Occasional Paper Number 34
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Basilian Houses Over the Years
by Kevin J. Kirley, C.S.B.
SEPTEMBER 2005
In our General Archives Basilian houses are listed according to date of foundation. Both terms 'houses' and 'foundation' are used rather loosely. In some instances, for example in a particular parish, there might be only one Basilian in residence, but the institution appears in the list of annual appointments and is considered in a broad sense to be a 'Basilian house.' The word 'foundation' is not always accurate either because some of our houses were not founded by us, but were confided to the congregation at a time after the date of foundation. The Basilian Directory is careful to make this distinction.
The date of foundation of Basilian houses has been duly noted in our records down through the years, but the date of closure or of Basilian withdrawal is not always easy to find. The list that follows here is reasonably accurate; however the author is willing to stand corrected and would welcome more precise information on particular points.
Why such a listing at this time in our history? The down-sizing of our Basilian Community in recent years has forced us to withdraw from a number of institutions, and perhaps to some confreres this phenomenon may appear to be peculiar to our day and age, not to say to be unfortunate if not downright tragic. In fact, it is nothing new. Over the years since the first nucleus of a community began forming in Saint-Symphorien de Mahun in 1800, the Basilians have had to close or withdraw from a number of our houses, and this for various legitimate reasons. Should we not take some comfort from an incident in the life of one of our early Basilians in France? Many years ago a revered confrere, Father Auguste de Montgolfier, remarked that we should not be upset over the withdrawal from institutions or over the loss of promising confreres from our congregation. He claimed that God had spoken to him in a private revelation one day while he was on his knees in the chapel praying: "Why do you complain," God said, "my will has been to use the obstacles which hinder your society to scatter elsewhere men who are bearers of your good traditions." (Journal Deglesne, 15 August 1855, quoted by Father Charles Roume CSB in his book Origines et formation de la Communauté des Prêtres de Saint Basile, p.366).
Closer to our own times, a former Associate of the 1980's, before he left us, wrote to the Superior General these encouraging words concerning his association with our Community in the formation program: "The past few years have been especially joyful ones for me. I've had the chance to get to know many Basilians, develop friendships, work and recreate with many different local communities. The memories I'll treasure. More important, I'll always appreciate the growth in faith and understanding that has accompanied my association. For this I can't thank the Community enough; nor can I adequately say thanks for the support and generosity shown by the Basilians...(they) will always be a part of me, and will have my prayers for their success and the Lord's blessings in the future."(GABF-FA, file #345).
With these words in mind, it might not be discouraging but heartening to see what good works Basilians have done over the years, and are continuing to do, and to think of the vast number of students and parishioners who have benefitted from the faithful ministry of Basilians.
No mention is made in this listing of the locations with dates of our Basilian scholasticates and novitiates. Some of this information may be found in The Basilian Newsletter, vol. 35, no. 11, 21 June 1994, "One Hundred Years: St. Basil's Scholasticate" and the Occasional Paper no. 23, April 1995, "A Brief History of Basilian Novitiates." Also, it
should be noted that the relatively recent term 'The Basilian Fathers of ...' includes the particular ministry of a number of Basilians in that area without naming the institutions where they serve. For this information see the Basilian Directory under the name of the individual confrere.
The year printed here on the left of the list of houses is the date of foundation, or more precisely, the year Basilians were entrusted with that ministry. The year printed on the right and preceded by a + is the year that Basilians ceased to minister there. The sign > means became known as.
BASILIAN HOUSES BY DATE OF FOUNDATION
| 1800 | Saint-Symphorien de Mahun, Ardèche, France +1802 |
| 1802 | Collège des Cordeliers, Annonay, Ardèche, France +1867 |
