George C. Cantor
IMO dear father, George,.
Memory Eternal!
(6/29/2010)
In Acts 9:40, the Holy Apostle Peter, faced the
dead child, Tabitha, when everyone saw her dead
and lifeless and he rose her from the dead. This
miracle reminds me that, nowadays, we see people
“paralyzed” with fear. I honestly believe it is time
for us to rise and change our self-induced condition
of fear. For this, I propose to a moment of
self-examination.
Let us ask ourselves what does the pandemic
mean to us from the perspective of our faith. I
personally perceive a number of provocations that
the pandemic poses before us. First, let us ask
ourselves: Are we the first Christians ever to face
such a threat? Certainly not! Other generations have
faced: persecution, famines, droughts, epidemics and
wars even more lethal than Covid-19. If this is so, let
us never lose sight that we are all mortal. If God
wants us to go, even if we hide ourselves beside
masks, sanitize our hands or stay in seclusion. But
God is our loving Father and He wants us to trust
Him and come to know ourselves better.
When it all started, we lamented that we cannot
go to church. Now the church is open, but we are
afraid to go, because our faith has become weaker
than our induced fears. The Lord wants us not to
fear, to be bold, be of good cheer and to have
courage. We rely on Him, for we know that “He is
with us” and “that without Him we cannot
accomplish anything”. So, it is time to begin
working on our inhibitions. Let us unleash the power
of our faith through prayer and reliance on God. Are
we relying more man, rather than God? There are
many traps hidden behind our social fear. We are
lonely; misanthropic; untrusting; even unloving when
our faith gets weak.
Our faith was and is strong because the Lord is
Conqueror of all illness and death. So, if facing this
pandemic is a matter of faith, let us accept the reality
around us and deal with it accordingly. Viruses will
always surround us. We need them to help us
constantly update our immunity. Therefore, let us not
allow fear to control us, but repudiate it by faith! It is
faith, not fear, “that moves mountains!” The remedy
for passivity is action! Let us not be just listeners of
the Word, but “doers of the Word” of God!
Jesus Himself healed the lepers and saved them.
The Church received the power to heal “all kind of
illnesses and disease”, because she is filled with “the
power from on high”. God Himself - Father, Son and
the Holy Spirit - is on our side, He is our shelter and
protection! While we observe all the medical
recommendations, let us free ourselves from
unnecessary fear. Its paralyzing effect can be more
detrimental to our wellbeing than Covid-19 itself. Our
soul is starved to be blessed, nurtured, faith-driven and
empowered. People need people. When we lose our
social dimension, we may become like the salt that lost
its savor and it becomes useless. We may be now
almost like Tabitha, whom Peter rose from the dead.
We also need to be revived in our faith. Toward this
end, I say to all of you: In the name of Jesus Christ,
“arise!”
Fr. Remus Grama
VOLUME 62 June 28th, 2020 NO. 26
St. Mary Romanian Orthodox Cathedral A parish of the Romanian Orthodox Episcopate of America
Weekly Bulletin
3256 Warren Road Cleveland, Ohio 44111
Phone: (216) 941-5550 Office - Fax: (216) 941-3068
E-mail: [email protected] - www.smroc.org The Most Reverend Archbishop Nathaniel
The Right Rev. Vicar Andrei, Bishop of Cleveland
Very Rev. Dr. Remus Grama, Dean
Rev. Deacon Nick Neagoe
SPIRITUAL CALENDAR: 3rd Sunday after Pentecost
8:30 Matins (Utrenia); Tone 2, Mat. Gos. 3. 9:30 am Divine Liturgy (Sfânta Liturghie) Epistle: Romans 5:1-10. Gospel: Matthew 6:22-33 (Worries of life).
THE CALENDAR IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE! POT INTERVENI
SCHIMBĂRI ÎN CALENDAR!
On Friday, JULY 3rd, in
observance of
INDEPENDENCE DAY.
The office will resume its
hours on July 6th at 9 am.
ALTAR BREAD - PRESCURE
Ovidiu & Geta Grama ÎM tatălui, Vasile și a tuturor celor
adormiți în Domnul din familie. D-zeu să-i ierte!
Simona Cismas ÎM tatălui meu Ioan și a tuturor celor decedaţi
din familie.
May God rest them in peace! Dumnezeu să-i odihnească!
Lavinia Cozmin-Morris for the good health of brother, Horia.
7 DAY VIGIL LIGHTS – NARTHEX
Ana Popa ÎM soțului meu Traian Popa.
Cornelia Bicescu IMO my husband Ovidiu Bicescu.
Simona Cismas ÎM tatălui meu Ioan și a tuturor celor decedaţi
din familie.
Afrodita, Irina, Magdalena & Sophia IM părinților Victor şi
Paula Constantinidis.
