Sisters of St. Basil the Great
30 Shiel Street
North Melbourne, 3051 VIC
Tel./Fax: (613) 93 290 749
Em: sistersofbasil@netsol.net.au
History
The search for nuns ready for apostolic
work and sacrifice began in the 60's of the past XX
century after the settlement of Ukrainian refugees in
Australia and the erection of the Apostolic Exarchate.
Bishop Ivan Prasko turned to the General Curia of Basilian
Sisters in Rome, and approached Josyf Cardinal Slipyj,
with a petition to send nuns to Australia. At their
urging Mother Claudia Feddish, General Superior sent
a request for volunteers to the Provincial Superior
in Berisso, Argentina in 1966.
On July 8, 1966, all the Sisters gathered
to bid a tearful farewell to Mother Maria Afinec and
Sisters Anisia Szewczuk, Constantina Zapaia, and Lucia
Anheluk as they left the familiar shores of Argentina,
first for Rome, Italy. There, the General Superior and
the entire General Curia greeted them warmly. After
stopping at the holy shrines and prayer at the altar
of Saint Josaphat, Martyr for Unity, they visited His
Beatitude, Josyf Cardinal Slipyj, Confessor of Faith.
They continued on to Australia with his blessing, accompanied
by the icon of the Mother of God. Sisters arrived in
Sydney on March 28, 1967.
In 1970, Sisters founded a monastery
in Melbourne and in 1977, another one in Adelaide.
Ministries
Basilian
Sisters are an indispensable part of the Ukrainian
Byzantine Catholic Church and the faith community
in Australia. Their mission is to support the
faithful in upbringing their children and grandchildren
to know and love their religious and folk heritage.
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Sincere love for others, much patience, energy
work and prayer is needed to achieve these aims.
Recognizing the needs of the people in Australia,
Sisters perform various ministries, and in this
way pass on their skills and wisdom to future
generations. Their ministry includes: |
Catechetic classes in Ukrainian Saturday School at
Saint Andrew Parish
Preparing children for the Sacraments of Reconciliation
and Holy Eucharist
Leadership of young groups such as Legion of Mary,
Altar Boys, Apostolic Prayer Group
Conducting community work programs developed by the
youth of Sydney
Directing Youth Church Choirs in Sydney and Adelaide
Day care and schooling for children ages 3 to 5
Teaching folk traditions and customs
Preparing children for programs on special occasions
Visiting and sustaining the ill, elderly and infirm
in hospitals and in their homes
Care for the wellbeing of the parish priest to free
him for ministry in the Church
Maintaining the cleanliness and aesthetic appearance
of the church.
Sisters
have monasteries in North Melbourne in the Province
of Victoria and Lidcombe (Sydney) in the Province
of New South Wales. From these centers Sisters
reach out in service to the nearby parishes.
It is difficult to imagine any holiday or festivity
without the presence and participation of Basilian
Sisters. |
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*Saturday
School – An educational system established specifically
for teaching literacy of a specific culture.
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