Ukrainian Catholic ChurchAustralia, New Zealand and Oceania
The Clothing Ceremony of the sister of St. Basil the Great in Australia
April 13, 2026
On Thomas Sunday, April 12, the clothing ceremony for Cintia Chudinski took place at the Cathedral of Sts. Peter and Paul in Melbourne. Bishop Mykola Cardinal Bychok, Eparch of Melbourne, presided over the clothing ceremony and the Hierarchical Divine Liturgy.
Cintia Chudinski came to Australia from Argentina and, over the course of several years, gained a deeper understanding of religious life at the Basilian Sisters’ Convent in Melbourne. During the clothing ceremony, the candidate received a new name — Sister Augustina — as well as the religious habit, a cross, and a rosary.
As Sister Augustina shared, she felt the call to religious life as early as the age of eight. At that time, however, it was still too early to respond to this call of God, and so she answered it without hesitation as soon as she reached adulthood.
In his homily, Bishop Mykola emphasised the importance of this event: “Just before the liturgy, she was a simple young woman, Cintia, and now she is sister Augustina, who, together with st. Thomas the Apostle, has proclaimed, ‘My Lord and my God.’ You all saw that our sister Augustina lay here in the form of a cross. This is not by chance, because it is precisely the Cross of Christ that will be her great help in her religious life. Religious life is not a great enjoyment. It is a constant struggle with sin and with temptations. It is a continual trial. That is why today our sister Augustina, lying in the form of a cross, has united herself with Christ, who gave His life for each one of us. I think many of you are seeing for the first time a young woman who, in the eyes of this world, may seem to have made a mistake, because she has chosen something that is truly not understood by this world. Only the chosen can understand what our sister Augustina has chosen. She has chosen a complete life with God in Jesus Christ. Leaving aside all the joys and pleasures of this world and clothing herself in this religious habit, which is to remind her that she has clothed herself in Jesus Christ, in His virtues, she has chosen a life in chastity, poverty, and obedience.”
The bishop also recalled that the Basilian Sisters first arrived in Australia from Argentina in 1967 and have faithfully served in the Melbourne Eparchy ever since: “The Lord has called our sister Augustina from the other side of the world. Just as the Lord once called our Basilian Sisters back in 1967 to come from afar and bring the joy of the Gospel to our people who arrived here in Australia on these new lands, to help raise children and youth and to pass on the faith in the Lord God and our Saviour Jesus Christ. In every age, the Lord calls His apostles, whether men or women. Until the end of the world, the Lord will continue to call those who are to be, as it were, His voice in this world, to bring the joy of the Gospel, to bring peace and support to a world wounded by sin.”
Addressing sister Augustina, Bishop Mykola noted that this Sunday of st. Thomas the Apostle, on which she received the religious habit, will remain in her memory forever: “Religious life is often intertwined with doubts and, at times, with certain trials. Therefore, always return to today’s Gospel, to the example of st. Thomas the Apostle. For despite all his doubts, Christ confirmed him in faith.”
