The Pontifical Mission Societies in Los Angeles

Basilian Fathers Missions #2030

The Basilian Fathers Missions is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization founded by the Congregation of St. Basil (Basilian Fathers) serving underprivileged communities in Mexico and Colombia through education and Catholic evangelization. Our apostolate is founded on the Basilian principles of goodness, discipline, and knowledge. These values have guided the cause of the Basilian Fathers Missions since the 1930s when Basilian priests first began ministering to migrant workers south and west of Houston, Texas.

In 1961, the Basilian Fathers Missions expanded into Mexico and began a process of taking over at poor parishes, building them up, and giving them over to the local diocese for continued ministry. There is one parish where we have continued working for almost forty years: San Lorenzo (Saint Lawrence) in Tehuacán. We first started serving at San Lorenzo when it was a chapel of Divino Salvador in 1978. In 1987, it became a parish, and the Basilian Fathers were entrusted with it.

The Basilians have been blessed with young Mexican vocations to the priesthood. These men begin their Basilian journey in the Novitiate in Tehuacán and then they move to the Basilian House of Studies (Scholasticate) in Mexico City to complete their university courses and their theological training. Ongoing services provided through our mission in Mexico include spiritual direction, psychological counseling, assistance to students, legal aid, a medical clinic, clothing, shelter, toys, and school supplies. Recently, through the help of our donors, the Basilian Fathers founded the Betania (Bethany) Community Center in Tehuacán to help provide an after-school program for children who need food and a place to stay before their parents can come home from work.

Regarding our apostolate in Colombia, we presently serve in the cities of Medellín and Bogotá. In 1995, the Basilian Fathers established a presence in the city of Medellín by ministering in an area of town designated as a war zone by the authorities. In time, relative peace would be gradually restored. In 2023, the Archbishop of Bogotá entrusted the Basilians with the administration of the parish of Nuestra Señora de Egipto (Our Lady of Egypt). The church dates from the 17th century. Because of a shortage of diocesan clergy, the parish had been underserved for some time; only one Mass was celebrated on Sundays and the church was usually closed during the week. But now, with the Basilians, a new era of ministry has begun.

Religious formation in Colombia begins at Casa Annonay in Bogotá. It is here that our Novices begin to live Basilian community life. Some of our Scholastics (Seminarians), in the Basilian tradition, also serve as full-time teachers. Basilian Fathers are also helping to organize women’s ministry in Colombia to share in our evangelization.

In 1822 the Congregation of St. Basil (Basilian Fathers) began a holy ministry of education and evangelization in Annonay, France. With the continued support of new donors, together with our longtime patrons, may the Basilian Fathers continue to educate and evangelize in the Basilian tradition for years to come in Mexico and Colombia.

Support the Basilian Fathers Missions #2030

You can support the Basilian Fathers Missions #2030 through your prayers and monetary donation by making a check payable to THE SOCIETY FOR THE PROPAGATION OF THE FAITH, 3424 Wilshire Blvd 3rd Fl., Los Angeles CA 90010, memo #2030. You may also donate online by clicking the donate button. When making an online donation, reference #2030 in the Memo box. Your donation is tax-deductible as allowed by law.