Deep in the urban heart of Texas — in Houston, to be precise — St. Mary’s Seminary has been forming future priests for more than 100 years.

Begun in 1901, the seminary’s original mission was to foster native vocations and to form priests to serve throughout the Lone Star State.

It was established by Bishop Nicholas Gallagher, third bishop of the Diocese of Galveston. He founded a school for boys in La Porte, Texas, which was run by the Basilian Fathers and later by diocesan priests.

In 1951, on the golden anniversary of St. Mary’s, Bishop William Nold announced that a new seminary was to be built 25 miles to the west. The new, Houston-based seminary would be larger and more modern. 

In 1964, college seminarians began taking some of their classes at the University of St. Thomas, eight miles from the seminary. Four years later, the theology department at St. Mary’s became the Graduate School of Theology for the University of St. Thomas, founded by the Basilian Fathers. This arrangement would allow seminarians the chance to earn graduate degrees.

In 1986, an agreement between the Dioceses of Dallas and Galveston-Houston made St. Mary’s the seminary theologate. Holy Trinity, located on the campus of the University of Dallas, became the college seminary.

Today, seminarians from seven Texas dioceses are enrolled at St. Mary’s.

Mary’s Men

On my recent visit to the seminary, I was greeted by a beautiful statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary in the front drive. The statue is surrounded by flowers; the words “Mary, Mother of Priests” are engraved on the pedestal.

A brick bell tower, topped by a cross, stands tall alongside the chapel. Installed in 1954, the largest bell weighs 1,540 pounds.

The tower houses a 23-bell clarion. Over the years, its bells fell into disrepair. They were refurbished several years ago by a donation. Today they ring out a beautiful clarion call to Mass once again.

Inside the magnificent Romanesque chapel, abundant polished stone exudes an air of sanctity. There’s no mistaking that you’re in a house set apart for God, not a multi-purpose hall that can be used for various functions.

As I entered the chapel, light poured in from tall stained glass windows covering the north and south walls.

The windows on the south wall depict the traditional journey that a young man took on his way to the priesthood prior to the Second Vatican Council. The journey’s steps included first tonsure, minor orders and subdeaconate. They were done away with in 1972 by Pope Paul VI. Today one becomes a cleric through ordination to the deaconate.

On the opposite side of the chapel, the seven sacraments are depicted in the rich stained glass.

Behind the main altar is a beautiful semi-circle apse colored by bright tiles and dazzling gold trim. The mosaic represents a passage from the Apocalypse, Revelation 22:1-2, which serves as the main scriptural theme of the chapel:

“Then the angel showed me the river of life-giving water, sparkling like crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb down the middle of its street. On either side of the river grew the tree of life that produces fruit 12 times a year, once each month; the leaves of the trees serve as medicine for the nations.”

Below the apse, a small marble baldacchino with an image of the Holy Spirit canopies the brilliant gold tabernacle.

An organ built around 1920, part of the original La Porte seminary chapel, sits in the choir loft. Over the years the old organ has been refurbished and converted into an electric instrument.

Above the organ, colorful rays of red, blue and white light shine in through a circular window honoring the Virgin Mary as the Mystical Rose. The exterior of this window is framed by sculpted images of an ox, lion, human and eagle. These beautifully detailed icons are the traditional symbols of the four Gospel writers as described in Revelation 4.

The seminary grounds have a mission feel. Sidewalks overhung by arched canopies connect the buildings. A statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary watches over the grounds from a pedestal in the center of the seminary courtyard.

I noted that a slight breeze could be heard rustling through the trees and shrubs on this 50-acre wooded area. The campus’s tranquility, I thought, must make it an ideal setting to discern one’s vocation.

During its rich history, St. Mary’s has graduated numerous pastors and bishops from its formation program. Included in this group are Archbishop Patrick Flores and Archbishop Joseph Fiorenza, now both retired after having served the Catholic Church in Texas for many years.

In his 1992 apostolic exhortation Pastores Dabo Vobis (On the Formation of Priests), Pope John Paul II wrote:

“The formation of future priests, both diocesan and religious, and lifelong assiduous care for their personal sanctification in the ministry and for the constant updating of their pastoral commitment, is considered by the Church one of the most demanding and important tasks for the future of the evangelization of humanity.

The Church’s work of formation is a continuation in time of Christ’s own work, which the evangelist Mark illustrates in these words: ‘And he went up on the mountain, and called to him those whom he desired; and they came to him. And he appointed 12 to be with him and to be sent out to preach and have authority to cast out demons’” (Mark 3:13-15).

May Mary, the Mother of Priests, continue to watch over St. Mary’s — and may God bless its efforts with many holy priests.

Eddie O’Neill writes from

Green Bay, Wisconsin.

Planning Your Visit

Daily Mass at the seminary chapel is at 7:30 a.m. (Tuesday in Spanish). Saturday Mass is at 11:30 a.m. Sunday Mass is at 9:30 a.m. Holy Hour with Eucharistic adoration is offered Sunday evenings at 7:30. All are open to the public.

For more information on the seminary, the University of St. Thomas or the Basilian Fathers, visit stthom.edu/academics/schools/stmary on the Internet.

Getting There

St. Mary’s Seminary is located at

9845 Memorial Drive

. For directions, call (713) 686-4345 or e-mail [email protected].