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)

  • Christmas Holidays

    The Basilian Fathers Museum will be closed from December 22, 2018 to January 6, 2019 for the Christmas season. We will resume regular museum hours ...

  • Bake Sale

    The Mundare Hospital Auxiliary Bake Sale, will be held at the Basilian Fathers Museum (Mundare, AB) Friday, November 16, 2018, 11:00am to 1:30p...

  • Gift Shop

    Easter is quickly approaching us, the Basilian Fathers Museum has in stock. Hand made basket covers, pysanky, lamb butter molds, egg dyes, as wel...

  • Holiday Hours

    The Basilian Fathers Museum will be closed from December 23, 2017 to January 7, 2018. We will resume regular hours Monday, January 8, 2018. We wish...

  • Gift Shop

    If you are looking for a meaningful Christmas gift, keep the Basilian Fathers Museum in mind. We have a large selection of puzzles on advent themes...

  • Mundare Hospital Auxiliary Bake Sale

    The Mundare Hospital Auxiliary Bake Sale will be held at the Basilian Fathers Museum (Mundare, AB) Friday, November 17, 2017 11:00am to 1:30pm ...

  • 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...

+ MORE NEWS

Latest Photos (10)

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This is a FREE Website!

This site contributes to Town of Mundare.