Brief History of the
Romanian Orthodox Christian Mission in
Austin, Texas

     St. Mary Romanian Orthodox Christian Church in Austin is part of the missions from Texas under the Romanian Orthodox Archdiocese in Americas established in order to promote and maintain the spiritual and cultural values of the Romanians who settled in this part of America. The presence of the Romanians in this part of the United States is rather recent as opposed to other parts of the United States, where the Romanians settled much earlier. This mission follows the example of our forefathers to gather and organize their life around the Church. However, although the mission aims to support the Romanian community, the mission involves itself in the greater community of Austin.

     In the autumn of 2002, with the initiative of Fr. Iulian Anitei of San Antonio and with the enthusiasm of a few Romanian families in Austin, it was decided to organize an event, a picnic, and to invite the Romanians and their neighbors who were living and working at that time in Austin. The good news was received with joy. This was reflected in the number of Romanians, more than a hundred individuals, who answered to the invitation. Also, inspired by those who came, the idea of a establishing the first Romanian Orthodox Christian mission in Austin was launched.

     The first service was held on September 8, 2002, on the feast of the Nativity of the Mother of God. In response to the blessing of the holy service held on this particular day, those who were present suggested that the mission should be put under the protection of the Mother of God. In the beginning, the first meetings and services were held in a social hall of the University of Texas. When that space was no longer available, the meetings were held in the houses of those who were directly involved in the mission. The mission opened a bank account to manage the expenses of the mission and to establish a building fund. On April 14, 2003, the mission received the recognition of a non-profit organization, also known as a 501(c), from the IRS.

     Due to the fact that Fr. Iulian started another mission in Houston, Fr. Florin Craioveanu was assigned in October, 2003 by Archbishop Nicolae of the Romanian Archdiocese in the Americas based in Chicago, to supervise the mission.

     In June, 2004, Fr. Florin changed jurisdictions and therefore received a new appointment. In response to the need for a temporary priest, Fr. Iulian commuted to Austin and continued to hold services. In the summer of 2004, Heiromonk Vichentie Punguta of St. Dumitru Monastery in upstate New York, moved to Austin and continued the pastoral missionary work. Fr. Punguta served the mission until the spring of 2006, at which time he returned to Romania. Following the departure of Fr. Punguta, the affairs of the missions were once again under the supervision of Fr. Iulian Anitei. Services and social gatherings continued to be held. Fr. Antonie Avarvarei of Cleveland, Ohio with the blessing of Archbishop Nicolae also helped the mission for a few weeks during this interim.

     On October 26, 2006, Fr. Dumitru Ilies with the blessing of Archbishop Nicolae and with the approval of the community arrived with his wife Maria. Since his arrival, Fr. Dumitru worked diligently with the parish council to further the work begun in September of 2002. The social and liturgical life of the parish has flourished and the number of members has grown under the supervision of Fr. Dumitru Ilies. Fr. Dumitru has traveled as far as Waco, Texas, to reach out to the Romanian community in that part of Texas. He also substituted on a rotational basis in San Antonio, Texas. The mission enjoyed the visits of Archbishop Nicolae on a regular biannual basis. The Romanian Orthodox people are committed to continue to work and live their lives around the Church and invite their coworkers and neighbors to participate in the life of the Church.