Sister Augustine, 93, celebrates 75 years of service to the Church

by Sister Mary Bernarda OSBM

NEWARK, N.J. - Sister Augustine Termena, a native of Northampton, Pa., recently marked 75 years of service to the Ukrainian Catholic Church. She entered the convent of the Basilian Sisters in 1923 and after training was assigned to teach religion in Scranton, Pa., Cleveland and Chicago.

For several years Sister Augustine served Bishop Constantine Bohachevsky with great love and devotion. Her next assignment was in Chesapeake City, Md.

Bishop Soter Ortynsky, the first bishop in the U.S. for Ukrainian people, purchased property along the picturesque Chesapeake and Delaware Canal, a tributary of the Atlantic Ocean and Chesapeake Bay. It was here that a great Ukrainian center to serve the entire U.S. was planned with a seminary, children's home and printing press. Unfortunately, due to bishop's untimely death, none of his plans materialized and the property fell into the hands of the Basilian Sisters.

The property became a summer resort for orphaned boys from Philadelphia, and a home for pre-school children whose parents died during the influenza epidemic or were motherless. Sister Augustine, a master in the culinary arts, cared for these children by providing fresh vegetables and preparing meals for them. The children enjoyed the wide open spaces and daily swimming, and to this day relate that their most memorable days were spent here. Bishop Joseph Schmondiuk was one of these boys.

At the age of 93, Sister Augustine clearly remembers the primitive conditions the sisters suffered, such as a wood-fired stove on which meals were prepared and water was heated for the children's baths. With time, conditions improved. It is heart-warming today to see young men and those advanced in age greet Sister Augustine warmly, embrace her and thank her for all the care she gave them.

A special liturgy was offered in the sisters' chapel at St. Basil Convent in Chesapeake City on August 28, Sister Augustine's

anniversary date, by the Rev.John Comny OSFS. The Rev. Mathesius Gore OSFS, pastor of St. Basil Church, offered a divine liturgy and intoned "Mnohaya Lita," which all of the parishioners heartily sang. On Sunday, August 30, the Rev. Mathesius announced sister's diamond jubilee before the liturgy and spontaneous applause resounded throughout St. Rose Church.

The Rev. Mathesius then stepped down and imparted his special blessing on Sister Augustine before the last blessing.

Though now quite frail, Sister Augustine spends most of her time in intense prayer, in addition to assisting with meals.

Copyright © The Ukrainian Weekly, October 18, 1998, No. 42, Vol. LXVI

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