Basilian Sisters launch capital campaign (05/11/97)

Basilian Sisters launch capital campaign

FOX CHASE MANOR, Pa. - The Sisters of St. Basil the Great recently launched a $2.2 million capital campaign to establish a Basilian Chapel/Spirituality Center to be constructed on the grounds of the Motherhouse on Fox Chase Road.

The first center focusing on Basilian and Eastern spirituality in the United States, the center will serve the faithful of the surrounding areas by providing an environment for renewal and deepening of their faith, as well as a place for educational and spiritual support.

According to Sister Dorothy Ann Busowski, provincial superior, "Since the Sisters of St. Basil have always provided leadership in the field of elementary, secondary and higher education, it only seems natural to move into adult spirituality and education. Our grounds are the ideal place to provide this ministry to area residents, to church groups and to the clergy."

The center will embody the concept of the Basilead derived from the Greek word "Basileia" designating God's reign or presence. Architecturally designed in keeping with the traditional style and beauty of the Ukrainian/Byzantine Catholic Churches, the center will contain a library, meeting rooms and a chapel where members of the community can foster their spiritual growth.

The Basilian Spiritually Center will offer days of recollection, spiritual direction, prayer groups, and liturgical celebration. In addition there will be informational and educational workshops and programs on current issues of concern such as aging, divorce, death, marriage stress, well as cultural and aesthetic issues. The center will also offer meeting space for outside group activities.

To fund the Basilian Spirituality Center, the Sisters initiated a $2.2 million dollar capital campaign. The money raised will be used to cover construction costs, furnishings, icon paintings for the iconostasis, costs of program development and to secure an endowment fund for future maintenance.

The Sisters of St. Basil the Great were founded in the 4th century by St. Basil the Great and his sister, St. Macrina. St. Basil and St. Macrina, also the founders of Eastern monasticism, urged their followers to be "co-workers with God" in developing the potential of every human being through education. The Basilian tradition spread throughout Asia Minor and Europe, and by the 11th century, this tradition was rooted in Ukraine. In 1911, the sisters were invited by Bishop Soter Ortynsky, the first Ukrainian bishop in the United States, to come to Philadelphia to open an orphanage and school in Philadelphia.

During the 83 years of Basilian history in the United States, the sisters have expanded their charitable works to include education at all levels, pastoral ministry, spiritual direction, and retreat ministry, communications, diocesan chancery support personnel, ecclesiastical and cultural folk arts.

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