Thursday, July 19 : The Feast of Saint Macrina: Matins was celebrated at Santa Sofia in the different languages. Then Lubomyr Cardinal Husar, who was passing through Rome, briefly greeted the Sisters. He thanked them for their presence and for their ministry in the Church, and promised his prayers to continue for the Chapter. He reminded the Sisters that now is the time for evangelization, and that they must have a missionary spirit. The Divine Liturgy was celebrated by Father Basil Koubetch, OSBM, the General Superior of the Basilian Fathers. After breakfast the Sisters enjoyed a free day. Some toured the Beautiful Papal Gardens at Castel Gandolfo, some visited the Sistine Chapel, some went to pray at the tomb of Pope John Paul II in the Basilica of Saint Peter, and others shopped and relaxed.

Before supper, the Sisters from Ukraine presented a play on the life of Saint Macrina, and a skit on the need for people with different gifts and abilities to love one another and to work in harmony together. Confirming the Chapter theme of “Your word is a lamp to my feet, a light to my path,” a very moving ceremony was held, where in alphabetical turn, a representative from each group lit a lamp from St. Basil’s “flame,” placed the lamp on a stand on which was the flag of the country of her group, and then she stood behind the stand. With the flags of the Vatican and Italy, in the center, representing the Generalate, it was a dramatic and creative portrait of the international Sisters of the Order of Saint Basil the Great in their 14 units and from the 10 countries in four continents in which they serve.

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