|
The
Very
Reverend
Father
John
Surducan,
priest
emeritus
of
Sts.
Peter
&
Paul
Romanian
Orthodox
Church
in
Dearborn
Heights,
Michigan,
fell
asleep
in
the
Lord
on
Monday,
January
22,
2007,
just
days
after
his
92nd
birthday
on
January
17,
following
a
recent
decline
in
health.
Funeral
services
took
place
at
Sts.
Peter
&
Paul
Church
on
Wednesday,
January
24
through
Friday,
January
26.
He
was
then
laid
to
rest
next
to
his
beloved
wife,
Preoteasa
Elena,
at
Woodmere
Cemetery
in
Detroit.
CLICK
HERE
for
photos
of
the
Funeral
Services,
Burial
and
Pomana
(memorial
luncheon).
Father
Surducan
was
born
on
January
17,
1915,
in
Labasint,
Timis,
Romania.
He
emigrated
to
the
United
States
in
1951
and
became
an
American
citizen.
He
was
educated
in
Romania
where
he
attended
the
Theological
Academy
in
Timişoara
[1938-1942].
In
1942,
he
married
Elena
Gherga
and
was
ordained
a
priest
by
Metropolitan
VASILE
(Lazarescu)
at
the
Cathedral
of
Timişoara.
He
served
the
parish
of
Descent
of
the
Holy
Spirit,
Clopodia,
Banat,
Romania
[1942-1948].
Due
to
the
political
hardships
in
Romania,
and
especially
the
persecution
of
the
Church
and
its
clergy,
as
a
result
of
the
Communist
takeover
of
that
country,
Fr.
John
relocated
his
family,
under
very
dangerous
conditions,
eventually
making
their
way
to
Italy
where
they
met
and
befriended
the
young
theologian,
Viorel
Trifa
(the
future
Archbishop
VALERIAN).
They
remained
there
hoping
for
an
opportunity
to
settle
somewhere
in
"the
West."
Having
been
called
to
this
country
by
V.
Rev.
Fr.
John
Trutza,
at
the
recommendation
of
Viorel
Trifa,
from
1951-1955
he
served
as
assistant
priest
at
The
Falling
Asleep
of
the
Ever
Virgin
Mary
Church
in
Cleveland,
Ohio,
and
administered
the
parishes
in
Salem,
Martins
Ferry
and
Newark,
Ohio
and
Weirton,
West
Virginia.
He
was
then
chosen
to
be
parish
priest
of
Sts.
Peter
&
Paul
Church
in
Dearborn,
Michigan.
Prior
to
Fr.
John's
arrival,
the
parish
had
experienced
difficult
and
sometimes
heated
tensions
which
the
new
priest
immediately
worked
to
end.
He
soon
made
relative
peace
within
the
parish
and
strengthened
its
ties
with
The
Romanian
Orthodox
Episcopate
of
America.
Throughout
the
next
25
years,
Fr.
John
and
Psa.
Elena
worked
tirelessly
with
the
parish
to
establish
a
firm
foundation
upon
which
future
generations
could
build.
It
was
during
his
pastorate
that
the
parish
relocated
to
Dearborn
Heights
and
current
church
and
adjacent
facilities
were
built
in
1975.
(CLICK
HERE
to
read
more
on
the
history
of
the
parish.)
Fr.
Surducan
also
remained
active
on
the
diocesan
level.
He
was
the
Administrator
of
SOLIA
(the
official
publication
of
the
Romanian
Orthodox
Episcopate)
[1951-1952];
Treasurer
of
the
Episcopate;
member
of
the
Commission
to
update
the
Romanian
Orthodox
Episcopate
By-laws
[1951];
member
of
the
Examination
Commission
for
candidates
to
the
priesthood
[1960];
member
of
the
Spiritual
Consistory
[6
years];
Referee
on
Matrimonial
Affairs
(Dispensations)
[11
years];
served
on
the
Episcopate
Council
[over
20
years];
President
of
the
Clergy
Pension
Fund
[1964-1970];
Administrative
Dean
of
the
Michigan/Eastern
Canada
Deanery
[1978-1982];
and
Spiritual
Advisor
to
The
American
Romanian
Orthodox
Youth
(A.R.O.Y.)
[1963].
For
several
years
after
retirement,
Fr.
John
administered:
Sts.
Michael
&
Gabriel
Church
in
Fort
Wayne,
Indiana
[6
years];
The
Descent
of
the
Holy
Spirit
Church
in
Warren,
Michigan
[8
months];
and
St.
Nicholas
Church
in
Detroit,
Michigan
[7
months].
In
recognition
of
his
many
years
of
service,
Fr.
Surducan
was
elevated
to
the
rank
of
Archpriest
by
His
Grace,
Bishop
NATHANIEL
(Popp)
on
June
30,
1991.
He
was
preceded
in
death
by
his
wife,
Psa.
Elena,
in
January
1997
(almost
10
years
to
the
day).
They
leave
behind
four
sons:
George,
John
(w/
wife
Connie
and
children
John
&
Matthew),
Walter
(w/
wife
Susan
and
children
Sarah,
Caroline
&
Stephen)
and
Michael.
His
death
is
also
mourned
by
the
many
parishioners
and
friends
he
leaves
behind
as
a
testament
to
his
good
character
and
friendly
presence
among
us.
May
Fr.
John's
memory
be
eternal! |
