The following article appeared in the October 2006 edition of the New Earth, newspaper for the Diocese of Fargo.
by Father Leo Stelten and Father Andrew Jasinski
The Cardinal Muench Seminary chapel was solemnly consecrated on October 15, 1966, the feast day of St. Theresa of Avila and the anniversary of Aloisius Cardinal Muench's consecration as bishop.A little more than 40 years ago, 50 acres of wheat fields north of Fargo were replaced with a building, and soon afterward a new kind of crop was harvested.
For the first four years of existence (1962-1966), Cardinal Muench Seminary was located in the former Sacred Heart Convent on the north side of Fargo, the motherhouse of the Sisters of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, which had been built in 1914 and was partially destroyed by a tornado in 1957. That “act of God” was the catalyst to fulfill the dream of Aloisius Cardinal Muench: to have a local seminary for the formation of priests.
Bishop Leo Dworschak entrusted the work of transforming the shattered convent into a seminary into the capable hands of Father Edward Arth. The first CMS facility was opened in 1962. At that time, the high school seminarians took classes at Shanley High School. By September 1964, with an enrollment of 68 students, it was evident that a new facility was needed.
After looking at property near West Fargo and also on University Drive near North Dakota State University, the diocese decided to purchase land along the Red River, just north of the Fargo city limits. Eighty acres were purchased from the Fred H. Peterson family; 50 acres had been farmed, the remaining 30 acres consisted of a wooded peninsula formed by the meandering Red River. Plans were drafted by the architectural firm of Seifert and Staszko, bids were solicited, and construction on the $1.5 million project began on April 24, 1965.
Facts about Cardinal Muench Seminary
One unique feature of the facility was a “total energy system.” The seminary would generate its own electrical power. Heat generated by the engine — capable of burning natural gas or diesel — would be recovered, and used to heat hot water, to provide supplemental heat in the winter, and to operate the air conditioning in the summer.
Although labor disputes the previous summer delayed construction, the building was ready for the dedication, which was conducted Aug. 22, 1966, by Bishop Dworschak. Classes began Sept. 4 in the new building, with 70 high school students and 22 college freshmen. All classes in the high school program were offered in the new facility. The college students, while residing at the seminary, divided their class time between the seminary and NDSU campuses.
The chapel was solemnly consecrated Oct. 15, the feast day of St. Theresa of Avila and the anniversary of Cardinal Muench’s consecration as bishop. The major portion of the cost of the seminary chapel was met by a substantial gift of the late Msgr. Joseph L. Andrieux, who had been pastor of St. Mark’s, Bottineau, for 50 years. The most prominent feature of the chapel is the 13-feet-high, floor-to-ceiling windows, that surround the chapel on three sides. The chapel houses an 11-rank organ built in Germany. Its diminutive size is deceptive, as it delivers a full, rich sound.
In the subsequent 40 years, the walls of CMS have witnessed many events: competitive teams in Class B high school athletic events (especially basketball and track), award-winning debate and public speaking teams, student-produced literary publications, plays, music, talent shows and an annual spaghetti dinner and carnival. For a time, there was even a hockey rink out the back door. The trophy case bears evidence of the excellence of the high school students in state competition. Despite this, the number of students participating in the high school program dwindled. It was decided to end the program in 2001. While the number of men in the college program has varied over time, in recent years the number has been on the rise. Today there are 21 men at CMS studying in college.
Every spring, the seminary staff stands watch as the Red River rises, hoping that it will stay within its banks. When the land was purchased in 1964, engineers said that the land “has elevation sufficiently above any known high water mark in the past to eliminate any possible danger of flood damage.” The flood of 1969 brought the river waters close to, but did not endanger, the buildings. The story was different in 1997. Father Brian Donahue, the acting rector at the time, had an earthen dike constructed along the banks of the Red River to protect the property to a water level of 40 feet, the predicted flood crest. His foresight was instrumental in saving not only the seminary, but a good part of north Fargo.
At the heart of the life at Cardinal Muench Seminary is the formation of men for the priesthood. From CMS, seminarians have gone on to major seminaries across the United States, some even to Rome, to complete their formation for priestly ordination. In 1973, Father Robert Laliberte was the first student who had begun his studies at CMS to be ordained a priest. Since then, 90 additional men have been ordained to the priesthood; others have been ordained permanent deacons. Today, 50 of the active clergy of the Diocese of Fargo are former students; 33 are pastors; seven of the nine pastors in the Fargo metropolitan area are graduates. Also among the graduates are the two vicars general of the Diocese of Fargo — the priests who are second only to the bishop in the administration of the diocese — as well as the vocation director of the Diocese of Bismarck. At this time one seminarian and two priest-graduates of CMS are studying in Rome
Other graduates, who discerned that they were called not to pursue priestly ordination, include North Dakota State Sen. Tim Mathern, Catholic novelist David Volk and others who have gone on to other leadership roles in local communities (for example, school principals, advocates for agriculture, etc.)
Forty years ago a different kind of field was planted on the north side of Fargo with the mission to respond to the prayer of the people who heeded the Lord’s request: “Pray the master of the harvest to send out laborers into his field” (Luke 10:2).
For more on the history of CMS and its programs, including pictures of the facility, visit the Web site at www.cardinalmuench.org.
Father Jasinski is Director of Formation at Cardinal Muench Seminary. Father Stelten taught Latin at the seminary from 1962 to 1977.