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To each of us St. Paul puts the question:  “Are you not aware that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?”

We make Pilgrimages because our hearts are filled with longing – longings to love
and be loved, longings to be treated with dignity, and to live in peace and
justice.  We travel on Pilgrimage because our unsettled hearts are in search of the Holy One who alone can bring us the complete fulfillment of all our desires.

Meanwhile, we will wake up on Tuesday morning and find that, as always, we will be rubbing shoulders and sharing our day with the same family, coworkers and friends.   We are called to bear each other’s burdens in love, whether we find it easy or difficult, because we are connected to one another in the same Divine Source.  As followers
of Jesus, there is no such thing as “your” problem” as yours is mine.  (R. Barron) Throughout each day, in some degree, we are called to help each other to our eternal destiny.  We can only accomplish this by seeing our neighbors and loved ones through the eyes of awe and respect.

C.W. Lewis writes that “You and I have never talked to a mere mortal…  those whom we joke with, work with, marry, snub, and even exploit are immortal beings with whom we are called to live forever.”  In this world, there are no
ordinary people.

Next to Lord Jesus whom we receive in the Divine Liturgy, your neighbor, your
friend, your beloved spouse or child, is the holiest object you will ever encounter
in this world.

Our lives are not just about us, because they are always related to the infinite
mystery of God, and the fulfillment of His divine plan.

The Sisters of St. Basil, and the Basilian Associates,  thank you Metropolitan Archbishop William, Bishop John, Bishop Gerald, and Rev. Edward Cimbala,
Rev. Archpriests, Rev. Fathers, Deacons, Seminarians, Cantors, Ushers, loyal employees, our generous benefactors, gracious volunteers, and all of you, our brother and Sister Pilgrims.

We thank you for sharing these moments and hours of your lives.  You bless Mount
St. Macrina with your prayers and your holy presence.  May the Lord keep you safe an give you His peace throughout the coming year.

Remember always that “you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you”.

You are not ordinary, for you a royal priesthood, you are the people of God.

– Closing Remarks from Sister Seraphim at the 78th Annual Pilgrimage

The Sisters of St. Basil invite you to join us as we celebrate the 78th Annual Pilgrimage in Honor of Our Lady of Perpetual Help.  At the Shrine Altar on Friday evening, many Pilgrims gathered for Matins. Several took the opportunity before Matins and afterwards to stoll through the Mount and enjoy the beautiful grounds.  Click here to visit our Photo Album for Friday evening. 

We look forward to seeing you tomorrow. For a complete schedule of events, click here.

The 78th Annual Pilgrimage in honor of Our Lady of Perpetual Help and the story of Mount St. Macrina was featured on the television show Pittsburgh Live Today on KDKA, Tuesday, August 28. Sister Barbara Jean Mihalchick, OSBM, and volunteer Laura Santore were be interviewed. Watch the segment here.

Mount St. Macrina and the upcoming 78th Pilgrimage was featured in Saturday’s edition
of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. 

Doug Oster who writes the garden features for the newspaper
filmed at the Mount two weeks ago to produce the article and the video
presentation.  He was attracted to the Mount by an invitation from
Laura Santore, a volunteer at the Mount and a landscape architect, who
renovated the Our Lady of Victory Garden, the fishpond area.  To enjoy the
feature, click here.

The Sisters of St. Basil wish to thank all who participated in the pre-Pilgrimage work day on August 18.  We truly appreciate all of the efforts and hard work expended to prepare the Mount for the Pilgrimage.  The buildings are sparkling and the grounds are an array of color.

View the photos of our work day here.

Ahhhhh……the chirping of the first robins, the smell of fresh newly mown grass, the skies so blue and crystal clear, the gentle rains of spring refreshing the earth.  All of this
turns one’s attention gently but steadily toward……..Medovniki?  That’s right friends, the unmistakable sights, sounds and smells of the Sisters of St. Basil’s bake ovens firing up
once again as sure as the first robin sings and the spring grass grows!

This year, as in the past few years, the Province of Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Uniontown was assisted with the baking project by Sisters from St. Cyril and Methodius Vice Province in Secovce, Slovakia.  Sisters Sebastiana and Pavla were just
“rolling in dough” as we kneaded and kneaded and kneaded thousands of honey
cakes in preparation for the annual Pilgrimage. More than a dozen Sisters of St. Basil, along with several of our faithful volunteers, spent weeks  rolling,
dusting, icing, decorating and packaging over 26,000 cookies.

