On Friday, February 1, 2019, the eve of the Feast of the Presentation of Our Lord, members of consecrated life were invited by Reverend Father Robert Lyseiko, OSBM for a gathering in the Basilica of Saint Sofia. Our Basilian Sisters from the Most Holy Trinity Province in Ukraine minister in a mission community there.
The gathering began with Great Vespers, including Lytia, celebrated by Reverend Father Vitalij Nazar, CSsR, a student at the Teresianum University in Rome. Father Vitalij gave a homily based on his thoughts and knowledge of consecrated life in today’s world. Following Vespers, all present received an anointing. Sung responses for Vespers were led by the numerous Basilian Fathers, who were present from their Generalate, along with their Proto-archimandrite Very Reverend Genesio Viomar, OSBM. Among those gathered were the Sisters Servants of Mary Immaculate with their General Superior Sister Sofia Lebedovych. Gracing the evening with their presence were the Sister Catechists of Saint Ann with their Superior, Sister Rita Baldo. Also present was a Salesian brother. Attending from the Generalate of the Sisters of the Order of Saint Basil the Great were General Superior, Mother Dia Stasiuk, OSBM, with General Councilors Sisters Mariela Rotzen, Nazariya Mykhayliuk, and Emanuela Vavrekova, and Sister Atanasia Anheluk.
The participants were warmly welcomed by Reverend Andriy Soletsky, vice-rector of the Saint Sofia Basilica. After the services in the Basilica, Mother Dia Stasiuk, in the name of the Basilian Sisters - the hosts for the evening, invited all to the social hall for refreshments. A friendly and warm atmosphere prevailed throughout the evening as members of different communities of consecrated life had an opportunity to get to know one another better and to share experiences, thoughts and ideas.
At the conclusion of the gathering, gratitude was extended to the organizers of the event, as well as, to the members of the Saint Sofia Religious Association, headed by Reverend Mark Semehen, who provided the facility for the gathering.
Photos of Reverend Ephraim Konchak, OSBM