Cristina Hemsoth & family IMO parents & grandparents, Grigore
& Greta Butoi.
Ovidiu & Geta Grama ÎM tatălui, Vasile și a tuturor celor
adormiți în Domnul din familie. D-zeu să-i ierte!
Gloria Haak in loving memory of my dear Al. Always in my
heart.
Antoniu Iliaș IMO Magdalena Iliaș & Lucia Dobrin.
Dumitru & Paraschiva Vasu-Family IMO all family members
fallen asleep in the Lord! Always in our hearts. Memory Eternal!
May God rest them in peace! Dumnezeu să-i odihnească!
Simona Cismașiu pentru sănătatea familiei.
Lavinia Cozmin-Morris for the good health of family and
brother, Horia.
Mihaela Hetruc for the speedy recovery of Ana Popa, Angela
Voiculescu & George Mohan.
Jonel & Ana Roșu pentru sănătatea familiei noastre și ajutor în
toate de la Dumnezeu.
Vasile Leluțiu pentru sănătatea familiei.
Dumitru & Paraschiva Vasu-Family, in honor of mother &
grandmother, Leonora Vasu on her birthday. God grant her many
more blessed and healthy years. La Mulți Ani!
Dumitru & Paraschiva Vasu-Family for the good health of our
family, God’s blessings and special intentions.
Nursing Home
Radu Petrescu ................................................................................................. Greenbrier Angela Netcu ............................................................................................. Eliza Jennings Ana Popa ...................................................................... O’Neil Healthcare, Lakewood Assisted Living
Victoria A. Morin ........................................................ Greenfield at Oak Ridge, TN Ruth Lazăr ............................................................................................ Royalton Woods Carlotta Miclău ................................................................................. Brighton Gardens
Hospitalized
George Mohan ..................................... Cleveland Clinic Main Campus Hospital
THIS WEEK:
SUN., June 28th: 8:30 am Matins, 9:30 am Divine Liturgy. (Worries
of life) (F,W,O)
MO., June 29th: (+) Holy Apostles Peter & Paul - 9 am Divine
Liturgy; 6 pm Sunday School Teachers Meeting, 6:30 pm Festival
Kitchen & Advertising Departments Meeting
FRI., July 3rd: Observing Independence Day - Office Closed
SAT., July 4th : NO Vespers & Confessions.
HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY!
NEXT WEEK:
SUN., July 5th: 8:30 am Matins, 9:30 am Divine Liturgy.
SAT., July 11th : 11 am Baptism Emilia Nicole Walters; NO Vespers
& Confessions.
UPCOMING SPIRITUAL
June 29 - (+) Holy Apostles Peter & Paul
(Sfinții Apostoli Petru & Pavel)
9 am Divine Liturgy / Sf. Liturghie
July 2 - (+) Sf. Stefan the Great of Moldavia
(Sf. Ștefan cel Mare)
July 12 - (+) Veneration of the Holy Icon of the
Mother of God Prodromitsa of Mount Athos
(Cinstirea Sfintei Icoane a Maicii
Domnului Prodromița de la Muntele Athos)
9 am Divine Liturgy / Sf. Liturghie
July 20 - (+) Glorious Prophet Elijah (Elias) the
Tishbite/ (+) Sf. Și Slăvitul Prooroc Ilie
Tezviteanul
9 am Divine Liturgy / Sf. Liturghie
July 27 - (+) Great-martyr and healer Panteleimon /
(+) Sf. Mare-Mucenic și Tămăduitor
CONDOLENCES
LIVIA DOBRIN, wife of Nicolae Dobrin, a
former member of our parish, who moved to
Arizona and then Romania, fell asleep in the
Lord at the age of 70.
May God rest her in peace and condolences to the
mourning family! Dumnezeu să o ierte!
2020 Bulletin Sponsors
Available Dates:
July: 12; August: 2, 16, 23, 30;
September: 27; October: 18, 25;
November: 15, 29.
To sponsor it, please contact our
parish office. We thank all who have supported and spon-
sored our bulletins over the years.
Thank you!
IMPORTANT PARISH
CONTACTS
Parish President:
Viorel Oancea
(440) 915-9642
Ladies Auxiliary
President:
Aura Petre
(440) 503-0829
Custodian:
Marian Ciuta
(216) 513-5535
Financial Secretary:
Simona Sarsama
(216) 533-4636
Hall Rental:
Italian Creations Church Office
(216) 226-2282 (216) 941-5550
THANK YOU!
…FOR WEEKLY GIVING
MANY THANKS TO OUR PARISHIONERS WHO
UNDERSTAND OUR PLIGHT AND SEND THEIR
WEEKLY DONATIONS ON A REGULAR BASIS!
…FOR FESTIVAL SUPPORT
WE ALSO THANK ESPECIALLY THOSE WHO SENT
DONATIONS TO SUPPORT OUR STRUGGLES TO
PREPARE A DRIVE THRU FESTIVAL!
