Saint Francis de Sales Seminary is a

seminary A seminary, school of theology, theological seminary, or divinity school is an educational institution for educating students (sometimes called ''seminarians'') in scripture, theology, generally to prepare them for ordination to serve as clergy ...

for the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Milwaukee, located in the

Milwaukee Milwaukee ( ), officially the City of Milwaukee, is both the most populous and most densely populated city in the U.S. state of Wisconsin and the county seat of Milwaukee County. With a population of 577,222 at the 2020 census, Milwaukee i ...

suburb of St. Francis, Wisconsin. Its main building, called Henni Hall, is listed on the

National Register of Historic Places The National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) is the United States federal government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures and objects deemed worthy of preservation for their historical significance or "great artistic ...

Dedication

The seminary was dedicated to

Francis de Sales Francis de Sales (french: François de Sales; it, Francesco di Sales; 21 August 156728 December 1622) was a Bishop of Geneva and is revered as a saint in the Catholic Church. He became noted for his deep faith and his gentle approach to ...

, seventeenth-century

Bishop A bishop is an ordained clergy member who is entrusted with a position of authority and oversight in a religious institution. In Christianity, bishops are normally responsible for the governance of dioceses. The role or office of bishop is ca ...

and saint of the

Roman Catholic Church The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the largest Christian church, with 1.3 billion baptized Catholics worldwide . It is among the world's oldest and largest international institutions, and has played a ...

History

The seminary was founded in 1845 in the home of Archbishop

John Henni John Martin Henni (June 15, 1805 – September 7, 1881) was a Swiss-born prelate of the Roman Catholic Church who served as the first Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Milwaukee, Wisconsin from 1843 until his death in 1881. Biography Early life a ...

, two years after the Archdiocese was established in Milwaukee. It is one of the original Roman Catholic seminaries in the United States and the oldest in continuous existence. It was founded to meet the demand for German-speaking priests in the Wisconsin Territory. Henni Hall was dedicated on January 29, 1856 after a new location was chosen for the seminary along the south shore of Lake Township. The building was 4.5 stories tall, Italianate-styled, with a U-shaped floor plan. The gingerbread ornamentation was added at a later date. It was expanded in 1868 and again in 1875, and later renovated in 1989. Christ King Chapel within Henni Hall was consecrated in June 1861 by Archbishop Henni. Archbishop

Michael Heiss Michael Heiss (April 12, 1818 – March 26, 1890) was a German-born prelate of the Roman Catholic Church who served as the first bishop of the Diocese of La Crosse in Wisconsin (1868–1880) and the second archbishop of the Archdiocese of Milwa ...

and Fr. Joseph Salzmann, the first two rectors, are buried beneath the chapel. The seminary's Salzmann Library was erected in 1908 and now contains more than 89,000 volumes. The Miller Gymnasium, a gift from the estate of Ernest G. Miller, was dedicated in 1927. Over the past 170 years, Saint Francis de Sales Seminary has graduated over 4,000 priests and over 400 deacons and lay ministers. Until 1941, it had included a

minor seminary A minor seminary or high school seminary is a secondary day or boarding school created for the specific purpose of enrolling teenage boys who have expressed interest in becoming Catholic priests. They are generally Catholic institutions, and ...

component, but in that year those students were merged with the students at Pio Nino High School to form the new St. Francis de Sales Preparatory Seminary. Since 2006, the seminary once again focuses solely on priestly formation. Church land accounts for a significant portion of the City of St. Francis. On the grounds of Saint Francis de Sales Seminary is a large undeveloped area known as the '' Seminary Woods'' which hosts a small cemetery and grotto honoring

Our Lady of Lourdes Our Lady of Lourdes (french: Notre-Dame de Lourdes) is a title of the Virgin Mary. She is venerated under this title by the Roman Catholic church due to her apparitions that occurred in Lourdes, France. The first apparition of 11 February 1858, o ...

. Archbishop Frederick Xavier Katzer is also buried here. Forty-nine tall maple trees line the long road that leads up to Saint Francis de Sales Seminary. Planted by

Austria Austria, , bar, Östareich officially the Republic of Austria, is a country in the southern part of Central Europe, lying in the Eastern Alps. It is a federation of nine states, one of which is the capital, Vienna, the most populous ...

n immigrant Siegfried Wegerbauer in the 1930s, their canopy now forms cathedral arches shading the path.Cathedral of maple boughs is an immigrant's legacy
''Milwaukee Journal Sentinel,'' August 9, 2005.

