On February 19, 2017 at the Monastery of Protection of the Blessed Mother of the Sisters of the Order of Saint Basil the Great (Most Holy Trinity Province, Ukraine) located in the city of Yavoriv in the Lviv Archeparchy a special event took place.

The Childcare “Sunshine” established for the care of pre-school children and built by the Sisters was blessed and formally opened. Following the celebration of the Divine Liturgy, Reverend Father Roman Pita, pastor of the Assumption of the Blessed Mother Church in Yavoriv, along with Reverend Father Iryney Babinets, OSBM, chaplain of the Sisters in Yavoriv, and Reverend Father Volodymyr Havrulenko blessed “Sunshine” with the traditional building blessing. To share in this special event the Provincial Superior, Mother Danyila Vynnyk, OSBM came with Sisters from the Provincial Monastery in Lviv, as well as, Sister from the Monastery of St. Joseph in Ivano-Frankivsk.

Already 20 children have enrolled and are attending “Sunshine” for the care, upbringing and educational beginnings provided by the Sisters. Under the care of Ms. Svitvana Byk, Sister Damyana Perets, OSBM and Sister Tymoteya Kovach, OSBM the children prepared a concert, which delighted both parents and guests at the celebration.

Historically the Basilian Sisters in the city of Javoriv have been a praying presence and ministered in education and the raising of children. At various times, the monastery provided a girls’ school, a teachers’ educational center, a high school, childcare, and a boarding school for girls. The opening of this childcare evidences to the Sisters’ desire to sow the seed of God’s Word in the hearts of children and their parents and renew the ministry, which the Basilian Sisters previously provided in the city of Yavoriv.

Information provided by Sister Viktoriia Navrotska, OSBM