Saint Francis de Sales Seminary facts for kids
| Motto | Vos estis sal terrae |
|---|---|
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Motto in English
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"You are the salt of the earth" (Matthew 5:13a) |
| Type | Private Seminary |
| Established | 1845 |
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Religious affiliation
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Roman Catholic |
| President | Most Reverend Jerome E. Listecki |
| Location | , , |
| Campus | Suburban |
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Henni Hall
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Henni Hall
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| Location | 3257 S. Lake Dr. St. Francis, Wisconsin |
| Architect | Victor Schulte |
| NRHP reference No. | 74000103 |
| Added to NRHP | July 24, 1974 |
Saint Francis de Sales Seminary is a special school for people who want to become priests in the Roman Catholic Church. It is located in St. Francis, Wisconsin, a town near Milwaukee. The main building of the seminary is called Henni Hall. This historic building is recognized as an important place on the National Register of Historic Places.
Contents
What is a Seminary?
A seminary is a college or school where people study to become priests, ministers, or other religious leaders. At Saint Francis de Sales Seminary, students learn about their faith and prepare for their future roles in the Catholic Church.
Dedication to Saint Francis de Sales
The seminary is named after Francis de Sales. He was an important Bishop and a saint in the Roman Catholic Church during the 1600s. He is known for his gentle approach to spiritual guidance.
History of the Seminary
How Saint Francis de Sales Seminary Started
The seminary began in 1845. It was started in the home of Archbishop John Henni in Milwaukee. This was just two years after the Catholic Church created the Archdiocese of Milwaukee. Saint Francis de Sales Seminary is one of the very first Catholic seminaries in the United States. It is also the oldest one that has been open continuously since it started. It was founded to help train German-speaking priests. These priests were needed in the Wisconsin Territory at that time.
The Story of Henni Hall
A new location was chosen for the seminary in 1856. This spot was along the south shore of Lake Township. The main building, Henni Hall, was officially opened on January 29, 1856. It is 4.5 stories tall and built in the Italianate style. This means it has a classic, balanced look. The building was made bigger in 1868 and again in 1875. It was also updated in 1989.
Inside Henni Hall is the Christ King Chapel. Archbishop Henni dedicated this chapel in June 1861. Two important leaders of the seminary, Archbishop Michael Heiss and Fr. Joseph Salzmann, are buried beneath this chapel. The seminary also has a large library called Salzmann Library. It was built in 1908 and holds over 89,000 books. A gym, called Miller Gymnasium, was added in 1927. It was a gift from Ernest G. Miller.
Training Future Leaders
For over 170 years, Saint Francis de Sales Seminary has trained many people. More than 4,000 priests have graduated from here. Also, over 400 deacons and lay ministers have completed their studies. Until 1941, the seminary also had a program for younger students. These students were then combined with those at Pio Nino High School. This created a new school called St. Francis de Sales Preparatory Seminary. Since 2006, the seminary has focused only on training people to become priests.
Seminary Woods and Special Trees
The land belonging to the church makes up a big part of the City of St. Francis. On the seminary grounds, there is a large natural area called the Seminary Woods. This wooded area has a small cemetery and a special place called a grotto. The grotto honors Our Lady of Lourdes. Archbishop Frederick Xavier Katzer is also buried in this cemetery.
A long road leads up to Saint Francis de Sales Seminary. Forty-nine tall maple trees line this road. An Austrian immigrant named Siegfried Wegerbauer planted them in the 1930s. Now, their branches form a beautiful archway over the path, like a cathedral ceiling.
Our Lady of Lourdes Grotto
The Our Lady of Lourdes Grotto is a special monument. It was built by German-born Paul Dobberstein in 1894. He was studying at the seminary at the time. Dobberstein became very sick with pneumonia. He promised the Blessed Virgin Mary that he would build a grotto if he recovered. A grotto is a cave-like shrine, often decorated with rocks and shells. After he got better, he kept his promise. This beautiful monument is located in the Seminary's wooded area. Anyone can visit it for free.
This grotto is about ten feet tall. It was Dobberstein's first time building such a structure. He learned many skills while building it. He then used this knowledge to create other grottos in Wisconsin and Iowa. One of his most famous works is the huge Grotto of the Redemption in West Bend, Iowa. It is believed that this grotto inspired another student from Saint Francis de Sales Seminary, Mathias Wernerus. He went on to build the Dickeyville Grotto in Dickeyville, Wisconsin in 1930. This helped start a movement of grotto building across America.
Notable People Who Studied Here
Many important people have studied at Saint Francis de Sales Seminary. These include bishops, cardinals, and leaders in the Catholic Church. Some alumni have also become civil rights activists or served in the military.
