“VOCATION is the mystery of God’s loving initiative setting forth our personal response to his plan for our lives. In faith, we respond with the gift of ourselves, witnessing by our lives to his presence among us”
(The Kenotic Way. Constitution, 24)
During July 4 – 19, 2016 m. Dia Stasiuk and Sr. Mariela Rotzen conducted a canonical visitation of our sisters in the Immanculate Heart of Mary Province in romania. during the visitation they visited the monasteries in Gherla, Lugos, Baia Mare and Cluj-Napooca, had individual meetings with the Sisters, prayed together, and enjoyed each others presence.
Millions of pilgrims from around the world come in pilgrimage to pray at the Holy Doors of St. Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican City during this special Jubilee Year of Mercy. On Tuesday, May 31 the Congregation for Oriental Churches organized such a pilgrimage for all Eastern Catholics in the Rome vacinity. Invited were Eastern Hierarchs, members of all Communities and Congregations of Consecrated Life with their Generalates in Rome, seminarians, sisters and other students studying in various Pontifical Institutes of Eastern Churches.
The Canonical Visitation of the Sisters in the Saints Cyril and Methodius Vice-Province was conducted by m. Dia Stasiuk, General Superior and Sister Emanuela Vavrekova, General Councillor, from May 20 (in Bratislava) to May 31, 2016. The Vice-Province has three monastaries located in Secovce (the motherhouse of the Vice Province), Trebisov and Vranov. Two Sisters also serve in the Eparchial Chancery in Bratislava.
Hundreds gathered at St. Sofia in Rome on Sunday, May 29th to celebrate and honor all mothers on their special day. After Matins, a Hierarchal Divine Liturgy was celebrated by Most Reverend Dionysio Lachovicz, Apostolic Visitator for Ukrainian Catholics in Italy and Spain, and con-celebrated by numerous clergy asking for blessings for all mothers – living and those who have passed into eternity. In his homily Most Rev. Dionysio focused on the theme “Gift Your Mother with Happiness”.
On Sunday May 22 joining the Mother Prayer groups from various parts of Italy and Spain participating in this annual pilgrimage were Sisters Lydia Anna Sawka, OSBM and Anastasia Stulkivska, OSBM from the Generalate. The day’s prayerful program began at noon with a Moleben to the Blessed Mother celebrated at the ourdoor Grotto of Our Lady.
On Saturday, April 30, 2016 the Sisters at the Generalate had a day of Spiritual Renewal led by His Grace, Most Reverend Archbishop Cyril Vasil, S.J., Secretary of the Congregation for the Oriental Churches. His Grace based the morning’s reflections on a reading from Phillipians and, in light of that reading, spoke about leadership in the early Church, as well as, the understanding and pursuit of holiness.