Priest Training and the Scholaticate

The training of candidates for the priesthood was of paramount importance to the Oblate superiors from the very beginning of the College. Originally diocesan priesthood students were educated at a small seminary established by Bishop Guigues in 1848 near the College. Courses were taught by professors from the College and senior seminarians. In 1856 the responsibility from this was take over by the Oblates. Students traditionally studied dogma and moral theology. In 1868 the number of subjects increased to include Scripture, canon law, church history and homiletics (art of preaching). The program was extended even further in 1877.

With the Oblate priesthood candidates now geographically separate from the University of Ottawa, the past issues of Anglicization of the institution once again appeared. Under the rectorship of Fr. James McGuckin (1889-1898) many of the Oblates (including those from France) set about to transform the University into an English-Language institution. The argument was that for the University to survive, two Catholic schools were needed: one in Quebec City for Francophones; and one in Ottawa for Anglophones. This "was stoutly opposed by the large majority of French-Canadian Oblates" (19).

The French-Canadian Oblate Fr. Constantineau replaced the Irish-born Fr. McGuckin in 1898. He immediately set about, with the support of now Archbishop Duhamel, to restore French at the University. To reduce opposition, he had the "dynamic and controversial Anglo-Irish leader Michael Frances Fallon" (20) removed from the office of Vice-Rector. But Fallon did not give up his battle with the "French Fact" and continued his political fight against bilingual education. In 1910, after being appointed Bishop of London Ontario, he stated that:

"we are in an English-speaking Province . . . on an English-speaking continent where the boys and girls going out to fight the battle of life must be equipped, first with English, that at all hazards; if on top of that they are able to speak French of Italian or Polish or any other language, all well and good, but the grounding in English is absolutely essential" (21).

This sentiment echoed throughout Ontario and in many cases severely divided separate school boards. Franco-Ontarians saw this political stance on the part of many Oblates as identical to the position taken by most Anglophone institutions such as the Orange Lodge (a powerful Protestant force at that time).

The dispute was further inflamed by the Province in 1912 when it issued the infamous "Instruction 17". Later called Regulation 17, this edict limited financial support for French-language instruction in all schools to the early years of elementary school and as a distinct subject (not the language of instruction) to be taught for a maximum of one hour daily. French-Canadians viewed this regulation (until it was revoked in 1927) as "unparalleled provincial tyranny abetted by Irish Catholics" (22).

By 1915, ‘Irish’ Oblate staff members at the University decided that they could no longer abide by an increasing amount of French and left along with a large number of anglophone students (23). A bitterly divided Catholic hierarchy appealed to Rome and was promptly "urged to practice moderation and respect for differences"(24). It was clear however that the most acceptable solution to the conflict was institutional separation.

In Rome during March of 1925, the General Administration of the Oblate Order created a commission to review the Canadian organization. The result was that the Oblates would be organized along linguistic lines and in 1926, St. Peters Province was created. This was to include only English-speaking Oblates.

The land that had been purchased was originally part of the George Patterson holdings in the area and was referred to as "Patterson’s Field" (25). Overlooking Echo Drive and the Rideau Canal (across from Patterson Creek), the magnificent structure of St. Patrick’s College of the University of Ottawa (affectionately known as "St. Pat’s) was constructed.

The initial enrolment of 135 boys in September of 1929, in their first year of high school, was housed in temporary quarters at St. Joseph’s Church on Laurier Avenue. The first wing was completed in September of 1930 at a cost of $500,000 (26). A second wing was finished a year later at a cost of $150,000. A huge addition that was to include an auditorium, chapel, science building and sports complex with a gymnasium and swimming pool was not built, as the economic restrictions created by the Depression could not afford the $1,500,000 price tag.