Saint Francis de Sales Seminary was the brainchild of Bishop Eugene McGuinness. As part of his vision of growth during the post-World War II boom, he saw the necessity to construct a seminary to ensure future priests for the Diocese of Oklahoma City and Tulsa. Bishop McGuinness was determined to open a minor seminary (high school and the first two years of college) to serve the state and surrounding dioceses.
As a selling point of the Jubilee Drive of 1955, in which the diocese raised $3 million, the funds were now available to accomplish what his predecessor and friend Bishop Francis Kelley could not, given the failed Saint John Vianney Seminary near Tulsa in the early 1930s. The campus on Northwest Expressway was completed in 1959 and dedicated by the Cardinal Archbishop of Chicago, Albert Meyer, on May 14 of that year. Before its completion, seminarians had been trained elsewhere or at the temporary facilities at Saint Joseph’s Orphanage. Sadly, Bishop McGuinness did not live to see its completion, leaving this life on Dec. 27, 1957.
The architecture was mid-century modern and the art in the terrazzo floors as well as the chapel was created by an Oklahoma priest, Father John Walch. Trained at the Art Institute of Chicago, Father Walch designed the layout and what it would entail. The corpus on the crucifix as well as the representations of the Blessed Mother holding a stole and the patron of the diocese, Saint Joseph are terra cotta and were cast for the sacred space. In photos of the dedication, the corpus is not yet attached. Further photos explain why as the original arrived in several pieces.
One of the most beautiful and predominant features are the stained-glass windows. They depict the 12 Apostles and several saints that are part of the intellectual tradition of the Church. However, it is important to note some of the other saints are pertinent to Oklahoma Catholic history, including The Little Flower, Saint Therese, for the immense contribution of the Carmelites; Saint Martin de Porres for the outreach to African Americans; Saint Kateri and the American Indian apostolate as well as Mother Francis Cabrini and her involvement with Italian immigrants.
The question as to the orientation (toward the altar) of the windows has spawned numerous explanations. The most popular explanation is that the light from the windows gives the feeling that one is surrounded by the communion of saints. The truth is slightly less pious. Father Walch recalled that he wanted natural light so the windows would be clear. Bishop McGuinness had a different notion and insisted upon stained glass. Fortunately, Father Walch was obedient.
Besides Oklahoma students, seminarians came from dioceses such as Dodge City, Wichita and Amarillo. At its apex in 1963, approximately 150 students attended. Instructors were diocesan priests and members of the Vincentian order. By 1966, the high school section was closed, and the college ceased to function in 1967 as only 14 had applied for the 1967-1968 academic year. The facility was then a space that could be utilized by groups, Catholic and non-Catholic, for meetings and retreats under the title of the Center for Christian Renewal.
Archbishop Charles Salatka moved the archdiocesan offices from a building on Classen Boulevard to the old seminary and renamed it the Archdiocesan Pastoral Center (later Catholic Pastoral Center) in 1984. To accomplish this task, a major renovation occurred, and classrooms were split into offices and consequently in odd dimensions.
Five years ago, under Archbishop Coakley, a significant facelift and rethinking of the space took place. The result was a more efficient and attractive facility that will serve the archdiocese for decades to come.