Our Lady of Lourdes Grotto

The Our Lady of Lourdes Grotto was built by

German German(s) may refer to: * Germany (of or related to) ** Germania (historical use) * Germans, citizens of Germany, people of German ancestry, or native speakers of the German language ** For citizens of Germany, see also German nationality law **Ge ...

born Paul Dobberstein while training at the seminary in 1894. During his studies he contracted double pneumonia and promised the

Blessed Virgin Mary Mary; arc, ܡܪܝܡ, translit=Mariam; ar, مريم, translit=Maryam; grc, Μαρία, translit=María; la, Maria; cop, Ⲙⲁⲣⲓⲁ, translit=Maria was a first-century Jews, Jewish woman of Nazareth, the wife of Saint Joseph, Jose ...

he would build a grotto in her honor, once he recovered. This monument can be found in Saint Francis de Sales Seminary's wooded area. It is free for anyone to view. Standing a mere ten feet tall, this grotto was Dobberstein's first attempt at grotto building. He used the knowledge and skills gained during its construction to build other grottos in

Wisconsin Wisconsin () is a state in the upper Midwestern United States. Wisconsin is the 25th-largest state by total area and the 20th-most populous. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake M ...

and

Iowa Iowa () is a state in the Midwestern region of the United States, bordered by the Mississippi River to the east and the Missouri River and Big Sioux River to the west. It is bordered by six states: Wisconsin to the northeast, Illinois to the ...

, including the massive

Grotto of the Redemption The Shrine of the Grotto of the Redemption is a religious shrine in West Bend, Iowa, in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Sioux City. A conglomeration of nine grottos depicting scenes in the life of Jesus, it contains a large collection of minerals a ...

found in

West Bend, Iowa West Bend is a city in Kossuth County, Iowa, Kossuth and Palo Alto County, Iowa, Palo Alto (originally) counties in the U.S. state of Iowa. The population was 791 at the time of the 2020 United States Census, 2020 census. History West Bend got its ...

. It is believed to have inspired

Mathias Wernerus Mathias, a given name and a surname which is a variant of Matthew (name), may refer to: Places * Mathias, West Virginia * Mathias Township, Michigan People with the given name or surname ''Mathias'' In music * Mathias Eick, Norwegian Jazz Musici ...

(who also attended Saint Francis de Sales Seminary) to build the Dickeyville Grotto in

Dickeyville, Wisconsin Dickeyville is a village in Grant County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 1,061 at the 2010 census. The Dickeyville Grotto is located in the heart of the village. History Dickeyville was not formally platted. The village was named ...

in 1930 and started the grotto building movement in America.

Notable alumni

Dismas Becker Dismas Becker (September 16, 1936 – September 19, 2010) was an American Democratic politician, civil rights activist, and former Discalced Carmelite friar and Catholic priest from Wisconsin. Life and career Born Paul Vincent Becker in 1936 ...

– Wisconsin legislator and civil rights activist *

Fabian Bruskewitz Fabian Wendelin Bruskewitz (born September 6, 1935) is an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church who served as bishop of the Diocese of Lincoln in Nebraska, from 1992 to 2012. He is known for often taking conservative stands on social ...

– Bishop of the

Roman Catholic Diocese of Lincoln The Roman Catholic Diocese of Lincoln ( la, Dioecesis Lincolnensis) is a Catholic diocese in Nebraska, United States, and comprises the majority of the eastern and central portions of the state south of the Platte River. It is a suffragan see to ...

Solanus Casey Solanus Casey, OFM Cap. (November 25, 1870 – July 31, 1957), born Bernard Francis Casey, was a priest of the Catholic Church in the United States and was a professed member of the Order of Friars Minor Capuchin. He was known during his lifetim ...

– Blessed priest * Edward Joseph Dunne – Bishop of the

Roman Catholic Diocese of Dallas Roman or Romans most often refers to: *Rome, the capital city of Italy *Ancient Rome, Roman civilization from 8th century BC to 5th century AD *Roman people, the people of ancient Rome *'' Epistle to the Romans'', shortened to ''Romans'', a lette ...

Mariano Simon Garriga Mariano Simon Garriga (May 30, 1886 – February 21, 1965) was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as bishop of the Diocese of Corpus Christi in Texas from 1949 until his death in 1965. Biography Early life Mariano G ...

– Bishop of the

Roman Catholic Diocese of Corpus Christi The Diocese of Corpus Christi ( la, Dioecesis Corporis Christi) is a Latin Church ecclesiastical territory or diocese of the Catholic Church in southern Texas. It was founded on March 23, 1912, having been the Vicariate Apostolic of Brownsville u ...

* Augustus F. Gearhard – Deputy Chief of Chaplains of the

U.S. Air Force The United States Air Force (USAF) is the air service branch of the United States Armed Forces, and is one of the eight uniformed services of the United States. Originally created on 1 August 1907, as a part of the United States Army Sign ...

