With the blessing of His Eminence Metropolitan Nicolae, between May 27 and June 2, 2022, V. Rev. Fr. Daniel Ene was present amidst the community in Cancun, Mexico to pray together and respond to the spiritual needs of the Romanians there, but also with a special mandate, to investigate whether it is possible to set up a Romanian parish in the sunny tourist resort.
At the Divine Liturgy, celebrated in the Catholic Church of St. Mary of Cancun (Santuario Maria Desatadora de Nudos), also participated the Ambassador of Romania in Mexico, Mr. Marius Gabriel Lazurca, who welcomed the idea of establishing a Romanian Orthodox parish, given the fact that there exists a stable Romanian community, eager for an active spiritual life. To this community, one can add the several thousand Romanians who visit this resort every year.
Addressing the faithful gathered at the Divine Liturgy, signatories of the petition for the establishment of the parish, V. Rev. Fr. Daniel Ene stressed that the road that leads to building a parish is difficult for any community. Financial pressure, people’s preconceptions, but especially the devil’s temptations lead communities to moments of stumbling, moments that shake even the belief that what they are doing is the will of God, that this beautiful dream can materialize; however, with hope in God, love of neighbor, 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.
There is no Orthodox church in the Cancun region of Mexico, the closest Orthodox Church being an Antiochian Orthodox one, located a few hundred kilometers away.
V. Rev. Fr. Daniel Ene