...TO BANK LOAN SPONSORS
A SPECIAL THANK YOU TO THOSE WHO
ACCEPTED TO PAY A MONTHLY LOAN TO THE
BANK FOR $1500. WE STILL NEED NINE DONORS
TO SECURE THE PAYMENT FOR THE ENTIRE
YEAR. WILL YOU BE AMONG THOSE WHO HELP?
GET WELL, YOUR
EMINENCE!
We received the news that
Archbishop Nathaniel recently had
a successful knee surgery. His
Eminence is now in recovery,
receiving therapy.
Let us pray for His speedy
recovery!
NATIONAL A.R.F.O.R.A. VIRTUAL CONFERENCE
June 27, 2020 1:00 PM EDT (10:00 AM PDT)
Access: https://
us02web.zoom.us/j/87052576204
FAREWELL
Greg Sotak and his wife Laura, a talented
artistic photographer who immortalized many of
our events in the last decade, will move to
Alabama. We thank them for their support and
wish them an easy adjustment.
Mike and Camelia Ross announced us that they
are moving to Arizona. Camelia is known
especially for her talent to prepare the Fish
Dinners. They will be missed.
WOMEN OF FAITH TO MEET THIS
WEEKEND
The Holy Bible is filled with beautiful characters of
women of Faith. Likewise, in our parishes and Romanian
Orthodox Episcopate of America, we are blessed to have
women with strong faith, who from the inception of our
parishes and the Episcopate imitated the example of their
faith heroes and serve the Lord. In 1938, A.R.F.O.R.A.,
Asociația Reuniunilor Femeilor Româno-Americane came
into being.
In our diocese, every parish has an auxiliary Ladies’
organization that helps supporting the mission of the
parish. This weekend, the delegates from every parish of
the Episcopate were supposed to meet in Cleveland. Sadly,
due to Covid-19, they will be unable to meet in person, but
they will be meeting in a virtual meeting, on Zoom.
We invite the young and less young to take interest in the
life of the Church. If you are interested to participate,
please find the information in the box above this article.
We wish ARFORA a successful meeting! We also wish to
thank Mrs. Mihaela Hetruc and Miss Dorina Riscutta, who
worked very hard sending letters and editing the ad book
published for the event.
At the same time, we invite all our ladies to become
members of the Ladies Auxiliary of Saint Mary Cathedral!
Ladies Auxiliary DUES are $25 for members
age 18 to 64 years old, or $15 for 65+.
NO VESPERS IN JULY
During the month of July there will be no vespers on
Saturday evenings. We will resume Vespers on August
1st. For confessions, please, call our office to schedule an
appointment with Father.
THE HOLY APOSTLES PETER AND PAUL
Monday, June 29
9:00 AM Divine Liturgy (Live-stream)
The church is open, with social distance observed.
-----
40 years ago, on this Feast, Father Remus Grama was
ordained to the Diaconate in the metropolitan Cathedral
of Sibiu.
Happy Anniversary,
Father and Preoteasa Remus Grama!
Tropar, Tone 4.
Preeminent Apostles and teachers of the universe,
intercede with the Master of all, to grant peace to the
whole world, and great mercy to our souls.
THE REAL TEST
Life’s difficulties build Christian character. Saint Paul, who
suffered much for the sake of the Gospel, advises us to
“glory in tribulations.” (Rom. 5,3). He explains that:
“tribulation produces perseverance and perseverance
character; and character, hope” (Rom. 5,4).
Since the tribulation of Covid-19 began, we noticed what a
good test this was for our faithful. Some ran away, others
became more giving and generous; some became apathetic,
others learned to pray with more fervor. God sees
everyone’s effort and He alone will know who among us
passes this real test of salvation.
SUNDAY SCHOOL TEACHERS
& PARENTS MEETING
JUNE 29
6 pm @ CHURCH
Agenda:
1. Brainstorming how next school year will
look like.
2. Establishing the distribution of the classes
Father Grama is inviting to this meeting all teachers
from this year and other parents who would like to join
the teaching team.
$100.00
Psa Elena Grama In Honor of Rev. Fr. Remus Grama’s Ordination
to diaconate 40 years ago!!
George & Nancy Ittu
Ed Vendel
Liviu & Aurica Grama
Nick & Maria Muntean In Loving Memory of both of our parents
Ioan & Maria Grama
Simona Sarsamă
In Loving Memory of Father George Sarsama
Constantin & Doina Drăgănoiu In Loving Memory of both of our parents
$50.00
Marius & Felicia Milea
TOTAL: $850.00
ST. MARY ROMANIAN ORTHODOX CATHEDRAL
IN HONOR/IN MEMORY OF PARENTS DINNERLESS DINNER DONATIONS
June 2020