Assumption University in Windsor, Ont., and the University of St. Thomas (UST) in Houston, Texas, two Catholic institutes informed by Basilian tradition, have signed a historic collaborative agreement that will take immediate effect in the upcoming Winter 2025 semester. 

Students enrolled in Assumption’s Graduate Diploma in Catholic Studies program may now have four of those courses (12 credits) counted for credit towards a Master of Arts in Faith and Culture at UST. Meanwhile, UST students may complete up to two Assumption courses (six credits) that will count towards completing their own Faith and Culture degree.

John Cappucci, the president and vice-chancellor of Assumption University, federated with the University of Windsor, said one of the convictions guiding his presidency is a desire “to build bridges with fellow Catholic universities.”

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A partnership with a Catholic post-secondary institution in America made sense to Cappucci, in part because of Windsor’s proximity to the U.S. (Assumption itself is mere steps from the Ambassador Bridge to the U.S.). Forging an accord with a fellow school inspired by the Congregation of St. Basil — and its motto of “teach me goodness, discipline and knowledge — was appealing too.

“It is an institution that values ecumenical dialogue and interfaith dialogue,” said Cappucci of UST.  “It doesn't necessarily have to be just about Catholicism. Oh, certainly Catholicism will play a large role, but we can also engage with various other faith traditions.”

UST’s Nesti Center for Faith and Culture, which celebrated its 30th anniversary in 2024, was another appealing aspect to Cappucci because of its mission to help students live out their Gospel call amid the American secular culture. 

This fusion of faith and culture, to Cappucci, is reminiscent of what Assumption strives to accomplish with its Christian Culture Series Gold Medal. Established in 1934, this tradition originated by Fr. Stanley Murphy, C.S.B., toasts a Canadian who distinguishes him or herself as an “outstanding exponent of Christian ideals” within the mainstream culture. Church leaders, artists, economists, scientists, athletes, humanitarians, writers and political figures have all been feted with this prize over time.

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Cappucci, who also serves as Assumption’s Stephen Jarislowsky Chair in Religion and Conflict, finalized this agreement in collaboration with Dr. Hans Stockton and Professor Marion Fernandez-Cueto of UST. Stockton is the associate vice president of international relations and engagement for the school’s Center for International Studies, and Fernandez-Cueto is the program leader of the Center for Faith and Culture.

Fernandez-Cueto told The Catholic Register via email that she is “really excited about this collaboration.” She shared hopes about what it might achieve.

“Because our program explores the lived experience of Christian discipleship and practical theology in relation to various cultural influences and milieux, I'm hoping the different student cohorts will also find each other's experiences and perspectives to be mutually enriching,”

Joint research collaboration could also emerge as a dimension of this partnership over time.

Fr. Kevin Storey, CSB the superior general of the Basilian Fathers, is pleased with this development.

“I commend both schools for having the vision,” said Storey, who is based in Toronto. “It's great in terms of the Basilian connection, it's great for the students and in terms of the international connection. I'm kind of sorry that I didn't have that idea 10 years ago. I mean, it's one of those things that once it's been done, you're like, ‘gosh, that makes all the sense in the world.’ ”

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Storey and his fellow Basilian Fathers are making “cross-pollination” strides at the high school level with the Basilian Network for Education and the New Evangelization (BNENE).

Launched in 2015, BNENE’s purpose is to foster continuous engagement between the Catholic schools approaching education in the Basilian tradition. Educators from member schools, including St. Michael’s College School in Toronto, St. Thomas High School in Houston and Detroit Catholic Central in Novi, Michigan, seek to share knowledge and insights from their on-ground experiences with evangelization and outreach to the poor. Storey said these schools contend with comparable roadblocks and are presented with similar opportunities to navigate the culture.