While Romanians in Cancun, Mexico, have decided to form an Orthodox parish, the local Catholic Archdiocese offered them a chappel to use for religious service. “God has made the first step toward us,” said Father Daniel Ene, Orthodox Romanian Dean of New York, who travelled to Cancun between May 27 and June 2 to evaluate the needs of the community.
The dean prayed with the Romanians in Cancun and responded to their spiritual needs. Father Daniel Ene also had the mission to evaluate whether the new community could be received in the Romanian Orthodox Metropolis of the Americas.
Marius Gabriel Lazurca, Ambassador of Romania to Mexico, joined the community at the Divine Liturgy officiated in the Santuario Maria Desatadora de Nudos and welcomed the idea of establishing a Romanian Orthodox parish, given the fact that there is a stable Romanian community, eager for an active spiritual life.
One can add to this several thousand Romanians who visit the resort yearly.Fr. Daniel Ene emphasized that the road that leads to building a parish is difficult for a community and full of material, social and spiritual obstacles. However, with hope in God, love of neighbour, and unshakable faith, all temptations can be overcome.
“God has ordained that the Catholic Archdiocese provide us with a chapel that we can be used at any time, at no special cost, and as such, God has made the first step toward us, and consequently, we will respond to the divine call,” the dean said.
There is no Orthodox church in Mexico’s Cancun region. The closest one belongs to the Antiochian Church and is situated hundreds of kilometres away.
Source: Basillica. Ro
Photo credit: Metropolis of the America
