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)

  • 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...

  • Genealogical Project Seminar

    The Basilian Fathers Museum in Mundare, AB will hosting the Alberta-Ukraine Genealogical Project Seminar.  Free to anyone wanting to attend on...

  • Holiday Hours

    Museum will be closed from Wednesday, December 23, 2015 to Sunday, January 10, 2016 for the Christmas Holidays. Regular hours will resume Monday, J...

  • Thank you

    The Basilian Fathers Museum extends a sincere thank you to everyone who attended the lunch and the Mundare Hospital Auxiliary bake sale. Your suppo...

  • Bake Sale and Lunch

      The Mundare Hospital Auxiliary Bake Sale will be held at the Basilian Fathers Museum (Mundare, AB) Friday, November 20, 2015 11:00am -...

  • Opening of New Display

    A new display will open at the Basilian Fathers Museum (Mundare, AB) on Friday, June 5, 2015: Art of the Basilians, Images from the Quiet Hours.&nb...

  • Date change on event

    The genealogical seminar that was to be held on Thursday, March 19, 2015 at the Basilian Fathers Museum, will be moved to Monday, March 23, 2015 @ ...

  • Free How-to Seminar

    Thursday, March 19, 2015 @ 6:30pm, The Museum will be hosting a free how-to seminar on genealogical. Learn more on researching family history. Ho...

  • Museum Gift Shop

    As Easter quickly approaches us, the Basilian Fathers Museum has in stock. Hand made basket covers, pysanky, butter molds, as well cook books and...

  • Event

    The exhibit "Moved by the Spirit" has closed. Still available in our gift shop is the book: "The Garden Way Of The Cross". Fo...

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Latest Photos (10)

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This is a FREE Website!

This site contributes to Town of Mundare.