NEWS
December 2007
Among the purposes for which the Valerian D. Trifa Romanian-American Heritage Center was 
established, was providing an appropriate place of reposit for documents of various kinds concerning the Romanian-North American Community and to promote research and distribution of information about the same. The collection of materials has continued unabated since the foundation of the Center which now houses the largest single collection about the Romanian-North American community. The Center is a Michigan Not-for-Profit Organization located in Grass Lake, Michigan, and stands on property rented from the Romanian Orthodox Episcopate of America.
Mr. Stelian Stanicei was the first temporary resident. Dr. David Bernatowicz was resident for a short period of time. It had been the intention of the late Archbishop Valerian D. Trifa, of Thrice-Blessed Memory, that after his retirement he would reside at the Center to initiate and carry out studies and projects concerning the community. After the departure of Archbishop Valerian, the Board of Trustees engaged Mr. Alexander Nemoianu as permanent Secretary-Archivist. >>>>>
The Most Reverend Dr NATHANIEL (Popp) , Archbishop of Detroit and The Romanian Orthodox Episcopate of America
Consecrated November 15, 1980
Nameday April 22
Archbishop NATHANIEL was born in Aurora IL, on June 12, 1940, to a family of Romanian heritage (County of Satu Mare) who attended the Saint Michael the Archangel Romanian Greek-Catholic Church in Aurora. Having gained from his experiences at Saint Michael’s a desire to serve the Lord as a priest, he attended Saint Procopius College, a Benedictine-operated liberal arts school and “Pontifical Eastern Rite Center” in Lisle IL. >>>more>>
The Commitee
” ROMANIAN- AMERICAN HERITAGE CENTER ” COMMITTEE: Most Rev. Archbishop Nathaniel, Chairman *
Alexandru Nemoianu, Editor * Members : Archdeacon David Oancea * Hieromonk Calinic Berger, PhD. * Contributors : Joanne Bock, Ph.D., Gh. I. Florescu, Ph. D., Rev. Dr. Remus Grama, Traian Lascu, Alexandra Roceric Ph. D., Aurel Sasu, Ph. D., Rev. Dr. Cornel Todeasa OFFICERS: Most Rev. Archbishop Nathaniel, Chairman * Archdeacon David Oancea, President * Hierodeacon Calinic Berger, Ph.D. Vice President * Rev. Dr. Remus Grama, Vice President * Larissa Nemoianu, Secretary * Alexandru Nemoianu, Treastirer MEMBERS: Petru Lupsor, Mary Lynn Pac-Urar ( Legal Advisor ), Alexandru Nemoianu, Secretary Resident Hislorian TRUSTEES : Most Rev . Archbishop Nathaniel * Hierodeacon Calinic Berger, Rev. Dr. Remus Grama, V. Rev. Fr. Laurence Lazar, Petru Lupsor, Alexandru Nemoianu, Larissa Nemoianu, Archdeacon David Oancea, Mary Lynn Pac-Urar, Armand Scala
The Heritage Center Holds General Assembly
On March 1st, 2007 the „Valerian D. Trifa Romanian-American Heritage Center“ held its annual General Assembly of its voting members.
The meeting was attended by an overwhelming majority of the voting members (64 of a 71 existing votes), in person or by proxy.
The General Assembly debated the main issues that confronted the Heritage Center during the last year, adopted its budget (bare bones one) and debated projects for the future. It was reported that in 2006 the „Valerian D. Trifa Romanian-American Heritage Center“ was issued the „Award for Excellency“ by the „Asociaţia Romana pentru Patrimoniu“ (The Romanian Association for Patrimony) of Bucharest.
The President, Archdeacon David Oancea and the Historian, Mr. Alexandra Nemoianu, presented their respective activities. In the reports there were mentioned, among other facts, the better relations between the Heritage Center and the „Valerian D. Trifa trust,“ the fact that the last annual appeal for support; October 2006, had an outstanding good response (compared with the previous year), the increase of the Heritage Center’ collections, the publication of the Historian’s new book. In his comments, His Eminence, >>>>>the Heritage Center>>>>>
The Romanian-American Heritage Center
… To promote, foster and encourage the understanding of the Romanian immigrant in the United States and his role in the social and cultural stream of American life; … To create and maintain a centralized place for the gathering of publications, literature and memorabilia relating to the Romanian immigrant; …To make available information about the Romanian immigrant and his impact on the democratic society of our country; …To print, publish, distribute and circulate books, pamphlets, periodicals, papers and magazines in connection with the activities of the Heritage Center; …To provide for the delivery and holding of exhibitions, public meetings and conferences calculated directly or indirectly to advance the understanding of the Romanian-American heritage in the United States. The Romanian-American Heritage Center is mainly an archive of historical records relating to Romanian immigrants. As such, it is interested in collecting and ensuring the presentation of any material or document pertaining to the Romanian-American ethnic group.
