Welcome to the Basilian Fathers Museum

...from the past, into the present, for the future...


The Basilian Fathers Museum was founded in the 1950s, but its roots go back much further—to a French Canadian priest named Father Josaphat Jean. 

In 1910 Father Jean went to Ukraine to study the Ukrainian language and the Eastern rite. Inspired by Metropolitan Andrei Sheptytskyi, the charismatic founder of the National Museum in L’viv, Father Jean began to collect a wide variety of religious and ethnographic artifacts. These eventually found a home at the museum in Mundare.

When contacts with Ukraine were cut off by the Communist regime in the 1940s, the Basilian Fathers recognized the need to preserve the cultural as well as the religious heritage of Ukrainians in Canada.

In 1953 the Basilians founded a Ukrainian museum in the town of Mundare. Here, Father Jean’s valuable lifetime collection of religious artifacts found a permanent home alongside unique collections of Ukrainian Easter eggs, embroidery, weaving, pioneer tools and folk artifacts.

The museum also houses a private library collection and archives (not open to the public).

In 1991 the museum’s collections were moved to the current museum building—a beautiful new structure which combines elements of Ukrainian folk architecture and Byzantine church style. The new museum took the name Basilian Fathers Museum.

The museum:

• commemorates the 100th anniversary of Ukrainian settlement in Canada
• serves as a memorial to the early pioneers
• marks the Basilian Fathers’ continued dedication to the cultural and spiritual heritage of Ukrainian Canadians

Latest Blog (10)

  • Exhibit

    Now on display at the Basilian Fathers Museum, Mundare, AB, is a exhibit of community posters, business calendars and general store furnishings. Fr...

  • Seminar

    Due to little interest for the free how-to seminar to be held in, Mundare,AB at the Basilian Fathers Museum on Thursday, March 23, 2017 will be can...

  • Basilian Fathers Museum

    If anyone is interested in U-haul cardboard moving boxes, all sizes and strong.  Good for storing or moving stuff.  The Basilian Fathers ...

  • Seminar

    Thursday, March 23, 2017 at 6:30pm-8:30pm.  The Basilian Fathers Museum will be hosting a free how-to seminar on genealogical. Learn more on r...

  • Museum Gift Shop

    As Easter quickly approaches us, the Basilian Father Museum has in stock.  Hand made Basket covers, pysanky, wooden pysanky, wooden pysanky st...

  • Christmas Holidays

    The Basilian Fathers Museum will be closed Friday, December 23, 2016 until Sunday, January 8, 2017 for Christmas Holidays.  Regular hours will...

  • Bake Sale 2016

    The Mundare Hospital Auxiliary Bake Sale will be held at the Basilian Fathers Museum (Mundare, AB). Friday, November 25, 2016 at 11:00am - 2:00pm.&...

  • 2016 Hetman Awards

    For their role in spreading the faith, the Order of St. Basil the Great and the Sisters Servants of Mary Immaculate received 2016 Hetman Awards fro...

  • "Our Treasure"

    The exhibit "Our Treasure," celebrating the 125 anniversary of Ukrainian settlement in Canada, will be held at St. John's Cultural Centre...

  • Gift Shop

    As Easter quickly approaches us, the Basilian Fathers Museum has in stock.  Hand made basket covers, pysanky, lamb butter mold kits, egg dye...

+ MORE NEWS

Latest Photos (10)

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This is a FREE Website!

This site contributes to Town of Mundare.