Nine Basilians mark jubilees, collectively give 565 years of service
 
Special to Horizons
 
UNIONTOWN, Pa. — The Sisters of the Order of St. Basil the Great celebrated their nine jubilarians during the order’s annual community day gathering at Mount St. Macrina July 19. Among them were eight diamond jubilarians and one 40th anniversary of religious life. Together, the jubilarians have offered a combined total of 565 years of faithful service throughout the metropolia.
Father Michael Huszti, monastery chaplain, celebrated the Divine Liturgy of thanksgiving for the sisters. In addressing the jubilarians in his homily, Father Huszti spoke of the depth of their love for God, exemplified in their fidelity to their religious vows.
Earlier in the week, the community gathered at the Manor to honor the jubilarians in residence: Sisters Maria Petruska, Rita Keshock, Paula Dzurisin and Mary Grace. The joyful gathering began with the singing of odes of the Akathist to Our Lady of Perpetual Help. A social followed the congratulations offered by the Basilian Provincial Sister Ruth Plante on behalf of all the sisters.
Each one’s contribution to the community and to the metropolitan church is described briefly below.
75th ANNIVERSARY
Sister Maria Petruska entered the community from St. Mary Parish in Mahanoy City, Pennsylvania. Her teaching ministry included the elementary, high school and college levels within her Basilian Province and abroad in Palestine, Guam, Japan and Tanzania. Sister Maria’s empathy for newcomers to the United States who lacked English proficiency motivated led her to tutor at an adult learning center in Uniontown. Several of her students have remained in friendly contact with her. Sister Maria now resides at Mt. Macrina Manor.
70th ANNIVERSARY
Sister Rita Keshock entered the community from St. Nicholas Parish in Youngstown, Ohio. She spent many years as a teacher and principal before devoting her talents to fine arts and crafts at the monastery. Sister Rita’s specialty was etching icons on eggs, and she gave many workshops on the technique. Sister Rita was an active member of the Uniontown Art Club and the Uniontown Flower Club, and she took great joy in sharing her talents and knowledge among the membership. Sister Rita currently resides at Mt. Macrina Manor. 
Sister Paula Dzurisin came to the monastery from St. Michael Parish in Pittston, Pennsylvania. She spent a good number of years as a teacher and principal in the parish schools as well as at Mount Macrina Academy. During the Alumnae reunions, her students make a point of visiting her.  Following her years in the teaching ministry, Sr. Paula spent a year in pastoral visiting at the Manor.  Her background in business education led to her next assignment, that of managing the Card Department at the monastery. When health issues required a lessening of her responsibilities, Sr. Paula continued to assist in that same ministry for a number of years. Sr. Paula now resides at Mt. Macrina Manor.
Sister Bernarda Sevachko entered the community from St. Nicholas Parish in Youngstown, Ohio. Sister Bernarda’s first 45 years of service were devoted to the teaching apostolate. For the past 25 years, with unflagging energy, she has been active in pastoral and catechetical ministry for the five Byzantine Catholic parishes in the Youngstown area. Her ministry is marked by her enthusiasm. There is no indication at present that Sister Bernarda is thinking of retiring.
60th ANNIVERSARY
Sister Regina Adams came to the community from St. Mary Byzantine Catholic Parish in Trenton, New Jersey. She served as both a teacher and a principal in many of the schools staffed by the Basilian Sisters in Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Ohio. After leaving the teaching apostolate, Sister Regina served in parish ministry in her home parish for five years. She currently serves in parish ministry for three Pennsylvania parishes, situated in towns of Wilkes-Barre, Kingston and Swoyersville. She also cantors at St. Mary Parish in Wilkes-Barre. 
 Sister Melita Marie Penchalk entered the community from St. Nicholas Byzantine Catholic Parish in Barberton, Ohio. Sister Melita served mainly as an elementary and high school teacher in Pennsylvania, Indiana, Ohio, New Jersey and New York. She also served in administration as a provincial councilor. Upon completion of this mandate, she was an assistant superintendent of Catholic schools in Phoenix, Arizona, for the next 12 years. Currently, Sister Melita serves as community archivist and helps part time in the gift shop.
Sister Mary Grace Skuban entered the community from St. Mary Byzantine Catholic Parish in Taylor, Pennsylvania. She was an LPN on the staff of Mt. Macrina Manor, serving both in direct nursing care and in medical records. Other ministries were at the Byzantine Catholic Seminary of Sts. Cyril and Methodius, at Mt. Macrina House of Prayer, and as activities director at St. Basil’s Home. Upon returning to the monastery, she served as the sacristan and assisted with the health care of the sisters there. Sister Mary Grace now resides at Mt. Macrina Manor.
Sister Seraphim Olsafsky served two terms as Provincial of Our Lady of Perpetual Help Province in Uniontown. She entered the community from St. Edward Roman Catholic Parish in Youngstown, Ohio. Sister Seraphim was active in a variety of ministries, beginning her apostolic work as a teacher and principal in Connecticut, Pennsylvania and Ohio. Sister Seraphim also served as directress of novices, assistant provincial, personal formation directress, social worker, curator of the archeparchial museum and director of Byzantine Seminary Press. Currently, she is director of Mt. Macrina cemetery and mausoleum.
40th ANNIVERSARY
Sister Susan Sisko came to the community from St. John the Baptist Parish in Bridgeport, Connecticut. As with most of the Basilian Sisters, Sister Susan taught in both elementary schools and high schools, sometimes concurrently as principal. In addition to being on the Provincial Council for two terms, she served as coordinator of the monastery community during this time. She also carried out assignments in the areas of vocation, formation and young adult ministry. Currently, Sister Susan is a resident director at the University of Notre Dame in South Bend, Indiana.
 
Photo caption: (front row, l. to r.): Jubilarians Sisters Susan Sisko, Seraphim Olsafsky, Melita Marie Penchalk, Regina Adams and Bernarda Sevachko. (back row, l. to r.): Father Michael Huszti and Provincial Sister Ruth Plante. (Photo: Sister Monica Husovich)
 
As published in Horizons, July 30, 2017.