Yearly Archives: 2015

Some of the Sisters and the Affiliates, and a few others, came together at the Mr. St. Macrina House of Prayer in Uniontown, Pa., on Sunday afternoon, December 13, 2015, for a Christmas Preparation Retreat. The House of Prayer, directed by Sr. Carol Petrasovch with assistance from Sr. Barbara Jean Mihalchick , is just one of the many works of mercy and piety run by the Sisters on their extensive property. Besides the monastery itself and the House of Prayer (which was the original monastery), they have a nursing home and a cemetery, and hostels for pilgrims who come for their annual Labor Day pilgrimage, and well as a gift shop. Shrines dot the landscape, and it seems that little coverts for prayer are everywhere. There was a Live Nativity on the grounds getting underway that day after the retreat.

The Sisters had invited Archimandrite George to speak to the group. He said he came with two main ideas to share, the first being the opening of Matthew’s Gospel, in which four women, all of whom had a whiff of scandal, if not outright sin, about them, and they still became ancestors of Jesus. The point being, God can still do great and wonderful things even with flawed people.

The second point had to do with the Word becoming flesh. Why? He proposed that God wanted a hug. We can wrap our arms around thin air all day long—and God, who is everywhere, would be in that embrace—but we know that human beings much prefer a tangible hug, the actual feel of another person. And so God “translates” the divine spiritual reality into the living language of humanity: the Word becomes flesh, and lives among us; even now, in the Eucharist.

The pilgrims had an opportunity to make Confession, and then concluded their prayers with a moleben in preparation for Christmas. The day was topped off with a lovely supper prepared by Sr. Carol.

Sister Eleanor Mary (former Sr. Vincentia) fell asleep peacefully in the Lord on Tuesday evening, December 8, 2015. As she had attended the Divine Liturgy earlier that day, and although she was having some discomfort, no one expected that this would have been her last day among us.

The daughter of the late John J. and Mary (Petro) Horvath, Sister Eleanor Mary was born in Pottstown, Pa. She entered the Sisters of St. Basil from St. John the Baptist Byzantine Catholic Church in Pottstown, Pa., on June 20, 1948. She pronounced her First Vows on August 15, 1950, and made her Perpetual Profession on January 1, 1956, in the presence of the late Very Rev. George Bonchonsky.

For many of the 67 years of her religious life, Sister Eleanor Mary served in culinary arts for the community in the missions in New York, New Jersey, Indiana, Illinois, and Pennsylvania; at the Byzantine Catholic Seminary, at St. Basil’s Home for Women and at the monastery in Uniontown. Her interest in the culinary arts led her to participate in Galand’s World – A Chef’s Perspective to Cooking, as part of the Continuing Education offered by the Pennsylvania State University for three consecutive years.

Sister Eleanor Mary’s ministry underwent a change in 1986 when she became a familiar and pleasant figure in the Card and Prayer Department at the monastery. She would process the incoming mail and take care of keeping the files in order. Sister was assiduous in filling orders, packaging them, and assuring that they would be mailed in good time. She found great joy in doing this, and her dedication often led her to stay longer than was expected of her.  As an “extracurricular” activity, Sister Eleanor Mary accompanied Sister Dolores Ann to the regular meetings of the Multiple Sclerosis Social Club of Fayette County. She offered her services in sending greeting cards for various occasions to the members, and she was so cheerful in doing this that she was named an honorary member and the “Sunshine Girl” of the club. She continued her participation even while she was at Mount Macrina Manor where the meetings were held for some years.

Sister Eleanor Mary was preceded in death by her parents, her brothers Daniel and John Jr., and her sister Patricia Hassar. In addition to her Sisters in community, she is survived by her nieces, cousins and their families. Relatives and friends will be received at the Monastery Chapel on Friday, December 11 from 3:30 p.m. to the time of the Parastas Service which will be sung at 7:00 p.m. Visitation will continue afterwards until 8:30 p.m. The Funeral Divine Liturgy will be celebrated on Saturday, December 12 at 10:30 a.m. in the Monastery Chapel by Archbishop William Skurla. Interment will follow in the Dormition Section of Mount Macrina Cemetery. Stephen E. Kezmarsky III Funeral Home, Uniontown, is in charge of arrangements.

