u00a0– Father Daniel Ene, Eparchial Secretary, Holy Trinity parish, Rochester, New York.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

      On Saturday morning, the hierarchs, priests and deacons of the Metropolia served the Divine Liturgy. HE Metropolitan Nicolae spoke about the significance of the day, the beginning of the church year: the Sundays cycle, celebrations and fasting periods that urge us to re-listen to, receive, and let us be transformed by the Word of God found in the Holy Scripture.<\/p>\n

      The conference ended with discussions about the organization of the future conference in 2019, its format and content.<\/p>\n

      The prayer together, the discussions on many pastoral and missionary themes, brought at this meeting of the priests of the Romanian Orthodox Metropolia of the Americas joy, enthusiasm and a desire to continue the joint consultation work.<\/p>\n