EAGLES’ PRIDE
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2015-2016
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History of the Basilians
In the aftermath of the French Revolution and the Napoleonic wars, at
a time when French seminaries had been forcibly closed and Catholic
education suppressed, a small group of diocesan priests in Annonay,
France, came together to establish a school to educate young men and
prepare them for the priesthood. They went about this task in secret
until 1822 when French laws were changed. At that time, the 10 priests
residing there bound themselves into a religious community to continue
the important work they had begun. The members took St. Basil the
Great, a fourth century Bishop and teacher, as their namesake and
became the Congregation of St. Basil.
In 1852, at the request of Bishop de Charbonnel of Toronto, who was
also a former student at Annonay, the Basilians opened St. Michael’s
College in Toronto, Ontario. During this time, the Congregation
continued to grow in North America. In 1900, three Basilian priests
led by the Rev. Nicholas Roche, CSB, opened St. Thomas College in
Houston along the banks of Buffalo Bayou in an unused building of a
Franciscan Monastery.
In 1903, they moved the school to a more permanent location in
downtown on Austin Street and Hadley, where the school thrived until
1940. At that time, thanks to the efforts of the Rev. T.P. O’Rourke, CSB,
and the Rev. Leland A. Higgins, CSB, the school moved to its current
home at the corner of Memorial and Shepherd Drives.
At St. Thomas High School, the Basilian Fathers have continued the
tradition of Catholic education they began more than 150 years ago in
the mountains of central France. Despite dramatic changes in the world
since that time, the Basilian motto of “Teach Me Goodness, Discipline
and Knowledge” has become an integral part of numerous young men’s
lives.
Rev. Kevin Storey, CSB
Father Storey was elected to become the 2nd
President of St. Thomas High School in November
2011 and was inaugurated in August 2012. He
served as a teacher and coach at St. Thomas High
School from 2004-2010 and led the Eagle cross
country team to a TAPPS State Championship in
2004.
Rev. Patrick Fulton, CSB
Father Fulton is in his fifth year at St. Thomas,
having been appointed by the General Council of the
Basilian Fathers as the twenty-sixth principal in the
school’s history. He previously coached swimming
and is an avid athlete. Whether it is lifting weights
or running, Fr. Fulton exercises to balance his other
favorite pastime, gourmet cooking.
Rev. Jim Murphy, CSB
Father Murphy joined the St. Thomas faculty in
2011. In January 2012, he was named Assistant
Athletic Director in addition to being the Athletic
Chaplain. His teaching responsibilities include
Freshman Theology. He has coached lacrosse,
hockey, indoor track, and volleyball. Broadcasting is
his passion and he served as the PA announcer at
basketball and baseball games last year. A man of
many talents, he has also sung the US and Canadian
national anthems at hundreds of sporting events.
Rev. Robert Glass, CSB
Father Glass has now served for over 20 years
at St. Thomas, with stints from 1967-1970,
1974-1979, 1987-1993, and 2006-Present. He
currently assists in the Dean’s Office and is the
Superior of the Basilian community on campus.
He was honored in 2009 by being inducted into
the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of
Jerusalem.
Rev. Albert Gaelens, CSB
Father Gaelens has been a member of the St.
Thomas community for more than 30 years,
beginning in 1977 as a Theology teacher, then
as Vice Principal, Counselor and finally Principal.
After six years at two other Basilian schools, he
returned in January 2001 as Director of Alumni
Relations until his retirement in 2007. He is still
in residence at St. Thomas and can be seen at
most sporting events on campus.
Rev. Ronald Schwenzer, CSB
Father Schwenzer retired in July 2012 after
fourteen years as both President and Principal
of St. Thomas High School. He is the only man
to serve as both President and Principal of this
school. His illustrious career included over 40
years in administration of Basilian high schools
across America.
BASILIAN FATHERS