Christmas Day of Prayer ( Presented by Sr. Marian Senish, CDP)

Saturday, Dec. 12, 2015, 9:15 a.m.—1:00 p.m. 

Offering: $30, includes lunch. Registration Due: Dec. 7

Christmas Day of Prayer (Presented by Msgr. George Appleyard)

Sunday, Dec. 13, 2015, 1:15 p.m.—5:00 p.m. 

Offering: $30, includes dinner. Registration Due: Dec.8

Call the House of Prayer at 724.438.7149 to register!

Mount Macrina Manor’s  annual Live Nativity will be held on the grounds of Mount Saint Macrina in North Union Township on Sunday, December 13, 5-7 p.m. More than 25 people are expected to portray Mary and Joseph, the shepherds tending to their flock, the Three Kings, the Little Drummer Boy and angels. The Nativity will be set up along the Friendship Circle, adjacent to the facility. In addition to the volunteers who are participating, there will also be live animals. Several groups will sing Christmas carols. The event is free of charge and everyone is welcome

Mark your calendar for the annual Christmas Open House at the Mount St. Macrina Gift Shop – Saturday, December 5, 10 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. & Tuesday, December 8, 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. Browse our selection of religious gifts, icons and inspirational Christmas cards.

The Sisters of St. Basil the Great have announced the 2015-2016 schedule of programs to be presented at the Mount St. Macrina House of Prayer. These events will be coming up in the next few months:

Tuesday Reading Series (Presented by Sr. Barbara Jean Mihalchick, OSBM)

November 17, 24, 2015, 10:00 a.m.—11:30 a.m.

Free Will Offering. Registration Due: Oct. 27

Christmas Day of Prayer ( Presented by Sr. Marian Senish, CDP)

Saturday, Dec. 12, 2015, 9:15 a.m.—1:00 p.m.

Offering: $30, includes lunch. Registration Due: Dec. 7

Christmas Day of Prayer (Presented by Msgr. George Appleyard)

Sunday, Dec. 13, 2015, 1:15 p.m.—5:00 p.m.

Offering: $30, includes dinner. Registration Due: Dec.8

Open House at the House of Prayer

January 3, 2016, 1:00 p.m.—4:00 p.m.

“Come Join Us!”

Please follow the link for more programs coming up at the House of Prayer >>

God graciously granted Sister Dorothy Louise’s wish to attend the Pilgrimage one more time. Just a few days after it concluded, Sister Dorothy Louise (former Sr. Joachim) peacefully fell asleep in the Lord Jesus at Mt. Macrina Manor on Thursday, Sept 10, 2015. The daughter of the late Michael and Barbara (Reyta) Balock, Sister Dorothy Louise was born in Patton, PA. She entered the Sisters of St. Basil from SS. Peter and Paul Byzantine Catholic Church in Patton, PA, on September 15, 1950. She pronounced her First Vows on November 27, 1952 and made her Perpetual Profession on January 1, 1956 in the presence of the late Very Rev. George Bonchonsky.

Sister Dorothy Louise spent the first years of her sixty-five years as a Sister of St. Basil in the teaching ministry. She then served a term on the Provincial Council and Coordinator of the monastery community. From 1977 to the end of her life, Sister Dorothy Louise’s ministry was in one way or another involved in health care. She served as the Administrator of Mt. Macrina Manor from 1977 through 1993. For the next few years, Sister resided at the monastery tending to personal health needs.

Probably what became her best-loved ministry began in 1997 when she worked as a Spiritual Counselor for what was then Albert Gallatin Hospice. When declining health required that she limit her work hours, she continued to volunteer her services assisting patients and families with addressing their spiritual needs, especially those facing the crisis of terminal illness. As a cancer survivor three times, she was well prepared to walk these paths with those who came within the sphere of her care and concern. Her empathy with her patients was so well-regarded that she was named as Volunteer of the Year by Amedisys (Albert Gallatin Hospice). Her nomination stated that she is “Albert Gallatin Hospice’s Angel on Earth.” In the last years of her life, she resided at Mt. Macrina Manor where she became the recipient of those services which she so ably offered to others.

