Sister Barbara Pavlik, OSB, a Byzantine Benedictine Sister of Queen of Heaven Monastery in Warren, Ohio, observed her 60th jubilee of religious profession on July 23, 2017.

A Divine Liturgy of Thanksgiving was celebrated by Metropolitan Archbishop William C. Skurla, D.D. at SS. Peter and Paul Byzantine Catholic Church in Warren. Concelebrants at the Divine Liturgy were Rev. Simeon B. Sibenik, pastor of SS. Peter and Paul Byzantine Catholic Church, Warren, and Very Rev. Richard I. Lambert, dean of the Youngstown Deanery and pastor of Saint Mary Byzantine Catholic Church, Youngstown. After the Gospel reading, Sister Barbara renewed her vows of Poverty, Chastity, Obedience, the Pursuit of Monastic Perfection, and Stability. The homily was given by Rev. Simeon Sibenik who explained and focused on the Benedictine vow of Stability.

Following the Divine Liturgy, a festive dinner was held at DeLucia’s Catering Facility. Rev. Kevin Marks, pastor of St. Michael Byzantine Catholic Church, Hermitage, PA and Master of Ceremonies, introduced Rev. Robert J. Karl, a former pastor, who was also celebrating 60 years of service to the Byzantine Church. After a few short remarks, Father Bob opened the dinner with prayer. Sister Barbara was joined in the celebration of her 60th jubilee by her family, religious community, clergy, and many friends.

Towards the end of the dinner, she spoke of the many people and many blessings she had encountered in her 60 years of service.

Sister Barbara, was born in Irwin, PA, the daughter of Frank and Barbara Pavlik. She is next to the youngest of ten children. Her home parish was St. Mary Byzantine Catholic Church in Herminie, PA. She entered Sacred Heart Monastery, Lisle, Illinois, on September 11, 1955 in her senior year of high school and professed her vows July 22, 1957. Sister Barbara was a charter member of Queen of Heaven Monastery of Byzantine Benedictine Sisters when it was founded in Warren in 1969.

Sister Barbara taught at Catholic schools in Wichita Falls, Texas, Joliet and Chicago, Illinois, and Warren and Parma, Ohio. In the 1970s she worked with the Religious Education Office for the Archeparchy of Pittsburgh on the writing of the “God with Us” catechetical books for use in the Archeparchy. Other areas of ministry were administrative assistant of Colonial Manor Nursing Home, office work at Truck World, and the teaching of Eastern Christian Formation classes at several Byzantine parishes. Sister Barbara also worked in the finance office of the Diocese of Youngstown and as secretary/bookkeeper at St. Anthony Church in Youngstown. She served as prioress of Queen of Heaven Monastery for eight years, was a member of the community council, and has been a frequent delegate to Chapter meetings of the Federation of St. Scholastica.