In the first half of the XX century the Basilian Sisters spread their activities outside the boundaries of eastern Galicia (Ukraine). The new monasteries were founded in Yugoslavia, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, the USA, Argentina. Even though the Sisters were under the jurisdiction of local bishops, they periodically met at the General Assemblies (1909, 1923, 1931) in Galicia where the delegates from all the countries discussed important questions of acetic, administrative and financial questions.
The expansion of the geography of monasteries, as well as the challenges caused by two World Wars, raised the question of the governance changes. Responding to the appeal of the Metropolitan Andrey Sheptytsky and of the Sisters themselves, the Congregation for Oriental Church starting from 1933 appointed several apostolic visitors to assess the possibility of administrative unification of the Basilian Sisters and to develop new Constitutions. The Second World War and the communistic persecutions in the Eastern and Central Europe halted these processes, but in the late 1940th they were revived, thanks to the efforts of the Basilian Sisters in the diaspora and the Basilian Fathers in Rome.
In a Decree given by the Congregation for Oriental Church on June 2, 1951, the Apostolic See proclaimed the centralization of the monasteries of the Sisters of St. Basil the Great with its Generalate in Rome.
A second Decree dated July 19, 1951, stated the formation of four Provinces: two in the USA – Halych/Ukrainian (Jesus, Lover of Humanity with its Motherhouse in Philadelphia) and Ruthenian (Mother of Perpetual Help with its Motherhouse in Uniontown), in Argentina (Christ the King with its Motherhouse in Berisso) and in Europe (Archangel Michael with a temporary Motherhouse in Osijek, Yugoslavia).
By way of a third Decree dated November 14, 1951, the Apostolic See appointed a General Administration with its Generalate in Fox Chase (previously chosen by the Sisters by a secret written vote). Mother Eusebia Bilas became the General Superior. In January 1952, the Generalate was moved to Washington and later in September of that year – to Astoria, New York. The first General Chapter of the centralized Order was convoked in Astoria, New York during July 7-17, 1954. On July 9, 1954, the delegates to the First General Chapter elected a new General Administration. From 1954 until the present day, the Generalate is in Rome at Via Sant’ Alessio, 26.
Since 1954 till 2019, eleven General Chapters were held, and twelve General Administrations were changed.
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