Papal decree proclaims Sister Josaphata "venerable" (05/03/98)

Papal decree proclaims Sister Josaphata "venerable"

SLOATSBURG, N.Y. - Pope John Paul II on April 6 read the decree proclaiming the heroic virtues of the Servant of God Josaphata Hordashevska, co-founder of the Sisters Servants of Mary Immaculate, and granted her the title of "venerable."

Present at the ceremony of the reading of the decrees were: Church dignitaries, the personnel of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints; Sister Teresa Kito, superior general of the Sisters Servants; Sister Dominica Slawuta, postulator of the cause, and other superior generals and postulators.

The process of beatification-canonization of the Servant of God was officially opened in the Eparchy of Peremyshl in March 1992, and completed in September 1993. The process was then transferred to the Congregation for the Causes of Saints in Rome, where it was studied by various canonical, historical and theological commissions and by the cardinals. Every commission, after diligent study, gave this cause a unanimous, positive vote.

On the basis of the results of these studies, the holy father proclaimed that Sister Josaphata possessed heroic virtues and lived according to them. For beatification, it is necessary that a medical commission approve a miraculous cure that happened in 1986 through the intercession of Sister Josaphata. This miracle is presently being studied by medical experts at the Congregation for the Causes of Saints in Rome.

Sister Josaphata is the first Ukrainian woman who is going through the process of beautification-canonization. In Ukrainian Catholic Church only St. Josaphat and the Pratulynski martyrs went through the process of canonization.

Called in 1892 to lead the first apostolic community of women in the Eastern Church, Josaphata painstakingly and with heroic dedication "served her people where the need was the greatest." She united in herself a deeply prayerful life and an all-out involvement in the active apostolate of ministering to the spiritual, social and cultural needs of her people.