With the help of God, the blessing of His Eminence Nicolae, Archbishop of the United States of America and the Metropolitan of the Romanian Orthodox Metropolia of the Americas (Romanian Patriarchate), at the invitation of their Excellencies Roy Fernando Muñoz Nanne and Arturo Villanueva Santiago, Consuls Ad-honorem of Romania in San Jose and Santo Domingo respectively, Father Dean Daniel Ene visited for the first time the Romanian communities in Costa Rica and the Dominican Republic from 12th -18th August, 2023.
In addition, the visit to Latin America began with the Divine Liturgy which was celebrated on Saturday morning (the 12th of August) at St. Joseph the Confessor Bishop of Maramureș Mission in Cancun/Playa del Carmen where the first Parish Committee of the new Mission in Mexico was elected immediately after the Liturgy.
In the afternoon of the same day, Father Daniel travelled to San Jose, the capital of Costa Rica. The land of "Pura Vida-Pure Life", Costa Rica, has avoided the violence that was spreading in Central America; it is viewed as an example of political stability in this region. Also, since the late 19th century, only two brief periods of violence have disrupted its democratic development. In 1949, for example, José Figueres Ferrer abolished the opposing army; making Costa Rica the first country in the world to operate under a democratic system without the assistance of an army (an example later followed by other countries such as Panama). Costa Rica (Spanish for 'Rich Coast'), was a predominantly agricultural nation. In recent decades, however, Costa Rica has come to enjoy a high standard of living. The electronics industry is also growing rapidly as the most important industrial branch, along with tourism, helped by social stability and a rich environment.
Furthermore, it is precisely this stability that in recent years has led many Romanians to seek residency and to move to Costa Rica. During the years of the pandemic, for example, several Romanian families have moved from Canada to Costa Rica. With the support of the Romanian Embassy in Mexico, Father Daniel prepared this first visit.
On Sunday, the 13th of August, the first Divine Liturgy in the Romanian language was celebrated at the Russian Orthodox Church (ROCOR), but not without the blessing of His Eminence Metropolitan Nicholas. The church service had been attended by several Romanians, including the Romanian Consul Ad Honorem in Costa Rica. Father Ignacio Miranda of the Serbian Orthodox Church in Costa Rica also served with Father Daniel. The emotions of the faithful present were tremendous. Immediately after the Divine Liturgy, a meeting was held with the Romanian community where they discussed the creation of a group of Romanians in Costa Rica and a Facebook page. Also, those present asked Father Daniel to return at least during fasting periods, if not more often.
Moreover, on Monday, the 14th of August, was the day of the trip from San Jose to Santo Domingo, the capital of the Dominican Republic, the most beautiful land in the New World. In this historic land of Christopher Columbus, there is no Orthodox church. The nearest one is only on the east coast of the island. On the eve of the feast of the Dormition of the Mother of God, Father Daniel had prayed in the Cathedral of the Americas, the oldest cathedral in that part of the world, (this cathedral is dedicated to the Mother of God). Also, the Cathedral of Santo Domingo is the oldest in the Americas, built by order of Pope Julius II in the year 1504.
Finally, the meeting with the small Romanian community in the capital of the Dominican Republic was also attended by Mr. Arturo Villanueva Santiago, Consul Ad Honorem of Romania in Santo Domingo. Plans were then made for a future visit; two baptisms and a confirmation have already been scheduled. Also, at the meal that followed, Father Daniel made some recommendations for the organization of the Romanian community.
This was a blessed visit for which we thank God!
Fr. Daniel Ene
