Sister Germaine Senita, OSBM, Celebrates 50 Years in Religious Life

Music gives soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination, a charm to sadness, and a gaiety and life to everything. It is the essence of order and leads to all that is good, true and beautiful, of which it is the invisible, but nevertheless dazzling, passionate and eternal form. – Plato

On Pentecost Sunday, May 27, 2013, the Sisters of the Order of Saint Basil the Great gathered to celebrate the Golden Jubilee of Sister Germaine Senita, OSBM. The celebration began with a procession in Holy Trinity Chapel. Surrounded by the Provincial Council and chaplain, Very Reverend Daniel Troyan, the Jubilerian was escorted by her grandnephew Nicholas Grage and grandnieces Kathryn and Elinor Grage, who proudly served as cross-bearer and candle bearers for the joyous occasion.

As the theme for the day, Sister Germaine had chosen "Worship the Lord with gladness, come into his presence with singing" from Psalm 100. Father Daniel expanded upon this theme in his homily, reminding all present about Sister’s wonderful ability to use her beautiful voice and her love of music as an instrument of her vocation, happily sharing this giftedness with her sisters in the community, her students at Saint Basil Academy, her family, and her many friends.

Following the service in the Holy Trinity Chapel, friends, family members, Sisters, and Father Troyan gathered for a celebratory dinner in the Sisters' dining room. Serving as toastmaster, Sister Mary Cecilia Jurasinski, OSBM focused on the happiness of the day, emphasizing that Sister Germaine's kind and generous spirit has touched both those who know her well and those who know her only through anonymous gifts received in times of need. Congratulatory letters from His Grace, Most Reverend Stefan Soroka, and General Superior Sister Miriam Claire Kowal, OSBM were read by Sister Lydia Anna Sawka, OSBM.

In her tribute to Sister Germaine, Provincial Superior Sister Dorothy Ann Busowski, OSBM created a musical history of Sister’s life citing numerous songs from Broadway musicals and pop songs from the 1960s and 1970s. Her musical story began with brief comments about Sister Germaine’s childhood and continued with the years Sister began to recognize her vocation when she was "Sixteen, Going on Seventeen," entered the Novitiate in Fox Chase in 1962 “With a Song in Your Heart,” and finally how being "In Love With a Wonderful Guy," "Happy Talk," and the "Music of the Night" had kept Sister "Younger Than Springtime," even as she prepared to celebrate 50 years in religious life.

The Provincial Superior then spoke about Sister Germaine's teaching ministry, which took her from St. Josaphat and Saint Nicholas schools in Philadelphia back to the Motherhouse to teach at St. Basil Academy. It is at the Academy, where she has lovingly served for forty years, that Sister Germaine’s song became the songs of many hundreds of students who have performed in the numerous concerts and musicals she produced—students mesmerized and unobtrusively disciplined by her skills in conducting, teaching, singing, and above all, her gentle way of imbuing in them a love of God through a love of music.

In concluding her tribute, Sister Dorothy Ann shared, “Sister’s ministry is like a fine tune that she softly and lovingly hums. . . . You pray through your singing . . . drawing closer to the Divine Composer through your exploring of lyrics and music. May God continue to surround you with holy stillness and peace in your music and in your life. May your music continue to be centered on God. . . . And, by the way, "The Beat Goes On."

Sister Germaine Senita, OSBM with Sister Dorothy Ann Busowski, OSBM, Provincial

Jubilarian Sister Germaine Senita, OSBM (in middle) with Basilian Council (L-R) Sister Maria Rozmarynowych, OSBM, Sister Dorothy Ann Busowski, OSBM, Sister Ann Laszok, OSBM, Sister Lydia Anna Sawka, OSBM, Sister Joann Sosler, OSBM and Chaplain Very Rev. Archpriest Daniel Troyan