St. Bonaventure College, which has its motto “In Sanctitate et Doctrina”, is a centre for the study of Philosophy and Religion named after St. Bonaventure of Bagnoregio (1195-1231), the Patron of Franciscan Studies and Learning. It traces its origin back to 1952 as “St. Anthony’s Franciscan College” in Bengaluru. From the year 1983 onwards, the centre began a full-fledged three-year programme known as Basic Formation, which focuses on the holistic growth of the students towards priesthood or lay brotherhood. This programme consists mainly of courses in Philosophy, along with some courses in Psychology, Sociology and Franciscan Studies, and it has been considered equivalent to the Degree of Bachelor of Philosophy in all the ecclesiastical institutions.