If you have or know the whereabouts of the following categories of historical documents, please contribute them to the >>>>>>
Round Table at the Heritage Center
On July 7, 2007 at 2:00 p.m. the Heritage Center organized its first “round table” at its headquarters, 2540 Grey Tower Road, Jackson, Michigan.
The session was chaired by His Eminence, Most Rev. Archbishop Nathaniel, the Chairman of the Heritage Center Board of Directors.
The main speakers were: University Professor Dr. Aurel Sasu (University of Cluj, Romania), an old and staunch supporter and friend of the Heritage Center, well known for his outstanding scholastic contribution to the history of the Romanian-American community, and Alexandru Nemoianu, the Historian of the Heritage Center.
The main topics debated were: the concepts used to define the personal and the group identity and the significance of Archbishop Valerian D. Trifa’s pastorate .
The debates were animated and Mrs. (Preoteasa) Joan Heifner from Rives Junction participated and contributed very precious observations.
The conclusions reached will be incorporated in articles to be published in future issues of the “Information Bulletin.” >>>>>
Good news !
From March, 2007 most of the „Information Bulletin“ as well as information regarding the activities of the „Romanian-American Heritage Center“ are available on line at: http://studiiromanoamericane.wordpress.comThe edition on-line was made possible through an agreement between the „Asociaţia Română pentru Patrimoniu“, Romania, (Romanian Association for Patrimony) and the Heritage Center. The cost of the on line edition is supported entirely, in a most generous manner, by the „Asociaţia pentru Patrimoniu.“
In this way the content of the Bulletin and the activities of the Heritage Center will have a much larger audience.We are grateful to the „Asociaţia pentru Patrimoniu“ for its generous help. In the context it also proper to mention that in 2006 the Heritage Center and its President, Archdeacon David M. Oancea, was the recipient of one of the „Premium of Excellency“ issued by the „Asociaţia pentru Patrimoniu.“
„A Booklet the Romanian-American Community of Detroit
The Center s library preserves a very interesting booklet published on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the „St. George Romanian Orthodox Cathedral.“ The booklet is entitled „Trei decenii de viaţă românească in Detroitul dinamic“ (Three decades of Romanian life in dynamic Detroit). It has 64 pages and was published in April, 1937.
The booklet presents not only the first twenty-five years of life of the „St. George Romanian Orthodox Cathedral,“ but also a very comprehensive image of the Romanian-American community of Detroit with its institutions and economic activity.
Important evens from „St. George“ parish (later given the name of cathedral) mentioned in chronological order in the booklet were: May 12,1912, the first Liturgy celebrated by Fr. Ilarie Serbu from Cleveland, Ohio; September 3, 1916, the consecration of the foundation; November 18, 1917, the consecration of the church located on Russell Street; in the same year the church choir and the Ladies auxiliary were organized; on November 4,1923, the painting of the church was completed; in 1927 the mortgage was paid; in April, 1929 the church hosted the Congress that decided the organization of the Romanian Orthodox Episcopate of America; on July 4, 1935, „St. George“ church became the cathedral of the Romanian Orthodox Episcopate of America.
The following eight pages of the booklet present photos and reproduce documents from „St. George“ Cathedral’s life. From page 25 to page 43, the booklet presents the people and the >>>>>Alexandru Nemoianu>>>>>
New Book
Fr. Gabriel-Viorel Garden, “Episcopia Ortodoxa Romana din America-Parte a Ortodoxiei Americane,” (The Romanian Orthodox Episcopate of America-Part of American Orthodoxy, Universitara Clujeana Press, 2007, 569 pages, in Romanian.
Recently the above-mentioned book was included into the Heritage Center’s library.
This is a monumental book that covers the history of “Romanian” Orthodox history in the New World. The author also presents in detail the history of the Romanian immigration to America.
The book is a very solid historical study, and the information used is overwhelming. In the meantime, the style is sober and captivating and the lecture is a real pleasure.
The conclusion of the book, implied in the title, is that the Romanian Orthodox Episcopate of America (with its headquarters at “Vatra Romaneasca”) is an American Orthodox entity. Directly. and indirectly. the author expresses his opinion, thai attempts to change rhis reality would be both damaging and futile.
The book is a must for those interested in Romanian-American history. >>>>>
