The Basilian Associate Program

Since the Second Vatican Council, there is a greater awareness of the primacy of Baptism as our foremost call to holiness and service.  The Church recognizes the need for co-responsibility concerning its mission.  As lay women and men become more involved in ministry, they feel a desire for the communal support of others who share their values.  Association with a religious community can enhance the mission of the Church through shared ministry and can benefit those women and men who want to participate in the life and prayer of a community without permanent commitment.

The BASILIAN ASSOCIATE PROGRAM offers adult Christian women and men of varied circumstances the experience of coming together with the Sisters of the Order of Saint Basil the Great in living their mission through the sharing of their faith, their vision and their hospitality:

* their faith that enables them to be a healing presence in the Church;

*their vision that dares to seek new ways to serve;

*their hospitality that reaches out to the broken, to the needy and to the unlearned.

This program calls forth the Sisters of Saint Basil to a mutally enriching and broadening relationship with the Associates.

The purpose of the Basilian Associate Program is to enable its membership to:

**deepen their Baptismal commitment by growing in the life of the Spirit;

**share the spirituality and mission of the Sisters of the Order of Saint Basil the Great;

**participate in the Sisters' prayer life;

**use their gifts and talents as an extension of the ministries of the Sisters and in concern for the needy;

**spread the message of the Kingdom through the corporal and spiritual works of mercy;

**witness the truth that God is With Us in our daily life - in faith, prayer and ministry;

**work effectively together as members of the Basilian Associates.

Basilian Associate membership is a commitment which does not involve vows or communal living.  Through association with the community, the member shares more completely in the life and mission of the Church - in faith, prayer and ministry.

The manner in which the Associate participates in the community is an individually developed agreement with the Sisters of Saint Basil.

There is no financial obligation on the part of the Associate or the community.

For further information, please write of call:  Associate Directress, Sisters of Saint Basil the Great, 500 W. Main Street, P.O. Box 878, Uniontown, PA 15401-0878.  Telephone: (724) 438-8644 or e-mail: basilian-a@earthlink.net