Sisters of the Order of Saint Basil the Great
Jesus, Lover of Humanity Province
Celebrate One Hundred Years in America
Divine Liturgy of Thanksgiving:
Cathedral of Immaculate Conception
Centennial Benefit Banquet

November 6, 2011

At the end of Matins on Sunday, November 6, 2011, the bells at the monastery of the Sisters of the Order of Saint Basil the Great in Fox Chase rang one hundred times, signaling the beginning of a day-long celebration commemorating one hundred years of service in America.

That afternoon, Basilian Sisters from around the world, hierarchs, clergy, former students, friends, community leaders, companions and supporters of their spiritual journey joined the Sisters of Jesus, Lover of Humanity Province at a Divine Liturgy of Thanksgiving celebrated at the Ukrainian Catholic Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Philadelphia, just a stone’s throw from the building situated at the nearby corner of 7th and Poplar streets where the Sister’s first began their ministry in the United States.

Celebrants at the Divine Liturgy included Metropolitan-Archbishop Stefan Soroka; Most Reverend Paul Chomnycky, OSBM; Most Reverend John Bura; Most Reverend Bishop Emeritus Basil Losten; present and former Chaplains and Spiritual Directors, as well as many other clergy.

Among the special guests attending and speaking at this joyful event were General Superior Sister Miriam Claire Kowal, OSBM, and members of her Council; Sister Mykolaya Romakh, OSBM, Provincial Superior of the Holy Trinity Province in Ukraine; Mother Georgianna Snihur, OSBM, Superior of the Contemplative Sisters in Middletown, New York; Sister Seraphim Olsafsky, OSBM, Superior of Our Lady of Perpetual Help Province in Uniontown, Pennsylvania; and Sister Lucia Salkovski, OSBM, Superior of the St. Macrina Delegature in Brazil. Other Major Superiors from around the world included Sister Anna Piecunko, Poland; Sister Josefa Simova, Presov, Slovakia; Sister Valentina Hadarau, Romania and Sister Anisia Szewczuk, Australia. Representing the Generalate in Rome were Sister Joanna Lickvar, Sister Ioana Bota and Sister Ihgnatiya Havrylyk.

In the evening, the festivities continued with a banquet held at Savoy's in Pennsauken, New Jersey, which was attended by approximately 300 guests. Halyna Keller, CEO of the Ukrainian Selfreliance Federal Credit Union, served as Mistress of Ceremonies.

In her welcoming remarks, Provincial Superior Sister Dorothy Ann Busowski, OSBM, provided an overview of the work the Sister had accomplished since November of 1911, the year the founding Sisters of the American Province arrived in Philadelphia. During the evening, the Sisters and their work were feted by numerous speakers and celebrated in an interesting and touching videotape "Women of Spirit" filmed by Mykola and Oksana Yaremko and produced by Sister Ann Laszok, OSBM. The documentary included interviews with teachers, graduates and others whose lives they had touched. In turn, the Sisters thanked the many individuals who had been an integral part of their incredible journey over the past century.

Before departing for home, each guest was presented with a special keepsake—a copy of the Sisters’ commemorative centennial book, "Basilian Sisters in America: The First Hundred Years", which traces the spiritual journey of the Province from its roots in Ukraine to its many accomplishments in the United States.

Videos from the centennial celebration can be viewed at www.thewayukrainian.blogspot.com