| > (1867) Institution Secondaire du Sacré-Coeur, Annonay | |
| 1808 | Pension Sainte Barbe, Annonay, Ardèche, +1903 |
| 1811 | Collège Sainte Claire, Annonay, Ardèche, + 1827 |
| 1822 | Petit Séminaire Maison-Seule, Ardèche, +1827 |
| 1827 | Collège de Feyzin, Isère, France +1880 |
| 1828 | Collège de Privas, Ardèche, France +1876 |
| 1844 | Petit Séminaire de Vernoux, Ardèche, France +1905 |
| 1846 | Petit Séminaire de Bourg-St-Andéol, Ardèche, France +1852 |
| 1852 | Petit Séminaire d'Aubenas, Ardèche, France +1888; 1895-1903;1913-1926 |
| 1852 | St Michael's College, Toronto, Canada |
| 1856 | St Basil's Parish, Toronto, Canada |
| 1863 | St Mary's Parish, Owen Sound, Ontario, Canada |
| 1866 | Ecole Cléricale, Périgueux, Dordogne, France +1903 |
| 1867 | St Louis College, Louisville, Ohio, USA +1873 |
| 1868 | Collège St Charles, Blidah, Algeria +1903 |
| 1870 | Assumption College, Sandwich, Ontario, Canada |
| 1870 | Assumption Parish, Sandwich, Ontario, Canada |
| 1871 | Collège de Bourg-St-Andéol, Ardèche, France +1880 |
| 1874 | St Joseph's Parish, Chatham, Ontario, Canada +1878 |
| 1875 | Institution St Pierre, Châteauroux, Indre, France +1882 |
| 1878 | St John the Baptist Parish, Amherstburg, Ontario, Canada |
| 1883 | College of Mary Immaculate, Beaconfield, Plymouth, England +1890 |
| 1886 | Ste Anne de Detroit Parish, Detroit, Michigan, USA |
| 1888 | Collège St Augustin, Bône, Algeria +1895 |
| 1890 | St Charles Parish, Newport, Michigan, USA +1894 |
| 1892 | Holy Rosary Parish, Toronto, Canada |
| 1899 | St Basil's College, Waco, Texas, USA +1915 |
| 1899 | Sacred Heart Parish, Port Lambton, Ontario, Canada +1910 |
| 1900 | St Thomas College, Houston, Texas, USA |
| 1901 | St Mary's Seminary, Laporte, Texas, USA +1911 |
| 1904 | St Martin's Parish, Drayton, Ontario, Canada +1910 |
| 1906 | St Joseph's Parish, Corunna, Ontario, Canada +1912 |
| 1910 | St Thomas College, Chatham, New Brunswick, Canada +1923 |
| 1910 | Curial House, Ste Anne de Detroit, Detroit, Michigan, USA +1926 |
| 1917 | St Columban's Parish, St Columban, Ontario, Canada +1919 |
| 1922 | Strawberry Island, Lake Simcoe, Ontario, Canada +2005 |
| 1926 | Curial House, 21 St Mary Street, Toronto, Canada +1951 |
| 1951 95 St Joseph Street, Toronto, Canada +1961 | |
| 1961 200 Russell Hill Road, Toronto +1973 | |
| 1973 20 Humewood Drive, Toronto +1986 | |
| 1986 Basilwood, Milton, Ontario, Canada +1992 | |
| 1992 Cardinal Flahiff Basilian Centre, 95 St Joseph St., Toronto | |
| & 435 Palmerston Blvd., Toronto | |
| 1927 | Aquinas Academy, Rochester, NY, USA +1932 |
| 1928 | Catholic Central High School, Detroit, Michigan, USA |
| 1928 | St Anne's Parish, Houston, Texas, USA |
| 1928 | Maison Saint Joseph, Annonay, Ardèche, France |
| 1929 | Institute of Mediaeval Studies, Toronto, Canada |
| (separate local house 1942-1996) | |
| 1929 | Columbus Boys' Camp, Orillia, Ontario, Canada (counselling, |
| chaplaincy, camp management) +1989 | |
| 1933 | St Mary's Boys High School, Calgary, Alberta, Canada +1992 |
| 1935 | Mexican Missions |
| 1939 Our Lady of Guadalupe Church, Rosenberg, Texas, USA +2005 | |
| 1950 Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church, Wharton, Texas, USA | |
| 1955 St Theresa's Parish, Sugar Land, Texas, USA +2001 | |
| 1957 St Basil's Parish, Angleton, Texas, USA (see 2000) | |
| 1961 San Juan Crisóstomo Parish, Mexico City, Mexico +2000 | |
| 1967 Centro Cultural, Mexico City, Mexico +1979 | |
| 1973 Jesús Obrero Church, Mexico City, Mexico +1983 | |
| 1978 San Lorenzo Parish, Tehuacán, Mexico | |
| 1936 | St Thomas More College, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada |
| 1937 | Aquinas Institute, Rochester, NY, USA +2000 |
| 1937 | Blessed Sacrament Parish, Windsor, Ontario, Canada +1968 |
| 1946 | Holy Rosary Scholasticate, Toronto, Canada +1950 |
| 1947 | University of St Thomas, Houston, Texas, USA |
| 1950 | St Michael's College School, 1515 Bathurst St, Toronto, Canada (original school 1852) |
| 1951 | St John Fisher College, Rochester, NY, USA |
| 1951 | St Charles College, Sudbury, Ontario, Canada +1993 |
| 1951 | St Mark's College, Vancouver, BC, Canada +2005 |
| 1952 | St Paul's High School, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada +1965 |
| 1954 | Our Lady of the Assumption Parish, Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada +2001 |
| 1956 | St Mary's College, Sault Ste Marie, Ontario, Canada +2000 |
| 1957 | St Francis High School > Catholic Central HS, Lethbridge, Alberta +2000 |
| 1957 | Michael Power High School, Islington, Ontario, Canada +1998 |
