Provincial has fond memories
The Pilgrimage to Our Lady of Perpetual Help at Mount St. Macrina in Uniontown carries special memories for Sister Seraphim Olsafsky. “I started coming to the pilgrimage when I was six years old and I’ve been coming ever since, except for one year,’ smiled Olsafsky, a native of Youngstown, Ohio, who’s been a member of the Sisters of St. Basil for 48 years and was recently elected provincial. “I traveled by train from Youngstown to Connellsville and then from streetcar to Uniontown. Sometimes, we took the whole trip by bus.’
Olsafsky continued, “I have a lot of memories of the early pilgrimages and how it’s developed over the years. There were a lot of elderly women who attended pilgrimage with their families, honoring the tradition, and they’ve instilled it in their families. Many come to this day.’
Olsafsky remembered changes: “In the early years, there were more buses on the race track. Now people travel more by cars and vans. And there were more altars scattered throughout the grounds in earlier years. But it is more liturgically correct for as many priests as possible to celebrate the Divine Liturgy together with as many people as possible. That is symbolic of the Church. And there have been a number of renovations this year. Shrines have been designed and upgraded. We try to do that regularly.’
One thing that has not changed is the reason for coming.
“Most of the people come here to make a sacred pilgrimage,’ said Olsafsky, “to find meaning here and a time that’s set apart from their daily lives.’
The Our Lady of Perpetual Help Province of the Sisters of St. Basil the Great, based in Uniontown, elected Olsafsky to a five-year term as provincial in June, along with four sisters who assist her as councilors: Sisters Carol Petrasovich, Barbara Jean Mihalchick, Barbara Swindells and Susan Sisko. Petrasovich was also elected the vicar or assistant provincial.
Olsafsky entered the Sisters of St. Basil in 1957 when she was 17.
“We no longer have women enter at that age. You have to live away from home for a period of time or work or be in college at least a year before being admitted into an affiliation with the sisters,’ Olsafsky explained.
The provincial noted there have never been large groups of women entering the Byzantine Catholic order, which is smaller in number as part of the Eastern Rite.
Women continue to enter the order with a sister recently taking her final vows and some women in an affiliate program. But future vocations are a concern.
“We are praying for vocations and young women to carry on our work, and I trust in God,’ said Olsafsky, referring to programs where women are welcomed to see how the sisters live. “We’re making it one of our top priorities to look at ways we can share our lives with others. It’s a beautiful life. It’s constantly searching for the Divine within our own hearts and in others. Everything we do is to bring up the Kingdom of God. It’s already partially here but the fullness is yet to come.’
Interestingly, Olsafsky has six cousins who also entered religious life. They include Sister Dorothy Sevachko, Sister Leocadia Sevachko and Sister Bernarda Sevachko, all sisters; Sister Rita Keshock and the late Sister Seraphim Keshock, both sisters; and the late Rev. Myron Horvath. Their mothers and Olsafsky’s mother were all sisters.
“Our mothers were all deeply religious women with a devotion to the Byzantine Catholic Church,’ said Olsafsky. “…I attribute it to the deep faith that existed in the home life. I myself went to Catholic schools and was close to the sisters who taught me.’
Olsafsky, who was born Margaret, was given the name Seraphim by the order at the suggestion of Sister Bernarda in memory of their cousin, Sister Seraphim, a gesture that pleased Olsafsky. While the name comes from the angels, Olsafsky noted there was also a St. Seraphim from Russia in the Eastern Church.
Olsafsky came to the position of provincial with a variety of experience. She earned a bachelor’s degree in teaching from Marywood College in Scranton and worked as a teacher for a number of years. She also earned a master’s degree in social work from the University of Pittsburgh and was a psychiatric social worker at Forbes Regional Hospital in Monroeville for nine years before becoming director of the Byzantine Seminary Press in Pittsburgh.
In addition, the Sisters of St. Basil Web site (www.sistersofstbasil.org) notes that Olsafsky served as a member of previous councils, traveled to Rome as a delegate to general chapters of the order and served as directress of formation. She was also archieparchial coordinator for the Protection of Children and Youth Assistance, a member of the vocation interview board, and chairwoman of the Heritage/Museum committee.
Olsafsky said, “I’m very grateful to the community because I’ve been given many opportunities. One reason I said yes to the call from the community is to give back what’s been given to me.’
As provincial, Olsafsky offers guidance to 81 sisters in the province, half of whom live on the grounds at Mount St. Macrina. Sisters who live off the grounds work throughout the Archeparchy of Pittsburgh in jobs such as teaching in schools or pastoral ministry. At Mount St. Macrina, the sisters are involved in a variety of ministries, including the vestment department, provincial office and administration, religious gift shop, card department, arts, crafts and iconography department, House of Prayer (formerly known as the retreat center), health care, counseling, pastoral ministry, cemetery, vocations, youth ministry and medovniki (honey cakes), the latter which are made every year for pilgrimage.
“We’re always seeking to serve the Church the best way we can with the gifts we have to offer,’ said Olsafsky. “Bishop Basil, the metropolitan, is good to work with, very generous, kind and supportive of the sisters.’
Olsafsky said the Sisters of St. Basil are focusing on several areas: building youth ministry and vocations as well as reviewing buildings and properties at Mount St. Macrina to use them in the very best and efficient way.
“And we are always looking at ways we can live our Byzantine spirituality,’ Olsafsky said.
There are challenges, of course.
“Our biggest challenges are less membership and increased areas of ministry and responsibility,’ said Olsafsky, “and wise us of our properties and land for the good of the Church and the community in general.’
She continued, “I would like in the next five years to be more involved with the community of Uniontown and civic leaders, and to explore ways we can do this.’
One way the community is involved with Mount St. Macrina is the annual Labor Day Weekend pilgrimage, a tradition that attracts pilgrims from all over the country as well as local residents from throughout Fayette County.
Olsafsky said of this beautiful and spiritual event: “This has become a part of who we are. All people are on a pilgrimage of life. This is a formal pilgrimage, but we are on individual journeys that coincide with this pilgrimage.’