Becoming a Basilian
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SO WHY DID WE JOIN THE BASILIANS?
Primarily for three reasons: the positive impression of the Basilians whom I knew personally, their primary ministry in education and parishes, and community life." -- Morgan Rice, C.S.B.
"What does it mean for me to be a Basilian priest, a member of the Congregation of St. Basil? I am a religious and a priest- some would say two distinctive vocations, but I say one vocation lived out in a unique way. It’s not that at one point in my life I found God and that’s it. Rather, at one moment in my life, I decided that God would be worth searching for the rest of my life. I would spend the rest of my life taking my baptism seriously in the context of the Basilian Fathers, a community of men dedicated to the work of Evangelization and Education in the Roman Catholic Church. It is a great religious congregation that has as its motto: "Teach me goodness, discipline and knowledge.” A lifelong lesson and search.
The very opposite of a priest is a consumer, one who buys and amasses things for himself. A priestly person is one who spends himself gladly for others. As Basilian priests we live our lives in the Church as ordained men sent to proclaim the good news that Jesus Christ is Lord, and that he loves humanity. If we are called, Father, it is not simply because we have a prestigious academic background, a good formation, a title, a place of privilege, and important job in the Basilian Congregation. The rod and staff we carry must be symbols not of oppression but of dedication and service. These are the hallmarks of authentic leadership in the name of the Risen Jesus. We are priests because we are first servants who try to lay down our lives publicly for the community. Ultimately, our own faith in Jesus Christ and our human gestures of hospitality, goodness and kindness will be the most convincing proclamation of the Risen Lord to the Church and the world." -- Fr. Tom Rosica, C.S.B.
"I was inspired by a few Basilians who taught me and mentored me."-- Fr. Daniel Chui, C.S.B.
"Because they asked!" -- Glenn McDonald, C.S.B.
"This is a relationship. It is not that I “chose” the Basilians, but that the Basilians, as people, became friends with whom I share my life. It all started with adoration and a meal on Sunday evenings. Short conversations became longer ones and once a week became a few times a week. Over time, I began to share in their work of education as a teacher. I realized that the “sacrifices” they made actually contributed to the richness of their lives and allowed them to spend more time doing what they love – mostly that we being with the people around them.
Historically, the Basilians were diocesan priests who were united by the trials of the French Revolution. Thus, the Basilians are not simply a religious community, but our charism and personality is a sort of hybrid of religious and diocesan priesthood. More than any other group of priests I have known, the Basilians balance work and prayer. We work hard, very hard and our prayer is the source of that work. However, if you were to ask me what stands out about the Basilians, I could do it in two words: simplicity and hospitality. Before I knew the Basilians I took for granted how much of Christ is in these two concepts. Hospitality is something Basilians do very well – all that we have, we share. We love the people we live and work with and want to share our lives with them and hope they feel the same. And the end of the day, there is no greater testimony of the Gospel than a desire to be in relationship. Though it is far from any official answer, I believe this is what it means to be a Basilian, and what I love about being a Basilian." -- Chris Valka, C.S.B.
