BASILIAN FATHERS. - Toward the end of the 18th century Msgr. d'Avieu, Archbishop of Vienne, was concerned with preparing young priests to fill the gaps left by the French Revolution.
He entrusted this task to the curate of a village near Annonay, but after barely two years the aspirants, having grown in number and being unable to remain in the small village, were transferred to Annonay, where the pious initiative established itself and began to bear good fruit. The conclusion of the Concordat with Napoleon allowed the work to consolidate, and in 1822 the priests placed in charge of it, in order to give security and vitality to the foundation, decided to unite into a religious congregation with the full assent of the higher authorities. In 1837 the Holy See issued the decree of praise and temporarily approved its Constitutions. The development was very promising and new houses were opened in other dioceses of France. In 1852 they moved to Canada, where the development was greater. By decree of the S. Congr. of Religious of 14 June 1922 the two provinces of France and Canada were erected into distinct congregations. The Constitutions were definitively approved in 1937. The P. of S. B. devote themselves to the instruction and education of youth and to the parochial ministry. The Canadian Congregation, with general house in Toronto, today numbers 253 members with 12 houses, while the French one has 3 houses and 30 subjects with general house in Viviers.
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