Province of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus (Canada)

PROVINCIA SANCTISSIMI CORDIS IESU IN CANADA

Sedes Provincialis:

BASILIAN FATHERS
737 Bannerman Avenue
Winnipeg, MB. R2X 1J9 – CANADA
Tell.: (+1-204) 586-4721; 582-6695

The Basilian Fathers first arrived in Canada in 1902, when three missionaries came to Edmonton, Alberta: Fr. Platonid Philyas, Fr. Sozont Dydyk, and Fr. Antin Strotsky. A year later they were joined by Fr. Matei Hura and Fr. Naukrashtiy Kryzhanovsky. For twenty years this small group worked tirelessly, often alone, serving scattered Ukrainian immigrants with missionary zeal.

After the First World War, the mission grew steadily. In 1931, the Basilian presence was formally organized into the Canadian-American Province, with its own leadership. A novitiate and house of studies in Mundare, Alberta, became the center of Basilian life and formation. Vocations increased year after year, and by the late 1940s the community had over 150 members.

Because of this growth, the Province was divided in 1948 into two: the American Province (based in New York) and the Canadian Province (based in Edmonton, later in Winnipeg). The Canadian Province was given the name Province of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, and it was officially recognized in civil law as The Order of Saint Basil the Great in Canada.

The Province Today in Canada

Today, the Basilian Fathers in Canada have monasteries in Edmonton, Mundare (Alberta), and Ontario, with the Provincial House in Winnipeg, Manitoba. They also have residences in Vegreville, Vancouver.

The Province now numbers about 20 members, who serve the Ukrainian Catholic Church through parish ministry, retreats, evangelization, and communication both in print and over the radio.

Despite challenges, especially the shortage of new vocations, the Province has played and continues to play a vital role in the life of the Ukrainian Catholic Church in Canada.