The year 2022
The honoring of Saint Hierarch Andrei Şaguna in Emden-Leer Parish
On November 26-27, the faithful of the Emden-Leer Parish together with the parish priest Vlad-Cătălin Lia and PC Rev. Cătălin Patriche, from the Bremen-Bremerhaven Parish, celebrated their patron, Saint Hierarch Andrei Șaguna, Metropolitan of Transylvania.
Saturday, November 26, took place in the Parish Chapel and began with the reading of the Akathist of the Holy Hierarch Andrei Șaguna followed by the celebration of the Holy Liturgy, which was attended by Father Cătălin Patriche, from the Bremen-Bremerhaven Parish, together with Father Parish Priest Vlad-Cătălin Lia.
Immediately after the Holy Liturgy, the ladies of the parish began preparations for the next day's agape.
Also on November 26, starting at 5:00 p.m., the Sacrament of the Holy Olive was celebrated, attended by Father Cătălin Patriche from the Parish of Bremen-Bremerhaven and Father Andrei Bărbulescu from the Parish of Oldenburg-Ammerland, together with Father Parish Vlad -Cătălin Lia and many believers of Emden Parish, but also from neighboring parishes.
Throughout the day on Saturday, in our Chapel, we enjoyed the physical visit of Saint Luke of Crimea, Saint Spyridon, the Holy Martyrs Martyrs from Aiud, through their Holy relics, together with a whole vestment of Saint Pious Parascheva from Iasi, all this courtesy of Father Cătălin Patriche.
Sunday, November 27, took place in the Paulusgemeinde Kirche in Emden, courtesy of the evangelical brothers.
The Sunday celebration began at 12:30 with the reading of the Akathist followed by the Holy and Divine Liturgy.
At the time of the Word of teaching, the believers noted and extracted the useful teachings from the Sunday Gospel, that of the rich Ruler and the keeping of the commandments.
Immediately after the explanation of the Gospel, the Parish Magazine "Farul Nordului" was presented to all those present, together with the celebration of the Temple, the first issue of the magazine was released.
At around 15:00 all those present were invited to take part in the agape prepared by the members of the parish, not before a short activity dedicated to the children of the parish, "Reading Hour", a short pedagogical activity, which aims to children's listening patience, attention to detail, the ability to reproduce what they have heard and the ability to summarize or extract main ideas.
Together, we enjoyed traditional Romanian food, music and games.
We are grateful to all those who were involved in the organization and smooth running of the Celebration.
Special thanks to those who chose to spend this weekend with the Parish of our community.
Chosen blessings to all!
Rev. Vlad-Cătălin Lia
Help for Ukraine
The parish of Emden participated in an action carried out in collaboration with an aid network from the North of Germany to send the necessary things to Ukraine, daily products needed by those who remained in the country, women and children.
Thus, our Parish helped with the following:
- 17 packages of baby diapers - total 1148 pieces
- 42 packs of baby wet wipes - total 3360 pieces
- 12 packs of feminine hygiene products - total 228 pieces
- adult shower gel - 38 pieces
- children's shower gel - 6 pieces
- adult shampoo - 16 pieces
- children's shampoo - 14 pieces
- adult toothbrushes - 44 pieces
- children's toothbrushes - 8 pieces
- adult toothpaste - 27 pieces
- children's toothpaste - 7 pieces
- liquid soap - 4 pieces
- pacifiers - 40 pieces
- baby bottles - 17 pieces
- adult and children's blankets - 70 pieces
All of these were delivered on March 23rd to the collection center within our Parish radius, and tomorrow, March 25th, they will leave for Ukraine, arriving with God's help in the city of Kiev.
May the Lord bless all those who sacrificed their little for the brothers who are in a time of great trial!
Bishop's visit to North-West Germany
IPS Father Metropolitan Seraphim was on March 4-6 on a pastoral visit to the parishes of the Archdiocese of North Germany (Oldenburg, Emden, Vechta, Bremen), where he performed the Holy Mass, the Holy Liturgy and the Sacrament of Baptism. The hierarch presided over the meeting of the priests of the Archdiocese and had a meeting with the mayor general of the city of Emden, Mr. Tim Kruithoff.
On Friday, March 4, 2022, His Eminence celebrated the Sacrament of the Holy Olive in the Parish of Oldenburg, accompanied by PC Deacon. Dumitru Dura (diocesan secretary), Rev. Protopope Marius Gabriel Matei, Rev. Andrei Bărbulescu (Oldenburg), Rev. Cătălin Patriche (Bremen - Bremerhaven) and Rev. Vlad Cătălin Lia (Emden).
Saturday, March 5, 2022, began with the performance of the Holy Liturgy in the "St. Andrei Şaguna" from Emden. His Holiness the Metropolitan Father was among the faithful for the first time in the city located on the northwestern border of Germany with the North Sea. After the Holy Liturgy, which was attended by Rev. Protopop Marius Gabriel Matei, Rev. Andrei Bărbulescu (Oldenburg), Rev. Cătălin Patriche (Bremen - Bremerhaven) and Rev. Vlad Cătălin Lia (Emden), Mrs. Adriana Gaciu, Violeta Oprișan together with the priestess Alina organized an agape. This small parish, still in formation, received the visit of the mayor general of the city of Emden, Mr. Tim Kruithoff. The meeting ended with the authorities' promise to help the parish with a new location to carry out its activity. The current chapel, located in the World War II bunker at Emsmauerstraße 3, does not allow more than 11 worshipers to participate in Holy Services.
Saturday ended in the Vechta Parish where PC Fr. parish priest Marius George Cristea together with co-servant priest Ioan Liviu Micu were the hosts of the monthly meeting of priests and deacons from the Archdiocese of North Germany. Thus, after the performance of the Mystery of the Holy Olive, His Eminence presided over the works that had as their theme the intensification of the missionary work of the servants of the Holy Shrines. 13 priests and 2 deacons participated in this meeting, Rev. Alexandru Carbunescu (Hamburg-Harburg Parish) and Rev. Vlad Manolache (Hamburg Parish) being absent due to reasons.
On Sunday, March 6, 2022, His Eminence Father Metropolitan Seraphim performed the Holy Baptismal Liturgy in the Parish of Bremen - Bremerhaven where he baptized little Anisia, the third child of PC Fr. Parish Priest Cătălin Patriche. This service was attended by His Eminence, Fr. Archpriest Marius Gabriel Matei, Fr. Cătălin Patriche and Fr. Vlad Cătălin Lia (Emden).
In his sermon, Metropolitan Seraphim appreciated the efforts made by the priests of the Archdiocese of North Germany so that in these troubled times every believer can enjoy and at the same time feel the presence of the Church in his life. The hierarch continued, talking about the role of the Church in society, as an essential factor of community cohesion in general, but also of balance and hope in times of pandemic and trials. Many social and philanthropic projects are underway in the North German Province. Also here, the faithful of the Parish "St. Ap. Jacob and St. Jer. Nectarie" from Sögel - Papenburg are building a wooden Church in Maramuresian style, being the fourth in Germany and the only one of its kind in Niedersachsen.
Rev. Prot. Marius Matei - Sögel-Papenburg
Photo: Emden Parish; Facebook pageTim Kruithoff - Oberbürgermeister Emden