Please join us for the annual Pilgrimage in honor of Our Lady of Perpetual Help Labor Day Weekend and purchase a box or two of these “sweet treats”!

View photo album here.

“There is cause for rejoicing here.” This sentence in the first letter of St. Peter to the Christian community aptly describes the celebration of jubilees and anniversaries in the
lives of the Sisters of St. Basil at Uniontown, PA. This year marked the Golden
Jubilees of Sister Ruth Plante, OSBM and Sister Elizabeth Jane Tepley,
OSBM.  Sunday, August 5^th, the prefestive day of the Feast of the Transfiguration, was chosen to mark their anniversary of entrance into the religious life.

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Transfiguration of Our Lord – August 6

The icons of the Nativity and the Baptism of the Lord portray Christ Jesus in his kenosis.  He is the servant who comes to clothe humankind and all creation with robes of future transformation and incorruptibility.  The Transfiguration
shows us Jesus ‘in the form of God’ (Phil. 2:6). This is also a manifestation
of the Holy Trinity.

The Basilian Community gathered with Sister Vitalia Tomcho, OSBM, recently to commemorate her 103^rd birthday.  His Eminence, Archbishop William arrived to
celebrate the occasion with Divine Liturgy at Mount Macrina Manor. Chaplain
Father Michael Huszti concelebrated. Family members from Ohio and Texas joined in the festivities.

All gathered after the Liturgy for a special dinner in
Sister Vitalia’s honor.

Sister Seraphim Olsafsky, OSBM, Provincial Superior, thanked
Sister Vitalia for her long years of dedicated service and her life of
prayer.  Sister commemorated 80 years as a Sister of St. Basil last year, the first member of Our Lady of Perpetual Help Province to reach this milestone.

Early Sunday morning, May 13, 2012, Sister Vera Stanchec traveled peacefully to her final destination, the fullness of life with her God. Ninety-six years ago, Sister
Vera was baptized Olga following her birth to Michael and Eva Stanchec in Mt.
Carmel, Pa.

Sister entered the Sisters of St. Basil in its early founding years, on July 10, 1932 in
Factoryville, Pa, from St. Mary Byzantine Catholic Church in Hazleton, PA. For
eighty years, Sister Vera had followed her call to consecrated life as a Sister
of St. Basil the Great with a great deal of zeal and enthusiasm.

From 1936 through 1986, Sister Vera diligently ministered as a teacher and principal in both elementary and secondary levels in Trenton, NJ; Bridgeport, CT; Euclid, OH; Chicago, IL; and Erie, Uniontown, Homestead, Mont Clare, Freeland, Jessup, McKeesport and at Mount St. Macrina Academy, all located in Pennsylvania.

Sister Vera was particularly gifted in the areas of science and math. Sister received a Master of Arts degree from Fairfield University, and had the opportunity to
participate in a National Science Foundation in Biology special training
program for several years. Sister Vera extended herself to her students while
excelling in leadership skills. No task was ever too challenging for Sister;
she always commanded the same excellence of herself that she did of her staff,
and her students. To this day, many former students speak of her as being a
favorite teacher that they fondly remember, and to whom they owe a ‘debt of
gratitude’. Sister also served in the ministry of Provincial Administration as
councilor and secretary.

In 1986, Sister Vera ministered at Mt. Macrina Manor as receptionist along with other related works at the Manor. For the past eight years, Sister Vera was called to a more
contemplative period of her life, as she became less active, but not less
lively, as a resident of Mt. Macrina Manor. Sister Vera was loved by staff as a
pleasant, courteous, gentle, and prayerful woman. Sister never failed to
whisper a ‘thank you’ for every service rendered.

Sister Vera is survived by one sister, Ann Primiano, of East Rutherford, NJ, and several nieces and nephews.

She is preceded in death by her beloved brothers, John and Samuel, and two sisters, Mary, and Catherine.

Relatives and friends will be received at the MONASTERY CHAPEL on Tuesday, May 15 from 3:30 – 9:00 p.m.

The Parastas Service will be celebrated at 7:00 p.m. The Funeral Divine Liturgy will be celebrated by Reverend Andrew J. Deskevich, Chancellor of the Metropolitan Archeparchy of Pittsburgh on May 16, 2012 at 10:30 a.m. in the Monastery Chapel.

Interment will follow in the Dormition Section of Mount Macrina Cemetery. KEZMARSKY FUNERAL HOME, Uniontown, is in charge of arrangements.

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