Daniel Mary Gorman Daniel Mary Gorman (April 12, 1861 – June 9, 1927) was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as bishop of the Diocese of Boise in Idaho from 1918 until his death in 1927. Biography Early life Daniel Gorman was born ...

– Bishop of the

Roman Catholic Diocese of Boise The Diocese of Boise ( la, Diœcesis Xylopolitana) is a Latin Church ecclesiastical territory or diocese of the Catholic Church in the northwestern U.S., encompassing the entire state of Idaho. It is led by Bishop Peter F. Christensen, whose sea ...

James Groppi James Edmund Groppi (November 16, 1930 – November 4, 1985) was an erstwhile Catholic priest and noted civil rights activist based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He became well known for leading numerous protests, many times being arrested during ...

– Civil rights leader, Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Milwaukee *

Francis J. Haas Francis Joseph Haas (March 18, 1889 – August 29, 1953) was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic, Roman Catholic Church. He served as the sixth bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Grand Rapids, Diocese of Grand Rapids in Michigan from 1 ...

– Bishop of the

Roman Catholic Diocese of Grand Rapids The Roman Catholic Diocese of Grand Rapids ( la, Dioecesis Grandcataractensis) is a diocese of the Roman Catholic Church in western Michigan, in the United States. It comprises 80 parishes in 11 counties in West Michigan. It is a suffragan see to ...

* Jeffrey Haines – Auxiliary Bishop of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Milwaukee *

James Michael Harvey James Michael Harvey (born October 20, 1949) is an American prelate of the Catholic Church. Trained as a diplomat, he served from 1982 to 1998 in the central administration of the Holy See's Secretariat of State. From 1998 to 2012 Harvey managed ...

–

Cardinal Cardinal or The Cardinal may refer to: Animals * Cardinal (bird) or Cardinalidae, a family of North and South American birds **''Cardinalis'', genus of cardinal in the family Cardinalidae **''Cardinalis cardinalis'', or northern cardinal, the ...

* John Joseph Hennessy – Bishop of the

Roman Catholic Diocese of Wichita The Diocese of Wichita ( la, Dioecesis Wichitensis) is a Latin Catholic ecclesiastical territory or diocese of the Catholic Church in Kansas. It covers Allen, Bourbon, Butler, Chase, Chautauqua, Cherokee, Cowley, Crawford, Elk, Greenwood, Harpe ...

Donald J. Hying Donald Joseph Hying (born August 18, 1963) is an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church, serving as the bishop of the Diocese of Madison in Wisconsin since 2019. Hying previously served as bishop of the Diocese of Gary (in Indiana and ...

– Bishop of the

Roman Catholic Diocese of Gary The Diocese of Gary ( la, Dioecesis Gariensis) is a Latin Church ecclesiastical territory or diocese of the Catholic Church in northwest Indiana in the United States. It was founded on December 17, 1956, by Pope Pius XII. Its ecclesiastic territor ...

Francis Johannes Francis Johannes (February 17, 1874 – March 13, 1937) was a German-born prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Bishop of Leavenworth from 1929 until his death in 1937. Biography Francis Johannes was born in Mittelstreu, Bavaria, ...

– Bishop of the

Roman Catholic Diocese of Leavenworth The Roman Catholic Diocese of Leavenworth (Latin ''Leavenworthen(sis))'' is a Latin rite former bishopric and present titular bishopric in and originally around Kansas state, Midwestern United States. History * The future diocese was created on ...

Frederick Katzer Frederick Xavier Katzer (February 7, 1844 – July 20, 1903) was an Austrian-born prelate of the Catholic Church. He served as bishop of the Diocese of Green Bay in Wisconsin (1886–1891) and archbishop of the Archdiocese of Milwaukee in Wiscons ...

– Bishop of the

Roman Catholic Diocese of Green Bay The Roman Catholic Diocese of Green Bay ( la, Diocesis Sinus Viridis) was established on March 3, 1868, by Pope Pius IX. It covers the city of Green Bay, as well as Brown, Calumet, Door, Florence, Forest, Kewaunee, Langlade, Manitowoc, Marine ...

* Bernard B. Kroenke – Wisconsin legislator *

John Jeremiah Lawler John Jeremiah Lawler (August 4, 1862 – March 11, 1948) was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as bishop of the Diocese of Lead (later changed to Diocese of Rapid City) in South Dakota from 1916 until his death in 1948. ...

– Bishop of the

Roman Catholic Diocese of Rapid City The Diocese of Rapid City ( la, Dioecesis Rapidopolitana) is a Latin Church ecclesiastical territory or diocese of the Catholic Church in western South Dakota, United States. It is a suffragan in the ecclesiastical province of the metropolitan Arc ...

