When and how did Winnipeg become the Head Office of the Basilians?
In 1903, Archbishop Langevin wrote to Father Filas, suggesting that the first Basilian residence be in Winnipeg, because the Archdiocese of Saint Boniface was the centre of the Catholic Church in Western Canada. Langevin bought a house on Flora and McGreggor which became the first Basilian residence. He continued to write to Filas to appoint a “Vice-Provincial” or Superior for the Canadian mission, as it was too difficult to coordinate the mission directly from Galicia. In 1907, Filas appointed Father Sozontius Dydyk as Superior in Canada. Dydyk made his headquarters in Winnipeg, where it remained until 1923.
