Eleven Basilian sisters mark combined 700 years of service (10/20/96)

Eleven Basilian sisters mark combined 700 years of service

FOX CHASE MANOR, Pa. - The Sisters of St. Basil the Great, from the Jesus, Lover of Humanity, Province, recently held their jubilee celebration, honoring 11 sisters for their years of service and commitment to the order.

Sisters were honored for 70, 65 and 60 years of service. Combined, the 11 sisters honored totaled 700 years of commitment to the Sisters of St. Basil the Great. The celebrant for the divine liturgy was the Rev. Eugene Hutter from Holy Spirit Church in South Philadelphia. The liturgy was followed by a dinner celebration in the convent dining room.

The Sisters of St. Basil the Great are located throughout the world. They came to Fox Chase in 1911 and for over 84 years have been doing missionary work and providing educational facilities for the neighboring communities.

Honored for 70 years were:

Sister Ignatius Boratska entered the order in May 1926 and served as a teacher and cook in Philadelphia, Maryland and New York before arriving at the Motherhouse in 1981.
Sister Mary Jerome Roman entered in 1926 and taught in Pennsylvania, Illinois, New York and Michigan. Sister Jerome served as the provincial in 1951-1954, when she became the general secretary in Rome until 1963. She arrived at the Fox Chase Manor Motherhouse in 1977.

Honored for 65 years of service were:

Sister Demetria Taberchek entered the order in December 1931. Having taught in Pennsylvania, Illinois, New York, Michigan and New Jersey, Sister Demetria works in the library at Manor Junior College.
Sister Mary Anslem Halub entered the order in July 1931 and taught in Pennsylvania, Illinois, Michigan, New York and New Jersey before coming to the Motherhouse at Fox Chase Manor in 1981.
Sister Andrea Nahirna entered the order in September 1931. She taught in Ohio and Pennsylvania before becoming secretary to the provincial in 1956. In 1960 she became the province treasurer until 1975, when she became a teacher at St. Basil Academy in Fox Chase. Sister Andrea works part time in the development Office at the Motherhouse.
Sister Christopher Bonk entered the order in September 1931 and taught in New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio and New Jersey. She served in the parish ministry in 1993-1995, when she came to the finance office at the Motherhouse.

Celebrating 60 years of service were:

Sister Mary Anne Gorniowsky entered the order in August 1936 and taught in Michigan, Illinois, Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Ohio before becoming a librarian at Manor Junior College, where she currently serves.
Sister Emellia Prokapik entered in July 1936. She served as principal at St. Basil Academy and taught in Pennsylvania, New York, Illinois and Michigan. Sister Emellia also served as superior general in 1971-1983 and as councilor until 1989.
Sister Oresta Dublancia entered in July 1936 and taught in Illinois, Michigan, New York and New Jersey. She served as provincial secretary in 1953-1955. She was at the Rome Oriental Institute in 1980-1994. Sister Oresta currently serves in Florida.
Sister Benigna Wowchuk entered in August 1936. She taught in Michigan, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio and Illinois. In 1978-1980 she served on the Renewal Team. She came to the Motherhouse in 1988, at which time she began working in the Development Office at Manor Junior College.
Sister Chrysantha Bury entered in August 1936 and taught in Illinois, Michigan, New York and Pennsylvania. She was at the St. Basil Home in 1977-1993, when she served as the Generalate in Rome. She arrived at the Motherhouse in 1994 and served as the assistant superior of the Motherhouse. Sister Chrysantha is the province archivist.