History
On June 7, in the year 1989, the Basilian Sisters of Romania were welcomed into the Order as a newly formed Province. In their homeland, known as the Garden of Mary, the Basilian Sisters received the legal right to exist August 13, 1991. However, their actual beginnings are during the "underground" era.
Upon her return from Hungary in 1944, Sister Ana Fekete, a Vincentian, settled in Gherla. There she sought to attracted young Romanian women of the area. The community sustained itself by working in a nursing home for the elderly.
Their spiritual Fathers were the Basilian Priests from Monastero di Nicula. On February I8, 1946 the Sisters petitioned Bishop Iuliu Hossu to found the community of the Sisters of Saint Basil the Great. The Congregation for Oriental Churches approved this foundation on March 1948.
In 1959, the authorities imprisoned Sister Ana, liquidated the monastery and dispersed the Sisters. Upon her return in 1964, Sister Ana could not have any contact with her Sisters. When she died in 1970, Father Sabin Dancus, OSBM, reorganized the community and gave them the same Rule as that of the Basilian Fathers.
When Romania proclaimed its independence, the Sisters did not have a monastery of their own. Since Sisters lived scattered wherever work was availabe, they were not able to commence community life. To assuage the situation in 1991 to 1993 novices were placed for formation in Saint Basil the Great Monastery in Albano, Italy. During this period, a monastery was built in Cluj-Napoca.
As membership increased the community established monasteries in Lugoj in 1992, in 1993 Sisters purchased a different building in Gherla to house their elderly Sisters and another one in Baia Mare. Gradually they constructed a retreat center, a church and twelve hermitages in Baia Mare. Sisters opened a pre-school for children aged 3-6, and a clinic for expectant mothers in Cluj. Recently they expanded the monastery in Cluj-Napoca to include a Church, novitiate and administration.Years of patient endurance made the Sisters sensitive to the needs of the people. Basilian Sisters uphold and help the people with generosity and dedication.
Ministries
Basilian Sisters serve in three Eparchies of the Greek Catholic Metropolia in Romania. They have monasteries in Cluj, Gherla, Baia Mare and Lugoj. Communal life, prayer and fraternal communion, service to one another as well as ministry to the poor and abandoned characterize monastery life.
Cluj-Napoca
Saint Macrina Monastery- the Motherhouse of the Basilian Sisters in Romania includes: The Province leadership, which administers the Province, the novitiate, a place of formation for future members, the community, which consists of Sisters who work in various ministries, and Sister-students.
Promotion of Life: “Providence” Clinic - Sisters provide counseling for expectant mothers, a woman-doctor consultant and promote life by action against abortion.
Preschool - Sisters offer a scholastic developmental program according to age, and state requirements. The program includes Religion, English and Italian and an after school program.
Catechization– Sisters teach religion in state schools. In addition, Sisters catechize youth and young adults who come to the monastery weekly. Sisters also catechize in parishes.
Basilian Tertiaries - associate members of the Basilian Sisters who participate in daily prayers of Sisters, assist on occasions and meet as a group regularly.
Ministry to the Poor - At lunchtime, Sisters provide help for those who come and their families.
Gherla
Annunciation Monastery - houses a community of older and sick Sisters. The younger Sisters participate in parish life. They catechize and serve God's people. The elderly sustain the community and the Church by their prayers.
Baia Mare
Sisters run a retreat center attached to the monastery. Twelve hermitages set on the mountainside near the beautiful monastery wooden church are for those who desire to experience "pustinia" and pray to the Lord in "silence". Throughout the entire year, Sisters host groups, which come for retreats and days of prayer.
Lugoj
Sisters work in the Bishop’s residence and the Greek-Catholic Cathedral. They teach English in a state-school, catechize children and are responsible for Basilian Tertiaries with whom they meet periodically. They also help the poors and sick people.
