On Sunday, July 18, 2021, on the eve of the feast of St. Macrina, in the monastery chapel of the Basilian Sisters in Osijek, Sister Lavrentija (Lesia) Isyk made her Perpetual Profession. The main celebrant of the Divine Liturgy was Reverend Milan Stipic, Bishop of Kryzhevtsi Eparchy with concelebrants Fr. Ljubomyr Sturko (paroch) and Fr. Roman Kandrach who is the spiritual director of the Greek Catholic Seminary in Ivano-Frankivsk, Ukraine.
The patronal feast-day celebration of “Saint Macrina” Monastery in Cluj-Napoca of the Sisters of the Order of Saint Basil the Great, began on Saturday, July 17, 2021 with an evening of prayer. Vespers was led by Fr. Marius Cerghizan, the General Vicar of the Greek Catholic Diocese of Cluj-Gherla, accompanied by the chaplain of the Monastery and many priests.
The celebration of the patronal feastday of Saint Mary Monastery of the Sisters of the Order of Saint Basil the Great in Baia Mare, began on Saturday, August 14, 2021 with an evening of prayer with the celebration of Vespers, continuing with the Paraklesis of the Most Holy Theotokos, the Rosary, the Prayer for the Sick and the Requiem of the Mother of God. The evening prayer was attended by the Most Reverend Vasile, several priests and a large number of pilgrims.
During August 16-20, 2021 a Summer Camp for Children “Vacation with God: The Seven Sacraments” was held at the Basilian Spirituality Center in Jenkintown, PA. The camp was organized and sponsored by St. Sophia Religious Association of Ukrainian Catholics, Inc. and the Sisters of the Order of Saint Basil the Great. Some 30 children aged 6-13 from various parts of the Philadelphia area participated in the event.
During September 12-15, 2021, Pope Francis visited Slovakia. On September 14 the Holy Father presided over the Byzantine Divine Liturgy in Prešov. Our Basilian Sisters from Saints Cyril and Methodius Vice-Province (Sečovce) and Mother of God Province (Prešov) participated in the events. Sr. Josifa Šimova, OSBM from Mother of God Province, Prešov, wrote about her experience.
On October 14-16, 2021 in Yavoriv (Ukraine) solemn celebrations took place on the occasion of the 400th anniversary of the founding of the Yavoriv Basilian Monastery. The festivities were attended by General Superior M. Marcela Runcan, OSBM, General Councillors: Sr. Emanujila Vishka, Sr. Terenya Shynal, Sr. Natalia Hukowicz, the Basilian Sisters from Croatia, Romania, USA, as well as numerous sisters of Holy Trinity Province, other monastic brothers and sisters, representatives of local authorities, benefactors of the monastery and faithful.
He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the
Almighty. I will say of the LORD, "He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust." (Ps 91:1)
Dear Basilian Sisters in Ukraine,
Dear Ukrainian Nation,
I am sending you this letter on the sixth day of shocking and unjustified aggression of Russian Federation military forces against Ukraine and Ukrainians. You are facing this trial with great dignity.
On the morning of March 18, 2022, the quiet street of Sant Alessio, where the Generalate of the Sisters of the Order of St. Basil the Great is located, was blocked by a convoy from the Dutch Foreign Ministry. Mr. Wopke Hoekstra, who is the Dutch Foreign Minister, had decided unexpectantly to visit the sisters to personally hear about their vision of the current situation and about their service in Ukraine and abroad in connection with the war.