Nuns of St. Basil the Great Relocating to Pennsylvania

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The Contemplative Nuns of the Order of St. Basil the Great, who have resided at Sacred Heart Monastery in Middletown since 1992, plan to relocate  to Jenkintown, Pa., in April. Although the nuns belong to the Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy of Stamford, they have resided within the Archdiocese of New York for 28 years. 

The Nuns of St. Basil the Great are the contemplative branch of the Sisters of the Order of St. Basil the Great, an international order within the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church. “Their personal prayer, sacrifice, and openness to the Divine Presence in each moment, is combined with their intercession for the needs and intentions of the Church, the world, their order and all who ask for their prayers,” said the monastery in a statement. 

The monastery in Middletown, located on Keasel Road, is led by Mother Bernadette, O.S.B.M. Jenkintown, Pa., is located in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia.

“As Eastern Rite Catholics, we were warmly accepted by the Roman Rite Church as a part of their community” at St. Joseph parish, Middletown,“thereby fulfilling St. John Paul II’s statement that the Church breathes with two lungs, both East and West,” Mother Bernadette told CNY.

Although they will now reside in the Motherhouse of Jesus, Lover of Humanity Province, from which the active sisters carry out their apostolic works, the nuns will maintain their unique identity as the contemplative branch of the order. 

“As the contemplative nuns leave the Archdiocese of New York, they wish to extend their heartfelt gratitude to His Eminence Timothy Cardinal Dolan for his ongoing shepherding through his prayers, Christmas and Easter gifts and cards, his biweekly column in Catholic New York and his commitment to pro-life,” the monastery statement noted. “The nuns also extend their gratitude to the priests and parishioners of the Church of St. Joseph in Middletown.”