No. 11.620/2014
Bucharest, November 5, 2014
His Eminence Archbishop Nicolae
Archbishop of the Romanian Orthodox Archdiocese in the Americas,
Very Rev. Fr. Peter-Michael Preble
Parish Priest of St. Michael Church in Southbridge, MA, USA,
Beloved faithful,
By the will of God, on November 9th, we celebrate the 90 years since the founding of St. Michael’s Church in Southbridge, MA USA, and important event for the spiritual life of all the Romanian faithful, who, for many generations, have settled in this part of the American continent.
It is a known fact that the wish of the members of this community to have a church of their own to worship in and pray to our Good Lord, became true 90 years ago when the cornerstone was laid. This work of creating a church is the soul, but also a building for worship, had an influence on several generations.
So, with love and contribution of many of your ancestors, as well as with the help of those of you who compose today the community of Orthodox Christian of this parish, during the past nine decades, other buildings have been constructed, near the parish church, such as “Casa Romana” where a diversity of social and cultural activities take place. On November 12, 1961, a new even more beautiful church was consecrated, that brought great joy to all the faithful. In 1971, besides all these achievements, the parochial museum was established under the name of Alexander Macedon, which offers to the new generation an important historical perspective on the origin and continuity of this community.
All these achievements are strengthening your faith, especially in these times of ours undergoing the fast process of globalization and when people want to find in the Church a landmark for hope, continuity, and where the spiritual, cultural, ethnic or national identity is preserved.
In this respect, through its missionary work in the home country and in the diaspora, the Romanian Orthodox Church is fostering the values and good deeds made in faith, as a testimony of the communion of man with God in this life and as hope and foretaste of eternal life in the Kingdom of the Most Holy Trinity.
The Romanian Orthodox Church fulfilled this sacred task for her faithful from Romania and outside Romania, especially through the liturgical services transmitted daily by the Romanian Patriarch’s Trinitas Radio and Trinitas Television, that are of great spiritual benefit. Also, the construction of the Salvation of the People Cathedral is indeed a necessity from a practical liturgical point of view and also represents a symbol of the faith and dignity of the Romanian nation.
Assuring you of Our blessing, and filled with the joy of sending you this congratulatory message, at the 90th anniversary since the founding of the first church belonging to St. Michael’s community in Southbridge, MA, USA, we pray to our Merciful God to give you good health and salvation, peace and happiness, as well as great strength to always keep and promote the Orthodox faith on the American continent.
With esteem and fatherly blessing,
