The celebration of the Resurrection of Our Lord is the most important feast for each Catholic, requiring preparation to enter into the spiritual significance of the event. At the conclusion of a forty-day Great Fast preceding the feast, there is Passion Week with its many special liturgical services.
The Basilian Sisters living in their Generalate in Rome joined the Basilian Fathers (their neighbors) for all the services held in their Generalate Chapel of Christ the King.
On Great Saturday Rev. Mykola Kozelkivskyy came to the Generalate House of the Sisters where in the refectory he blessed the Easter breads and special traditional foods prepared for the celebration of the Resurrection. All were displayed on a table set with cross, candles and embroideries.
On the morning of the Feast of the Resurrection of Our Lord the Sisters participated in both the Resurrection Matins and Divine Liturgy at the Basilian Fathers’ Chapel. The main celebrant at the services was Very Reverend Genesio Viomar, OSBM, Archimandrate of the Basilian Fathers.
In the afternoon at their own Generalate the Sisters had a special dinner celebrating the Feast and were joined by Sr. Kornelia Zhupnyk, OSBM, a Sister-student from the Most Holy Trinity Province in Ukraine, who is studying in Rome at the Pontifical Institute of Spirituality (Teresianum).
The following day, Bright Monday, Sister Michelina Torre, OSBM, our Italian Basilian Sister from Albano, Italy, joined us for a festive dinner. There was much joy as pleasant and interesting conversations ensued.
On Thursday the community of Sisters from the Generalate went on their annual Emmaus trip. This year they traveled to the ancient city of Amalfi, which is situated in the mountains over-looking the Mediterranean Sea in southern Italy. The Sisters spent some prayerful, reflective time in the afternoon at the Cathedral of the Apostle Saint Andrew, where his relics are kept in one of the altars. It was an memorable day enjoying one another’s company and viewing the beauty of the nature found in the mountains, sea and lemon orchards dotting the countryside.
