Congregation of St. Basil: Difference between revisions

For other Basilian orders, see Basilian (disambiguation).

The seal of the Congregation of Saint Basil

The Basilian Fathers, also known as The Congregation of Saint Basil, is an international order of Catholic priests and students studying for the priesthood, who focus on education and ministering through oratories. The patron saint is Saint Basil the Great.

Background

After the closing of Catholic seminaries during the French Revolution, a clandestine school was established by two priests in Saint-Symphorien-de-Mahun in the department of Ardèche, in the central part of France. After the relevant French laws were relaxed and after several years of operation, the congregation was founded in 1822 by a group of ten priests in order to ensure the continuation of the school, then operating in Annonay. The members of the new religious institute devoted themselves to Christian education, preaching, evangelization, and embraced the vows of poverty, chastity and obedience.

Eventually, changes in French law led to the closing of the congregation's schools in France; however, it was by then well established in Canada and the United States.

Abroad

Canada

Bishop Armand de Charbonnel was named the Bishop of Toronto in 1850.  He was a Basilian student in Annonay from 1811 to 1819 and turned to an Patrick Moloney, an Irish Basilian to assist him in his work with the the largely Irish Catholic community in Toronto. The order decided to send four of its members, including Father Moloney, and established St. Michael’s College in 1852, quickly followed by St. Basil’s parish in 1856.    

This effort was a large investment, risk and sacrifice for the congregation as it represented a significant percentage of the total number of available Basilian priests.

Three high schools were served by the Basilian order in Toronto including Michael Power High School, and Father Henry Carr Catholic Secondary School.

The institute also founded Assumption College, now Assumption University in Windsor, Ontario, now federated with the University of Windsor; St. Thomas More College in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan federated with the University of Saskatchewan; and St. Joseph's College in Edmonton, Alberta affiliated with the University of Alberta.  St. Thomas College (later St. Thomas University (New Brunswick) in Chatham, New Brunswick, was founded by the Basilians in 1910, and in 1923 the college was transferred to the local diocesan clergy.

Toronto remains one of the largest centers for the Congregation of St. Basil, and is home to the Basilian Curial Offices and the Cardinal Flahiff Basilian Centre.

United States

In the United States, the Basilian Fathers founded and operate St. Thomas High School and the University of St. Thomas both of which are in Houston, Texas. The Basilians also opened and run the Michigan Catholic high school, Detroit Catholic Central High School, and Andrean High School in Merrillville, Indiana. They co-sponsor Detroit Cristo Rey High School with the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary. In 1937 the Basilians took over Aquinas Institute in Rochester, New York, and in 1948 established St. John Fisher College in the same city; the Basilian association with Aquinas lasted until 2000 and that with St. John Fisher until 1968.

In 2007, the group became an additional sponsor to the Christian Peacemaker Teams.

Other

It has also established parishes and schools in Colombia and Mexico, and is affiliated with a health care centre in Colombia.

External links

• Basilian Fathers' website
• Basilian Vocation Website
• Basilian school in Cali, Colombia
• Salt and Light TV website
• Congregation of St. Basil basic information