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The Oblate Presence Today As the 1930’s progressed, St. Pat’s continued to grow and school activities became an integral part of the Ottawa East community. Across Main St., ‘Scholaticate’ demands on space and teachers were also increasing. By the mid-1930’s the number of seminarians from various Canadian and American diocese had dramatically grown and space was desperately short. By now the ecclesiastical Faculties at the University of Ottawa had become a separate bloc of students who were priestly candidates and studied a religious rather that secular curriculum in Latin. It was decided therefore by the Senate to create a new seminary that would combine the Faculties in the same premises as the future priests. In 1936 the administration commenced building the new facilities on land near the Scholasticate. |
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| On May 23, 1937, the new University Seminary, dedicated to Saint Paul, was officially opened at 249 Main Street. Initially the Faculties of Theology and Canon Law moved into the building with the Faculty of Philosophy coming later in 1943. In 1948, the Institute of Missiology (later Mission Studies) was created and in 1957 the Pastoral Institute was established in response to the apostolic constitution "Sedes Sapientiae". | |
| Demands on space for an ever-increasing number of students and expanding library resulted in a recommendation to construct a further building between the Scholasticate and the Seminary. Construction began in 1958 and two years later Paul-Émile Cardinal Leger of Montreal opened the new Sedes Sapientiae Center. The building cost $1.5 million and accommodated 50 student-priests, 18 professors, 13 classrooms, a 325-seat lecture hall, cafeteria and a 100,000 volume library in a separate wing (27). In 1960, St. Paul Seminary taught 443 Canadian and foreign students, both men and women, from some 40 dioceses and 20 religious communities. The total staff included 46 full-time professors, 40 part-time lecturers with a support staff of 20 individuals (28). | |
| By the 1960’s, the University of Ottawa had grown to the point where it had become one of the principal institutions of higher learning in Canada. With this came increasing demands for funding. Up to that time the Oblates had the total responsibility for the cost of University operations. Public funds, except in special circumstances, were not available to any denominational school. As deficits grew, a solution was sought to both preserve the Catholic nature of the institution while at the same time, acquire the much-needed "public" classification. | |
| The solution to this financial dilemma came in 1965 with the creation of two new universities. St. Paul changed its title from a Seminary to a University. The University of Ottawa became a public institution and the sole responsibility of the Province of Ontario. The two universities then formed a federation with the agreement that Faculties and Departments would be shared. St. Paul became responsible for the Faculties of Theology and Canon Law and associated institutes. All ‘civil’ Faculties and Schools were now under the jurisdiction of the University of Ottawa. Only the Faculty of Philosophy remained both civil and canonical. | |
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St. Paul retained the Sedes Sapientiae and the Seminary on Main Street. With over 700 students and new research and teaching divisions by 1969 it became clear that new space was needed. The situation was somewhat attenuated when Oblate staff and student-priests moved out of the Sedes Sapientiae thereby providing more space for classrooms and offices. Then, in the autumn of 1981, a new addition was completed that was large enough to house a much-expanded library, a 175-seat amphitheatre, 4 classrooms, a media centre, offices and a work area. And St. Paul University continues to grow. By 2000, it had grown to include a Christian community of some 1,100 professors, instructors, support staff and students. In now houses: three Faculties (Theology, Philosophy and Canon Law); three institutes (Mission Studies, Pastoral and Social Communications); four journals; the Centre for Research in Canadian Religious History; the Centre for Techno-ethics; a publishing house (Novalis); and a Seminary for the formation of priests. A more complete story of the role St. Paul University plays in the Ottawa and world community can be found here. |
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| The story of the Oblates and Ottawa East has not ended. Indeed, it is a never-ending story! What began as Eugene de Mazenod’s vision in the early 1800’s in France blossomed into a world-wide movement that to this day continues to flourish and influence even small communities such as Ottawa East. The presence of the Oblate for Mary Immaculate on Main Street has allowed them to witness not only the very beginning of the Ottawa East community but all the changes throughout the centuries. Still the biggest landowner with the largest buildings, the spiritual work of this religious community daily attracts thousands of people into our community. As well the Oblates continue to be a major supporter of the churches, schools and the Ottawa East community at large. | |
| This chapter began with the assertion that the "historical importance" of the Oblates to Ottawa East could not be overstated. This can also be said of their "future importance"! | |
View Slide Show of all the Scholasticate Pictures |
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View Slide Show
of the Oblates of Mary Immaculate history pictures |
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For a more detailed listing of the footnotes go to Sources
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Return to Page Three of Oblate History