Congregation of St. 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.
After the closing of Catholic seminaries in France in 1822, a clandestine school was established by two priests in the central part of the country. After the relevant French laws were relaxed the same year, the congregation was founded by a group of ten priests in order to ensure the continuation of the school, then operating in Annonay. The members of the new order devoted themselves to Christian education, preaching, evangelisation, 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.
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 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, affiliated 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 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.
==External links==
*Basilian Fathers' website
*Basilian Vocation Website
*Basilian school in Cali, Colombia
*Salt and Light TV website
*Congregation of St. Basil basic information
Basil
Category:Religious organizations established in 1822
Category:Roman Catholic religious orders established in the 19th century