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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 >>

In honor of the Year of Consecrated Life, Sisters of various Eastern Catholic religious communities were invited to participate in the 61st Annual Dormition Pilgrimage at the headquarters of the Sister Servants of Mary Immaculate in Sloatsburg, New York. The Pilgrimage took place August 8-9.  The Communities attended were invited to present a display.

Pictured are Sister Margaret Ann Andrako, Assistant Provincial Superior, Sister Joanne Lickvar, Provincial Councilor, Sister Barbara Jean Mihalchick, Vocation Director, all visiting from Uniontown, with Michele Yakymovitch, SSMI, Director of St. Joseph’s Home, and Rev. Jack Custer, Rector of St. Michael Cathedral in Passaic, New Jersey. The group is standing near the Sisters of St. Basil display.

(Rain date: Saturday, August 29, 2015)

Come and volunteer as the Sisters get ready to host the 81st Annual Pilgrimage.Volunteers will clear floral gardens, shrines, urns and other planting areas throughout the grounds, and then plant annuals. Other work centers will be the pavilions, which will be cleared of a winter’s worth of leaves and other debris. There may be some chores indoors as well.

The 81st Annual Pilgrimage in honor of Our Lady of Perpetual Help will be held at Mount St. Macrina, September 5 & 6, 2015. The Pilgrimage planning committee selected the theme: Mary, Model of Consecrated Life.

“This year’s theme is in keeping with Pope Francis’ declaration that this year shall be the ‘Year of Consecrated Life’ – a special recognition of all the women and men who listened to the call of the Lord, and said “yes” to serve his Church in this special way. However, it is not only recognition but a challenge to all those in consecrated life to “wake up the world,” said Sr. Ruth Plante, Provincial, Sisters of St. Basil the Great.

The Sisters of St. Basil are in continuous preparation for the Pilgrimage. As in previous years, the Sisters will welcome all those Pilgrims who come from distant places whether by cars, vans, buses, or airplanes.  They will continue to welcome those who come early and camp on the race track, or stay at Trinity Center.  Light fare will be available at the Lunch Stand on Friday evening.  Liturgical prayers will be held at the Shrine Altar on Friday evening for those arriving earlier and Divine Liturgy will be celebrated on Monday morning, September 7 for those who stay on Sunday evening.

“We look forward to welcoming all to this holy Mount, to this prayerful and loving environment where you can continue to call on the Lord, to come and pray to Him, to look for Him – and ultimately to find Him,” added Sr. Ruth.

Plans for the weekend include many opportunities for participation in the Divine Liturgy of the Byzantine Catholic Church.  Also scheduled are Matins, Vespers, sacrament of reconciliation, healing and anointing services, activities for teens and children, and other services in honor of the Mother of God.  In between scheduled events, pilgrims find solace in walking the beautiful grounds of Mount St. Macrina, visiting the many shrines, and enjoying the companionship of family and friends.

The Pilgrimage holds the distinction of being the oldest and the largest Byzantine Catholic Pilgrimage in the country.

In this year, called for by Pope Francis as the Year of Consecrated Life, jubilees are an opportunity for all the Sisters to thank God for the gift of their vocation. After two days of presentations and discussion during their annual Community Days, the Basilian Sisters paused to honor three of the Sisters celebrating significant years of religious dedication.

Celebrating their 70^th Anniversary of religious life were Sister Martha Elizabeth Moyta and Sister Leocadia Sevachko; celebrating her 60^th Anniversary was Sister Barbara Swindells. The hallmark of every such celebration is the Divine Liturgy of Thanksgiving offered for the intentions of the Jubilarians. Joyful voices were raised in praise and thanksgiving for the gift of the fidelity of these three Sisters. This joy continued during the festive meal following, a time which is always punctuated by a lot of laughter and reminiscing.

Sr. Martha Elizabeth Moyta entered the Sisters of St. Basil from Holy Ghost Parish, North side Pittsburgh, Pa. She received her Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education from College Misericordia in Dallas, Pa., and a Master of Science degree in Religious Education from LaSalle University in Philadelphia, Pa.  Sr. Martha Elizabeth spent almost 25 years in elementary education before being assigned to the Diocesan Religious Education Office in Pittsburgh, Pa. During her years in this ministry, Sister worked with others on the “God With Us” catechetical series where her expertise was methodology. Following her years in religious education both in the Pittsburgh Archeparchy and the Eparchy of Parma, Sister Martha moved on to pastoral ministry in St. Therese parish in St. Petersburg, Fla. before retiring to the monastery at Mount St. Macrina.

Sr. Leocadia Sevachko entered the Sisters of St. Basil from St. Nicholas parish in Youngstown, Ohio. She received her Bachelor of Science in Education degree from Carlow College (now Carlow University) in Pittsburgh, Pa., and her Master of Science in Education from LaSalle University in Philadelphia, Pa. Sr. Leocadia’s teaching assignments spanned 57 years in elementary education. Her assignments also included a number of years when she served as both teacher and principal. The first to enter the community, Sr. Leocadia has the distinction of being one of three sisters in community; Sr. Dorothy, now deceased, and Sr. Bernarda. With her sister, Sr. Bernarda, Sr. Leocadia continues to serve in catechetical and parish ministry in the five parishes in the Youngstown area.

Sr. Barbara Swindells entered the community from St. Mary Church in Chicago, Ill. She earned a Bachelor of Arts.in Secondary Education in 1968 from Mount Mercy College in Pittsburgh, Pa., and a Master of Arts in History from John Carroll University in Cleveland, Ohio. For 23 years, Sr. Barbara’s energy was devoted to education from the elementary level through high school; at times serving as principal or assistant principal. Following these years, Sister engaged in ministry in the Religious Education Office of the Archeparchy as well as in the Eparchy of Van Nuys. She was elected to the Provincial Council in 2000 and was re-elected to a second five-year term. Presently Sr. Barbara is the Administrator of Mount St. Macrina Cemetery and Mausoleum, a position she has held since 2001.

For the combined 200 years of faithful service, warm congratulations were offered to the Jubilarians by Sr. Ruth Plante, Provincial, and by all the Sisters. May God grant them many more spiritually fruitful, happy and blessed years!

The first ever GCU Farewell to Summer Charity Golf Scramble will be held on Friday, September 4, 2015, 1 p.m., at the Seven Oaks Country Club, Beaver, Pa. For further information about sponsorships or registration, please refer to Farewell to Summer Charity Golf Brochure.

The Pilgrimage invitation will mail soon. But for those of you who would like to see the schedule now, here it is! 81st Annual Pilgrimage Invitation

Recently, members of the Maronite Servants of Christ the Light stayed at the Mount overnight on a return visit.  The new religious community serves the Maronite Church from southeastern Massachusetts. The Sisters and Postulants were on their way from the annual Maronite Church assembly held this year in Cleveland,  to the annual Youth Retreat being held at St. Vincent’s Archabbey in Latrobe, Pa.