His Excellency, Bishop Sidney M. Metzger, J.C.D., S.T.D., after much prayer and consultation, recognizing the tremendous growth of the Diocese and the lack of Diocesan priests to take care of immediate needs and the future expansion of new parishes, decided to build a diocesan minor seminary.
The Jesuit Fathers offered to have the students take their academic training at Jesuit High School and the Director of Catholic Welfare offered the use of the Chapel and dining room facilities of St. Margaret's Manor which was staffed by the Incarnate Word Sisters.
With the property adjacent to St. Margaret's available for
this purpose Bishop Metzger, on the feast of Corpus Christi, June 1961, blessed
the ground for the new seminary and placed it under the patronage of St. Charles
Borromeo. Plans for the building program were drawn up by the firm of Carrol and Daeuble, El Paso Architects and construction by J. E. Morgan and Sons
began.
The first members of the Faculty were named: Very Rev. Roland A. Vonder Haar, Rector; Rev, John J. Finnegan, Vice Rector; Rev. Stephen H. Gotwals, Spiritual Director. Classes began for the seminarians at Jesuit September, 1961. Because the first building was not complete the students lived at home.
On December 10, 1961, the first dormitory was completed and the faculty and seminarians moved into the building. In February of 1962 His Excellency gave permission to set aside one room in the building where the Blessed Sacrament could be reserved.
On March 20, 1962 construction began on the second building to increase the dormitory facilities. This also made provision for a study hall and temporary chapel. On September 2, 1962, the second dormitory was completed and on October 12, 1962, the first Mass at the seminary was celebrated by Fr. Gotwals. On April 11, 1962 construction was started on the third building to be used for a dining room with a basement for indoor recreation. When the students returned from the Christmas vacation, January 3, 1963, the first meal was served.
In July, 1963, His Excellency appointed Very Rev. James B. Hay, as the second Rector. It was decided to have some classes at the Seminary. After consulting with the the Principal of Jesuit High School, Fr. John Vessels, S.J., a schedule was arranged by which the seminarians would attend Jesuit in the morning and have afternoon classes at the seminary. By renovating some of the existing buildings three temporary classrooms were made available. An outdoor area was blacktopped and facilities for tennis, basketball and handball were constructed.
Between the years of 1963 and 1966 classes were gradually transferred from Jesuit High to the Seminary itself. The Seminary was then included in the school system of the diocese and accredited by the Texas Education Agency in 1967.
