Irmas Basilianas
Rua Ari Borba Carneiro, 1163
81 320 000 Reserva, Paraná
Tel./Fax: (55) 422 761.744
History
With the encouragement of His Eminence,
Josyf Cardinal Slipyj, the cooperation of Bishop Joseph
Martinec, OSBM, and the support of the Provinces, Basilian
Sisters set out bravely for mission work among the Ukrainian
Greek-Catholics in Brazil. From the Generalate, Mother
Eusebia Bilas, a member of the Philadelphia Province,
and Sisters Ana Zapaia with Estefania Kosteski of the
Argentina Province, arrived to Canoinhas in the springtime
on December 12, 1972. Soon after their arrival, Sisters
commenced their ministry teaching catechism, the Ukrainian
language and church music. Beginnings were trying especially
when Mother Eusebia died suddenly in January 1973. The
two courageous Sisters continued the apostolates and
Sister Claudia Barszczuk joined them from Argentina.
Sister Michael Bayda came from the Philadelphia Province.
God blessed the sacrifices and endeavors
of the Sisters. Five young women who entered the candidacy
program were sent for their formation to Argentina.
In 1977, Saint Basil Monastery with a wing for the novitiate
was erected in Curitiba.
In Canoinhas, a pre-school was dedicated in 1978.
A monastery with a boarding facility for girls, who
come from colonies* to attend high school in the city,
was built between 1980-1985. As religious life in Brazil
is developing Sisters extended their ministry into the
area of Reserva. They built a new convent with boarding
facilities for girls across the street from the Church.
Saint Macrina Delegature in Brazil, originally
known as Saint Joseph Mission was under Christ the King
Province in Argentina and since 2001, as a Delelegature
is directly under the jurisdiction of the Generalate.
*colonies - sparsely settled areas of
land far removed from the city and hard to reach by
regular means of transportation.
Ministries
Religious
life in Brazil is developing. The Basilian Sisters,
who serve the needs of the Byzantine Catholic
Church, are engaged in apostolates, which radiate
out from the central parishes to Mission Churches
of the surrounding “colonies” that
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often
can be reached only by horse and wagon. Sisters
sustain themselves through the following ministries:
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Conduct para-liturgical services: “Molebens”,
funerals, Liturgy of the Word when a priest is unavailable.
Lead congregational singing during church services.
Direct and teach in a childcare school.
Catechize youth and adults.
Provide boarding room for girls from colonies attending
high schools in the city.
Engage in ministry to families and the youth.
Visit the aged and ill.
Guide groups of Apostleship of Prayer.
Work as nurses in local Catholic hospital.
Bake and prepare holy bread “prosphora”
for Divine Liturgy.
Care for the beauty of God’s House.
Engage in folk arts.
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During
the summer months, Sisters continue to be intensely
involved in catechetical work in the “colonies”.
Approximately 290 children and young people benefit
from religious instructions, and learn religious
and Ukrainian folk songs. Together, courageously
and creatively Sisters continue to serve the faithful
of the Byzantine Catholic Church in this beautiful
land of diverse cultures. |
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