In her personal request form, Sister Dorothy Louise noted that she would want to be remembered for the faith and trust she had in God’s love in overcoming physical challenges and for enjoying the good times in life. Her family, her relatives and her many friends would willingly attest to both. In her vocation story, Sister wrote, “Much of my inspiration comes from the quote from Isaiah 43: ‘I have called you by name and you are mine.’  It helps me have an attitude of gratitude – counting your blessings takes one across the valleys of life and builds confidence in God’s goodness, I have learned.”

In his homily, Father Michael Huszti, monastery chaplain, alluded to Sister’s work in health care, stating that it could not have been more in line and consistent with the emphasis St. Basil himself urged for his own community, when as Bishop, he established homes for strangers and travelers and hospitals for the sick and infirm of his time. Father went on to state, “Sister Dorothy Louise’s vision and her contributions, along with her ongoing concern for health care improvements for the residents, involved providing care of a dual nature, enriching and vitalizing the whole person, body and soul, by sharing her love for Christ and instilling the same empathy among her peers, the health care nurses, aides and other employees.” Father concluded his homily with the prayer, “Never setting Sun, we beseech you to intercede for the nun, Dorothy Louise, whom many have come to know and love, present her in the court of the saints, as heir to the treasure of heaven and for her eternal memory.”

Sister Dorothy Louise was preceded in death by her parents, her sisters, Elizabeth Somics, Ann Schaefer, and Catherine Pinksaw; and her brothers, Michael, John and George Balock. In addition to her Sisters in community, she is survived by her many devoted nieces and nephews and their families. The Parastas Service was celebrated by the Very Rev. Robert Pipta with Rev. James Ragan in attendance. The Funeral Divine Liturgy was celebrated by the Very Rev. Andrew Deskevich; concelebrants were Rev. Michael Huszti, Monastery Chaplain; Rev. Vasyl Symyon, Rev. Vasyl Banyk and Rev. Mykhaylo Shkyndya. In attendance were the Very Rev. Dennis M. Bogda, Very Rev. Ronald P. Larko, Rev. James Spontak and Rev. Stephen Wahal. Interment followed in the Dormition Section of Mount Macrina Cemetery.

May God grant to his handmaiden, Sister Dorothy Louise, eternal memory and peaceful repose.

The Secular Franciscan group from the Uniontown area held their day of recollection recently at Mount St. Macrina House of Prayer.  Father Joseph John, OFM, served the Liturgy and Sister Barbara Jean offered a reflection.

In October, the House of Prayer also hosted the Alumnae Reunion weekend for Mount St. Macrina Academy students.

The House of Prayer will accommodate weekend and day groups through November and December. The upcoming schedule of events open to the public is available under Events on this website or on the Mount St. Macrina Facebook page. For information or to register for a program or visit to the Shrine of Our Lady of Perpetual Help, call 724-438-7149. To view additional photos of the reunion, follow this link >>

The Sisters serving on the Basilian Sisters Governance Commission met at the Santa Sophia University facility in Rome, October 19-23, 2015 together with Sister Dia Stasiuk, General Superior and liaison to the Commission.  The Sisters analyzed the survey distributed to the Sisters earlier this year. Planning followed for the next steps  in 2016.  Members of the Commission are Sister Dorothy Ann Busowski, Provincial Superior, Fox Chase, Sister Barbara Jean Mihalchick, Uniontown, Sister Susan Sisko, Uniontown, Sister Josifa Simova, Presov, and Sister Vasylia Strutynska, Ukraine.

Thanks to all the Pilgrims who traveled to Mount St. Macrina for the 81st Pilgrimage. Here’s a thank you message from our Provincial Sr. Ruth Plante >>