Thursday, July 12: This morning the Chapter Delegates heard the first of two presentations on formation by Father Procopius Lototskyj, OSBM. Father is the Spiritual Director of the Seminary of St. Josaphat in Rome, and he also directs the Ukrainian section of the Vatican Radio. Father shared that a definition of formation can be that it is to allow something precious to blossom in one’s heart. Though formation is God’s work, His grace comes through other people, and it is dependent upon attitude and relationships. It is to be continually transformed into the likeness of Jesus Christ, and one is in the spirit of formation throughout one’s lifetime. Rather than teaching rules, we should seek the answer to the question, “What is in the deepest recesses of one’s heart?”



The delegates then benefited from a report of another Province, and once again, they listened in a spirit of shared pride and wonder at how our Lord is working through the Sisters of St. Basil throughout the world.



The session continued with a discussion on the Handbook for Canonical Separation, a guidebook that was collaboratively written by the Sisters over several years. After questions were addressed and clarifications made, the delegates voted to approve and accept the handbook.



In the afternoon, the final Province report was received. The Superior of every Province, Vice-Province, and Delegature had delivered the report from her group, and so the Sister delegates were able to become more acquainted with the reality, statistics, activities, and accomplishments of their Sisters throughout the world. The groups are from: Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Krizevci and Osijek in Croatia, Hungary, Poland, Romania, Presov and Secovce in Slovakia, Ukraine, and Middletown, Philadelphia, and Uniontown in the United States. Each report was distinct and unique, and yet the Sisters could appreciate the similarities which bind them together. Much gratitude was expressed for this valuable sharing.



The day concluded with a preliminary discussion of several proposals that had been submitted beforehand by the Sisters for consideration for the Chapter.

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