| 1957 | Assumption College School, Windsor, Ontario, Canada (original school 1870) |
| 1957 | Newman Centre, Toronto, Canada +2000 |
| 1958 | St Joseph's High School, Ottawa, Canada +1974 |
| 1958 | St Basil's Parish, Ottawa, Canada +1992 |
| 1959 | House of Studies, Rochester, NY, USA +1970 |
| 1959 | Andrean High School, Gary, (Merrillville), IN, USA |
| 1961 | House of Sudies, Windsor, Ontario, Canada +1969 |
| 1961 | House of Studies, Houston, Texas, USA +1969 |
| 1961 | Maison Saint-Basile, Issy-Les Moulineaux, Paris, France +1973 |
| 1962 | St Lawrence College, Quebec City, Quebec +1966 |
| 1962 | St Joseph's Center, Sugar Land, Texas, USA |
| 1963 | St Joseph's College, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada |
| 1964 | St Pius X Parish, Calgary, Alberta, Canada +2001 |
| 1964 | House of Studies, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada +1966 |
| 1966 | St Basil's Center, Pontiac, MI, USA +1989 |
| 1968 | St Pius X High School, Albuquerque, NM, USA +2000 |
| 1972 | St Basil's Infirmary, Toronto, Canada> Basilian Fathers Residence (1980) > Anglin House (1999) |
| 1973 | Coeur Immaculé de Marie Parish, Villeurbanne, France +1987 |
| 1974 | Holy Family Parish, Missouri City, TX, USA |
| 1974 | O'Connor House, Windsor, Ontario, Canada |
| 1974 | Chelsea House, Amherstburg, Ontario, Canada +2000 |
| 1975 | Casa Magnificat, Windsor Ave., Phoenix, moved to Glendale, AZ (1986) +1995 |
| 1976 | Christ the King Parish, Rochester, NY, USA |
| 1977 | Sacred Heart Church, Manvel, TX, USA |
| 1978 | St Augustine's Parish, Saskatoon, SK, Canada +2001 |
| 1978 | Bishop O'Dowd High School, Oakland, CA, USA |
| 1979 | Henry Carr Farm, Bond Head, Ontario, Canada |
| 1980 | St Charles Garnier Parish, Kelowna, BC, Canada +2003 |
| 1982 | Holy Spirit University Parish, London, ON, Canada +2000 |
| 1982 | Notre Dame College, Wilcox, SK, Canada +1988 |
| 1983 | Santa Maria de la Asunción Parish, Caltepec, Mexico |
| 1984 | St Albert the Great, Newman Center, Las Cruces, NM, USA |
| 1985 | Casa San Basilio, Houston, TX, USA |
| 1985 | St John Fisher Parish, Richmond, TX, USA +2003 |
| 1986 | Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish, Glendale, AZ, USA +1991 |
| 1987 | Nuestra Señora de la Asunción, Parish, Cali, Colombia |
| 1987 | Ste Jeanne d'Arc Parish, Lyon, France +1995 |
| 1989 | Basilian Fathers of Meriden, Meriden, Connecticut, USA +2000 |
| 1990 | Gregory House, Palmerston & Harbord, Toronto, moved to 11 Heathdale Rd, Toronto ON(1992) +1994 |
| 1991 | Local House of Basilian Fathers of St Lucia, St Lucia, Castries, WI |
| 1991 | Dillon House, Houston, TX, USA |
| 1992 | Instituto Nuestra Señora de la Asunción, (INSA), High School,Cali, Colombia |
| 1994 | Canadian Martyrs Parish, Calgary, Alberta, Canada +2001 |
| 1994 | New Retirement Community, 95 St Joseph Street, Toronto > Orsini House(1995) |
| 1995 | Parish of St Sulpice, Villevocance, Ardèche, France +2005 |
| 1996 | Ecce Homo Parish, Medellín, Colombia |
| 1996 | St Joseph's Church, Salmon Arm, BC, Canada +2002 |
| 1999 | Holy Redeemer High School, Detroit, MI, USA +2005 |
| 2000 | Soulerin House, 1515 Bathurst St., Toronto, Canada |
| 2000 | St Michael's College School Residence, 5 Oriole Parkway, Toronto |
| 2000 | Most Holy Trinity Church, Angleton, TX (includes St Basil's Parish and the mission St Thomas Aquinas) |
| 2001 | St Thomas More Parish, Calgary, Alberta, Canada |
| 2002 | House of Studies, Xalapa, Veracruz, Mexico |
| 2004 | Basilian residence of Brazoria County, TX. |
Here it would seem fitting to quote another of our venerable forefathers,
Germain Deglesne (1798-1856) who wrote
in his last will and testament: "I take my leave of you, my dear confreres, with a lively faith that our work is that
of God, and with a firm hope that He will make it succeed, even if He were to remove all those on whom you
counted to accomplish this. It is essential that you conserve the spirit of faith and an inviolable charity among
yourselves. As long as there are no divisions among you, no cabals, or prejudices, you will be protected by God,
and you will be invincible if you have zeal for the work of the Community."(GABF,
personal file Deglesne.)
Much of the credit for this document of reference goes to my predecessors in the General Archives, especially to that master of records management, the late Reverend Robert J. Scollard, CSB. It is no doubt his wish, as it is ours, that the list will continue to grow.
Kevin J. Kirley,
CSB,
Director of Archives
8 September 2005
Copyright 1998, 2002 - Basilian Fathers of Toronto
