Congregation of St. Basil
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Basilian Fathers, also known as The Congregation of Saint Basil, is an international order of Roman Catholic priests and students studying for the priesthood, who focus on education and oratory.
Their patron saint is Saint Basil the Great.
After the closing of Catholic seminaries in France in 1822, a clandestine school was operated by two priests in central France. After the relevant French laws were relaxed the same year, the congregation was founded by a group of ten priests to ensure the continuation of the school, then operating in Annonay. The new order devoted themselves to Christian education, preaching, evangelization, as well as 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.
Its history in Canada began in Toronto, which has become one of the congregation's largest centres. The city is home to the University of St. Michael's College (USMC) at the University of Toronto, and St. Michael's College School, as well as two Basilian parishes: St. Basil's and Holy Rosary. The Cardinal Flahiff Centre, a Basilian retirement home, is on the USMC campus. The order also founded Assumption College, now Assumption University, federated with the University of Windsor, St. Thomas More College, federated with the University of Saskatchewan, and St. Joseph's College, affliliated with the University of Alberta.
It has also established parishes and schools in Colombia and Mexico, and is affiliated with a health care centre in Colombia.
In the United States, the Basilian Fathers founded and operate in Houston St. Thomas High School and the University of St. Thomas. The Basilians have also opened and run the Michigan Catholic high school, Detroit Catholic Central High School, and Andrean High School in Merrillville, Indiana.
