The shrine of the Missionary Parish of people with hearing and speech impairments in Cluj-Napoca

On the day of honoring the Holy Hierarchs and Martyrs Iorest and Sava, Metropolitans of Transylvania, and Iosif, the Bishop of Maramureș, on Wednesday, April 24, 2024, the Most Reverend Father Benedict Bistrițeanul, the Vicar Bishop of the Archdiocese of Vad, Feleac and Cluj, served in the “Holy Hierarchs and Confessors Iorest and Sava, Metropolitans of Transylvania, and Joseph, Bishop of Maramureș” of people with hearing and speech impairments from Cluj-Napoca, on the occasion of the patron saint.

From 4:30 p.m., at the “Holy Prophet Ilie Tesviteanul” church in the Cluj district of Intre Lacuri, where the Missionary Parish of the Hearing and Speech Impaired has its headquarters, Father Bishop-Vicar Benedict officiated the Liturgy of the previously sanctified Gifts, surrounded by a council of clerics, in the presence of many believers, among whom were also people with hearing and speech impairments, as well as teachers and students from the Special Technological High School for the Hearing Impaired in Cluj-Napoca, led by the directors Nicoleta Dunca and Adelina Sabău.

The service was translated into mime-gestural language by Father Adrian Petrescu, the spiritual pastor of people with hearing and speech impairments in Cluj-Napoca, who is also the secretary of the Protopopia of Cluj II, as well as an associate professor of religion at the Special Technological High School for the Handicapped of Hearing.

The liturgical responses were given by the group of parish singers, being translated into mime-gestural language. At the chinonic, Mrs. Mihaela Pop, social worker at the Special Technological High School for the Hearing Impaired in Cluj-Napoca, interpreted pricesne.

At the end of the Liturgy, the Most Reverend Father Benedict Bistrițeanul addressed to those present a word of instruction about the meaning and importance of the day, when the Holy Hierarchs and Martyrs Iorest and Sava, the Metropolitans of Transylvania, and Joseph, the Bishop of Maramureș, the protectors of the parish, were commemorated. He also conveyed to them the blessing message of Father Metropolitan Andrei.

Pastor Adrian Petrescu thanked the hierarch for his presence and blessing, as well as all those involved in the life and activities of the missionary parish of people with hearing and speech impairments in Cluj-Napoca. As a sign of appreciation and gratitude, His Eminence gave him an artistic painting, with the theme “Cross”, made by the priestess Livia Petrescu, associate professor at the University of Arts and Design in Cluj-Napoca.

Mission among people with hearing and speech impairments in the two counties of the Archdiocese of Cluj

Cluj County

The parish “Holy Hierarchs and Martyrs Iorest and Sava, Metropolitans of Transylvania, and Joseph, Bishop of Maramureș” for people with hearing and speech impairments in Cluj-Napoca was organized since 2000. At the beginning, the faithful of the community participated in the Holy Liturgy in the Church “Saints Archangels Mihail and Gavriil” from the Dâmbul Rotund neighborhood, and since 2003, religious services have been held at the “Saint Prophet Ilie” church on Târnavelor street, no. 4, from the Cluj district of Intre Lacuri. The Holy Liturgy and other religious services are performed by the priest of the community, through the mimic-gestural language.

The parish community consists of approximately 100 people with hearing and speech impairments, being shepherded by priest Adrian Petrescu, who is also the secretary of the Cluj II Deanery, as well as an associate religion teacher at the Special Technological High School for the Hearing Impaired in Cluj-Napoca .

Bistrita-Năsăud County

Currently, in Bistrita, the pastoral mission among people with hearing and speech impairments is carried out at the parish church “Sfântul Proroc Ilie Tesviteanul” in the municipality, where the missionary priest Cătălin Mileșan serves, who officiates the services in mime-gestural language for the deaf community – mutes from Bistrita. This is the only priest in Bistrita-Năsăud county who knows how to translate the prayers and the Holy Liturgy into sign language, being ordained a priest in 2016, by His Holiness Father Andrei, to shepherd the deaf-mutes community in Bistrita-Năsăud county.

During the eight years of priestly service, father Cătălin managed to unite them and form an active community. Together with them, he gets involved in various actions, including outside the church, some even managing to hire them and integrate them into society. At the same time, this is their interpreter in various cases where translation is needed.

On February 26, 2023, His Holiness Father Benedict from Bistrița blessed the new headquarters of the National Association of the Deaf in Romania – Bistrița Branch. Located in Central Square, no. 22, the premises have been properly designed to serve the needs of people with hearing and speech impairments. In the new space, cultural, socializing, as well as counseling and guidance activities take place.

The National Day of the Deaf in Romania, marked annually on November 9, was established in 1995, at the Congress of the National Association of the Deaf in Romania. The first association of people suffering from deafness was established on November 9, 1919, under the patronage of Queen Maria, and was called the “Friendly Association of the Deaf and Dumb in Romania”. Currently, the rights of people with hearing and speech impairments are defended by the Romanian National Association of the Deaf.

More photos HERE

Author: Darius Echim / Metropolis of Cluj

Photo credit: Ionuț Chifa / Metropolis of Cluj