* Francis Peter Leipzig – Bishop of the

Roman Catholic Diocese of Baker The Diocese of Baker (Latin: ''Dioecesis Bakeriensis'') is a Latin Church ecclesiastical territory or diocese of the Catholic Church in Eastern Oregon, United States. It is a suffragan diocese in the ecclesiastical province of the metropolitan A ...

* Thomas Mathias Lenihan – Bishop of the

Roman Catholic Diocese of Cheyenne The Diocese of Cheyenne ( la, Dioecesis Cheyennensis) is a Latin Church ecclesiastical territory or diocese of the Catholic Church that encompasses the entire U.S. state of Wyoming. It is suffragan diocese in the ecclesiastical province of the met ...

* Joseph Patrick Lynch – Bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Dallas *

Aloisius Joseph Muench Aloisius Joseph Muench (February 18, 1889 – February 15, 1962) was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Bishop of Fargo from 1935 to 1959, and as Apostolic Nuncio to Germany from 1951 to 1959. He was elevated to the ...

–

* Thomas Lawrence Noa – Bishop of the

Roman Catholic Diocese of Marquette The Diocese of Marquette ( la, Diœcesis Marquettensis) is a Latin Church ecclesiastical territory or diocese of the Catholic Church, encompassing all of the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. The diocese is a suffragan diocese in the ecclesiastical pr ...

* Joseph Perry – Auxiliary Bishop of

Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Chicago The Archdiocese of Chicago ( la, Archidiœcesis Chicagiensis) is a Latin Church ecclesiastical jurisdiction or archdiocese of the Catholic Church located in Northeastern Illinois, in the United States. It was established as a diocese in 1843 an ...

Paul Peter Rhode Paul Peter Rhode ( csb, Paweł Pioter Rhode; September 18, 1871 – March 3, 1945) was a German-born prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as bishop of the Diocese of Green Bay in Wisconsin from 1915 until his death in 1945. Rhode wa ...

– Bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Green Bay *

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– Bishop of the

Roman Catholic Diocese of Bismarck The Diocese of Bismarck ( la, Dioecesis Bismarckiensis) is a Latin Church ecclesiastical territory or diocese In church governance, a diocese or bishopric is the ecclesiastical district under the jurisdiction of a bishop. History I ...

* James T. Schuerman – Auxiliary Bishop of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Milwaukee. *

Augustine Francis Schinner Augustine Francis Schinner (May 1, 1863 – February 7, 1937) was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as the first bishop of the Diocese of Superior in Wisconsin from 1905 to 1913 and as the first bishop of the Diocese ...

– Bishop of the

Roman Catholic Diocese of Superior The Diocese of Superior ( la, Dioecesis Superiorensis) is a Latin Church ecclesiastical territory or diocese of the Catholic Church that encompasses the city of Superior and the counties of Ashland, Barron, Bayfield, Burnett, Douglas, Iron, ...

Thomas Seery Thomas Seery (born February 19, 1945) is a lawyer and former member of the Wisconsin State Assembly. Background Seery was born on February 19, 1945, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He graduated from Archbishop Quigley Preparatory Seminary, and in 197 ...

– Wisconsin legislator * Richard J. Sklba – Auxiliary Bishop of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Milwaukee * Paul Francis Tanner – Bishop of the

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* John Henry Tihen – Bishop of the

Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Denver The Archdiocese of Denver ( la, Archidiœcesis Denveriensis) is a Latin Church ecclesiastical jurisdiction or diocese of the Catholic Church that encompasses northern Colorado. It is part of the XIII Conference Region and includes 113 parishes, 3 ...

* Charles Daniel White – Bishop of the

Roman Catholic Diocese of Spokane The Diocese of Spokane is a Latin Church ecclesiastical territory or diocese of the Catholic Church in the U.S. state of Washington. Headquartered in Spokane, the diocese encompasses Okanogan, Ferry, Stevens, Pend Oreille, Lincoln, Spokane, ...

* Paul Ssemogerere - Bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Kasana-Luweero, in Uganda

Notes

External links

Official website
{{DEFAULTSORT:Saint Francis Seminary Buildings and structures in Milwaukee County, Wisconsin Educational institutions established in 1845 Education in Milwaukee County, Wisconsin Grottoes Churches on the National Register of Historic Places in Wisconsin Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Milwaukee Catholic Church in Wisconsin Catholic seminaries in the United States Seminaries and theological colleges in Wisconsin Catholic universities and colleges in Wisconsin Tourist attractions in Milwaukee County, Wisconsin National Register of Historic Places in Milwaukee County, Wisconsin 1845 establishments in Wisconsin Territory