Enduring the Storm: The Resilience of Basilian Education – Houston, TX.

As Hurricane Beryl descended on Houston, the city braced itself for the unknown. The storm’s winds mercilessly whipped tiles off roofs, uprooted trees, and cut power to countless homes. Amidst this chaos, educators from Basilian high schools gathered for the BNENE (Basilian Network Of Education And The New Evangelization) Conference, determined to continue their mission.

In 2015, the Congregation of St. Basil founded the Basilian Network for Education and the New Evangelization (BNENE) to unite the communities of schools overseen by the Basilians. The network’s mission is to facilitate ongoing formation in the Basilian approach to Catholic education and to promote Basilian educational values within these schools.

This year the conference encountered an unusual obstacle – a Category 5 Hurricane: “During the actual hurricane, I was scared that the trees were going to fall on my house,” shared Chris Wardwell, the new director of BNENE. “One actually did!”

Destruction caused by Hurricane Beryl in Houston, Texas.

Smaller enrollment, the increasing importance of new vocations, and the greater demand for specialized skills in administration and management can all be seen as the spiritual storm in which we find ourselves as Basilians and Catholic educators. Yet, just as the community came together to weather the hurricane, so too did the conference attendees find strength in unity and the future work of BNENE, demonstrating that, united in common mission fueled by the Holy Spirit, obstacles can be overcome.

“What struck me most was the almost immediate camaraderie I felt with people I had never met,” Chris continued. “Each of the schools has the others to rely on for resources and help. It’s such a great support system.”

This sense of solidarity was echoed by Pat Daly, Principal of St. Michael’s College School: “As someone relatively new to Basilian education, it was beneficial for me to learn from other administrators more experienced in bringing the Basilian charism alive in their schools.”

Fr. James Murphy, CSB reflected on the resilience shown by the attendees: “The conference was to be hosted at St. Thomas High School, but thankfully The University of St. Thomas and Fr. Eduardo Rivera, CSB accommodated our needs. It was uplifting to see proof of the Basilian charism working strong in so many places.”

In true Basilian spirit, there’s a remarkable ability to adapt and improvise when things don’t go as planned. As Fr. William May, CSB, noted: “The way that Fr. Rivera quickly planned the relocation of the conference, the University of St. Thomas’ hospitality and willingness to ‘pivot’ for us (…) the hospitality of Keon House on the last night when they hosted the 40 of us (…) To be frank, I didn’t know what to expect, so I can say that this conference set a very high bar for future conferences. Oddly enough, the fact that the conference went on didn’t surprise me – that’s a typical Basilian ‘thing.’ Many people might have postponed or canceled it; we didn’t. We just rearranged our plans and made it work.”

The participants discussed how the Basilian motto is more than just a motto; it is an active mission to care for the well-being of students and their families. During the conference, it was evident that this mission still endured in schools where Basilian involvement had diminished: “The president of Detroit Cristo Rey, Chris Lynch, was very happy to participate in a conference on Basilian education for the very first time.  In addition, the principal of the Aquinas Institute of Rochester, from where the Basilians withdrew 24 years ago, assured participants of other schools that indeed the Basilian and Catholic character can continue without a daily Basilian presence.” Observed Fr. John Huber, CSB, Director of BNENE, “I think we all left more assured that we have excellent mission-driven people in our schools who will carry the torch.”

Fr. Kevin Storey, CSB, the Superior General of the Basilian Fathers, noted the success of the conference despite the challenges: “The conference totally exceeded my expectations; participants spoke honestly about the challenges facing us, but also there was a great unity that we were in this together, as well as a wonderful joy and hope that we had a game plan going forward.”

The conference highlighted the foundational aspects of a Basilian education: it is a community of faith, well-formed in Catholic teaching, thriving and evangelizing the whole person – body, mind, heart, and soul – with a mission to prepare, inspire, and empower every student for a faith-filled life of service, fidelity, success, and love through solid formation of Catholic principles.

The integration of faith and intellect, the importance of educating the whole person, and the commitment to serving students of all socio-economic backgrounds create a culture that invites alumni to remain an integral part of the community after graduation.

“Having worked at four different high schools as a Basilian, it was uplifting to see proof of the Basilian charism working strong in so many places. Throughout the various presentations, caring for the well-being of all our students and their families remains our hope.” Fr. Murphy remarked after the conference had concluded. “Our motto is more than words on a crest; it is at work in many ways. The presence of Aquinas Institute and Detroit Cristo Rey strengthened our fellowship. We are ready to take big steps forward as a congregation.”

Just as the community came together to rebuild after Hurricane Beryl, so too the Basilian educators are coming together in their commitment to navigating the challenges facing Catholic education. They know that, together, they can endure any storm and continue to deliver a Basilian education that inspires and transforms.