| Written by Ron Stang, Catholic Register Special,
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 AMHERSTBURG, Ont. - After 130 years the Basilian Fathers are pulling up stakes at St. John the Baptist parish here, deep in southwestern Ontario.
In fact, the Basilians’ presence coincides with the same year Amherstburg, an historic community that played key roles in the War of 1812, the Upper Canada Rebellion and the Underground Railroad, officially became a town.
But the parish itself dates from 1802 as a mission of Assumption Church in Sandwich, now part of Windsor. The building dates from 1844 and its steeple to this day dominates the town’s landscape.
The Basilians are leaving Amherstburg because of the order’s shortage of priests. The Basilians, a teaching order, will still have a presence in one church in the diocese, Assumption in Windsor. The Basilians also run adjacent Assumption University, forerunner to the University of Windsor, and now an affiliated college.
The end of the Basilians’ presence coincides with the retirement of the church’s pastor, Fr. Michael Brand. Brand was made pastor eight years ago but was also at the parish in 1975. At that time, he said, St. John the Baptist had four priests “who actively worked at the parish, and a convent of nuns.” The nuns, he said, “are now gone and the parish is down to two priests.”
Associate pastor Fr. Brian Jane, who has been with the parish two years, takes over as pastor. While he is a diocesan pastor he was educated by the Basilians in nearby Windsor, his home town.
Jane, who was ordained four years ago and previously was at Most Precious Blood parish in Windsor, said he’s pleased to be taking over such a well-organized church. While there has been dwindling clergy the laity has taken on a major role.
There is a strong youth ministry, a sacramental program in the schools and as many as six people involved in a wake ministry, performing readings at funeral wakes.
“The staff is excellent so I’m coming into a good situation,” Jane said. “The Basilians have left it in really good shape.”
He is being joined by Fr. Nichola Maura-Iko, who will also be based at St. John the Baptist.
Mike Specht, chair of the parish council, said he was “disappointed” the Basilians are leaving. He said he spoke to the superior general but there was nothing more that could be done.
“It’s unfortunate it’s not continuing but it’s been a long run,” he said.
The church has been going through major renovations in recent years including reconstruction of the bell tower and steeple.
London Bishop Ronald Fabbro, himself a Basilian, celebrated the final Basilian Mass. He said the Basilians were undergoing restructuring “and they agreed they would allow Fr. Brand to complete his term here as pastor.”
Fabbro said that with 1,200 active families St. John the Baptist is “critical for the pastoral care of this area.” He said there has been a commitment from the diocese that the church continue to operate.
“We’re sorry to lose the Basilians but we’re committed to this parish.”
The bishop praised the church’s ministries, especially it’s youth ministry run by Jean Beneteau. In his homily he suggested the Basilians’ history of teaching meant there was “always a commitment to young people.” He called the ministry “a model for the whole diocese.”
(Stang is a freelance writer in Windsor, Ont.)
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