Congregation of St. Basil Celebrates its Bicentennial

Shared by: Basilian.org

For 200 Years, the Basilian Fathers Have Practiced their Mission of Education and Evangelization in France, Canada, United States, Mexico, and Colombia

The Basilian Fathers commenced a year of bicentennial celebrations on November 21, 2021, The Feast of the Presentation of our Lady and anniversary of our founding, to commemorate our 200 years of education and evangelization.

The Congregation of St Basil was born in France in a time of turmoil, revolution and harsh persecution targeting the Catholic Church known as the Reign of Terror. When the Archbishop of Vienne returned to France after fleeing, he asked Father Joseph Lapierre, who had been living in hiding, to secretly open a seminary school in a quiet village in the north-central French region called the Ardèche. The school flourished and moved to the nearby city of Annonay.

After several years of operation, the Annonay teachers put forward a proposal to the Bishop that they form an association or society. These men became the founding fathers of the Congregation of St. Basil. On November 21, 1822, on the feast of the Presentation of Our Lady, the ten founders chose Father Joseph Lapierre as the first superior general and St. Basil as the patron for the order.

For 200 years, the Basilians have remained true to their founding mission of providing Catholic education to a wide diversity of people with a special effort to serve those in need. This mission has taken them from their birthplace in Annonay, France to the New World in Canada and the United States and Latin America in Mexico and Colombia.

We invite you to join us as we celebrate this milestone with events throughout the year, in France, Canada, United States, Mexico, and Colombia. There will be celebratory masses as well as banner installations at our Apostolates and a Basilian Bicentennial Website.  We will be updating this information as the year progresses so be sure to check back regularly.

Visit the Basilian Bicentennial Website

Learn more about our Apostolates

Upcoming Events

January 2, 2022 – Fr. Kevin Storey, CSB will celebrate mass at St. Anne’s Church in Houston, Texas on the Feast of Saint Basil.

June 5, 2022 – Bishop of Viviers, Mgr. Jean-Louis Balsa will celebrate mass, with the entire General Council concelebrating and Fr. John Huber, CSB preaching at the Collège Privé du Sacré-Coeur in Annonay, France on the Feast of Pentecost. Mass will be livestreamed on Facebook – more details to follow.

Past Events

November 19, 2021 – Fr. John Huber, CSB celebrated mass at St. Anne’s Church in Houston, Texas, which marked both the Basilian Bicentennial as well as the University of Saint Thomas’ 75th anniversary.

November 21, 2021 – Fr. Kevin Mannara, CSB presided, and Fr. John Huber, CSB was the homilist at mass at St John Fisher College in Rochester, NY on the Feast of the Presentation, and the Anniversary of the Congregation of St. Basil. Watch here

Banner Installations

Toronto, Ontario

• University of St. Michael’s College
• St. Basil’s Church
• St. Michael’s College School

Windsor, Ontario

• Assumption University
• Assumption Parish

Edmonton, Alberta

• St. Alphonsus – St. Clare Church
• St. Joseph’s College

Rochester, New York

• St. John Fisher College
• Aquinas Institute

Novi, Michigan

• Detroit Catholic Central *Wall Art Installation

Houston, Texas

• St. Thomas High School
• University of St. Thomas
• St. Anne’s Parish

Mexico

• Parroquia de San Lorenzo

Colombia

• Parroquia San Basilio