Founded 185 years ago in France, the Congre- gation of St. Basil (Basilian Fathers) surfaced in the Houston area at the turn of the 20th century when they founded a high school. The University of St. Thomas was launched in 1947 at the invitation of then-Bishop Chris- topher Byrne.

deed, its vision is simple but powerful: \u201cWe have decided that within 25 years we will be- come one of the great Catholic universities in America.\u201d

Among the 30 majors are an interdisciplin- ary Catholic Studies, theology, pastoral stud- ies, international studies (the most popular)

There also are many joint majors, and stu- dents have the opportunity to pursue a West- ern Civilization-oriented honors program.

Founded:19 47
Type of institution: Small university
Setting:Ur ban
Undergraduate enrollment: 1,805 (2006\u201307)
Total undergraduate cost: $26,200 (tuition,

commuter school. Sixty-two percent of the students were Catholic in the fall 2006 semes- ter.The university is located near a cultural

archbishop at the Vatican serving as Secre- tary of the Congregation for Catholic Educa- tion, and later was named coadjustor bishop of the Archdiocese of Vancouver, British Co- lumbia, in 2007.

There are 15 Basilians who reside on the main campus, and the order permeates the life of the university with, as one adminis-

whose credentials are most impressive. A re- tired Army major general with tours stretch- ing from Vietnam to Kuwait, he previously headed the U.S. Army War College. He holds

president for academic a\ue002airs, who is now Dr. John Hi\ue005inger, formerly of the Sacred Heart Major Seminary, Detroit. Several years ago,

Although 38 percent of the student body is non-Catholic, the University of St. Thomas has a very strong Catholic identity. This is a result of the faithful engagement of the Basil- ian Fathers and top administrators; the com- mitment to Ex corde Ecclesiae; the presence of a solid core curriculum, anchored by the theology and philosophy departments; an ac- tive spiritual program; and an extensive set of Catholic lecture series.

tist sta\ue002 member, for example, has chosen to hang a cross rather than a cruci\ue000x in her of- \ue000ce.

kind of education. We want to recruit to mis- sion with students. We want more students who value a Catholic university education.\u201d Accordingly, he added, \u201cWe intend to broaden

tegic initiatives states: \u201cAssert our identity, academic brand, and image as a Catholic uni- versity imbued with the Basilian tradition.\u201d

proach to the broader culture. While 22 Cath- olic universities\u2014including some of the most well known\u2014hosted the lewd Vagina Mono-

Created by English associate professor Ja- net Lowery, the Trafc in Women play provides an alternative series of monologues based on

solution-based response to the problems fac- ing women on the planet today\u201d and elevat- ing these \u201cto a public concern.\u201d Hopefully, this play can be replicated on other campuses in 2008.

ers such as Avery Cardinal Dulles; the proli\ue000c philosopher Peter Kree\ue004; Alasdair MacIntyre, the Notre Dame virtue ethicist; Father Rich-

Some of these speakers are part of a num- ber of impressive lecture series. The Center for Thomistic Studies sponsors an annual lecture, which has included ethicist Germain Grisez. Others have been part of the Arch-

chitect Philip Johnson and was dedicated in 1997. Its outside appearance was enhanced in 2006 when the Felicie Babin Gueymard Medi-

tation Garden, including a labyrinth reminis- cent of one at Chartres Cathedral, was opened beside the chapel.

It is at the chapel that most of the 19 week- ly Masses are o\ue002ered and where confessions are heard Monday through Saturday. Ev- ery semester is opened with a Mass of Saint

beautiful and to give sermons that are stimu- lating with intellectual content.\u201d Upcoming homilies are announced at the beginning of each semester and have included such topics