News & Reflections

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 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.

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.

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!