Aquinas-Landmark-Winter-2021

both in Houston, Basilians began ministering to underserved migrants in smaller towns and cities south of Houston. Mission collections in Basilian schools supported these efforts. Two of the churches founded were Saint Thomas Aquinas in Angleton and St. John Fisher in Richmond, named after the institutions that helped pay for their construction. Aquinas also supported Basilian missions with proceeds from the annual Mission Bouts. The Basilians were encouraged by Pope John XXIII’s call to religious communities to send its people to Latin America. They expanded on their ministry with Mexican migrant workers in southern Texas by establishing an apostolate in Mexico. The first Basilians were sent to Mexico in 1961, where they began by taking over the direction of San Juan Crisóstomo parish in Mexico City. Aquinas graduates such as Fathers Bill Frankenberger, CSB ‘61 and Tom Dugan, CSB ‘48 spent most of their priestly ministries in Mexico, including at the current Basilian Parish of San Lorenzo in Tehuacán, Puebla. Motivated by the success of the Mexican apostolate, the Basilians welcomed the idea to establish another project in Latin America. They were intrigued by the possibility of a human development project in Colombia that combined evangelization, catechesis, education, and social and economic development. They were offered the opportunity to take over a parish with a school attached in the city of Cali. The founding group of Basilians arrived in Colombia in July 1987 and have since expanded to Bogotá and Medellín. BASILIAN INFLUENCE AT AQUINAS The Congregation hit its summit of vowed Basilians in the mid-sixties, counting over 700 men. From the 1970s, cultural and ecclesial trends in Europe and North America saw a drastic reduction in the number of religious priests, sisters and brothers. In the seventy years the Basilians were at Aquinas, more than 300 served as teachers, administrators, campus ministers, and coaches. The Basilians made the painful decision to withdraw from Aquinas in 2000. Two Basilians, Fathers John Huber, CSB ’81 and Paul English, CSB continue to serve on Aquinas’ Board of Directors. The philosophy of Basilian Catholic education, guided by our motto from Psalm 119, “Teach me Goodness, Discipline and Knowledge” within an atmosphere of selfless concern for one another, continues to inspire the Aquinas experience today. Reflecting the Basilian vision of education, rather than merely preparing a student for future employment, an Aquinas education prepares young men and women for life, as Christians, as citizens, as spouses, mothers, and fathers. Through the intercession of Saints Basil and Joseph, may God continue to bless Aquinas now and evermore! of Saint Basil John B. Huber, CSB, Ed.D.’81 7 DID YOU KNOW? There are sixty Aquinas graduates who went on to become Basilian Fathers. Rev. Francis A Amico, CSB, 1963 Rev. Donald E Benwitz, CSB, 1958 Rev. Michael B Biondi, CSB, 1942 Rev. Frank C Boehm, CSB, 1944 Rev. Angelo D Bovenzi, CSB, 1956 Rev. Eugene Burbott, CSB, 1939 Rev. John R Cavanaugh, CSB, 1946 Rev. Michael P Cerretto, CSB, 1958 Rev. Richard B Donovan, CSB, 1941 Rev. Edward A Doser, CSB, 1943 Rev. John R Dougherty, CSB, 1946 Rev. Thomas P Dugan, CSB, 1948 Rev. William J Frankenberger, CSB, 1961 Rev. George F Freemesser, CSB, 1951 Rev. Albert R Gaelens, CSB, 1950 Rev. Robert A Hall, CSB, 1948 Rev. Leon G Hart, CSB, 1944 Rev. Edward R Heidt, CSB, 1964 Rev. Leo A Hetzler, CSB, 1943 Rev. John B Huber, CSB, 1981 Rev. Donald F Hyatt, CSB, 1957 Rev. Richard J Jeffery, CSB, 1942 Rev. Dennis J Kauffman, CSB, 1966 Rev. James J Kelly, CSB, 1957 Rev. Richard C Kinsky, CSB, 1949 Rev. Donald E Kuder, CSB, 1952 Rev. Eugene R Malley, CSB, 1942 Rev. William C Marceau, CSB, 1945 Rev. Armand A Maurer, CSB, 1932 Rev. Arthur J McCarthy, CSB, 1963 Rev. Donald E McCarthy, CSB, 1947 Rev. John A McCarthy, CSB, 1967 Rev. John E McManus, CSB, 1945 Rev. Robert G Miller, CSB, 1930 Rev. Thomas MMiller, CSB, 1935 Rev. Joseph C Mitrano, CSB, 1958 Rev. Paul F O’Connor, CSB, 1959 Rev. Robert T O’Halloran, CSB, 1950 Rev. John P O’Meara, CSB, 1932 Rev. Edward C Pappert, CSB, 1932 Rev. Harold C Perry, CSB, 1942 Rev. John A Poluikis, CSB, 1941 Rev. Charles J Principe, CSB, 1946 Rev. Walter Principe, CSB, 1940 Rev. Richard A Ranalletti, CSB, 1962 Rev. Robert G Ritz, CSB, 1942 Rev. John F Robbins, CSB, 1961 Rev. Thomas M Rosica, CSB, 1977 Rev. Richard J Schiefen, CSB, 1950 Rev. William A Schreiner, CSB, 1952 Rev. Ronald G. Schwenzer, CSB, 1957 Rev. JohnW Seniawski, CSB, 1965 Rev. Frederick H Sohn, CSB, 1946 Rev. Norman Tanck, CSB, 1962 Rev. Joseph J Tierney, CSB, 1941 Rev. Joseph A Trovato, CSB, 1947 Rev. Richard AWahl, CSB, 1961 Rev. Jay FWalsh, CSB, 1953 Rev. J. Michael Wesley, CSB, 1957 Rev. John RWhitley, CSB, 1944 Fr. John B. Huber, CSB, 1981 Rev. Albert R. Gaelens, CSB, 1950 Rev. Dennis J. Kauffman, CSB, 1966 Rev. J. Michael Wesley, CSB, 1957 Rev. Kevin J. Mannara, CSB, 1981