World Day of Prayer for Consecrated Life

On February 1, 2023, Eastern Catholic nuns from the east coast gathered together at the Basilian Spiritual Center in Fox Chase, Pa to celebrate the Presentation of Our Lord in the Temple and World Day of Prayer for Consecrated Life. The day included presentations, sharing of reflections and insights, skits, games, and prayer. The theme of the day was “Intercultural Communication with God and Others”.

Fr. Taras Svirchuk, CSsR, Director of Consecrated Life in the Archeparchy of Philadelphia, explored the biblical passages of the Old Testament of how God communicated and taught Abraham and others of the dignity of the human person. Sr Ann Laszok, OSBM shared the benefits and challenges of intercultural communication in daily life. The Sisters from the Dormition Monastery in Richmond, IL presented a “Vertep”, a nativity scene skit, before lunch while the Ukrainian Incarnate Word sisters from Perth Amboy, NJ led us in several recreational games at the end of the day. The day ended with Vespers with Litiya for the feast followed by supper. Besides the Sisters of St. Basil the Mother of God Sisters attended also.

The day was filled with intergenerational sharing and fun. It was decided that more frequent gatherings would be initiated in the future.

Sr Ann Laszok, OSBM