Welcome to Saint Vincent Archabbey

From The Sportsman's Hall Parish Later Named Saint Vincent 1790-1846, By Omer U. Kline, O.S.B., Published by Saint Vincent Archabbey, Latrobe, Pennsylvania, 15650-1690, U.S.A. © 1990, 1998 by Omer U. Kline. All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce this book or portions thereof in any form whatsoever.

Indication of Father Stillinger's dream can be found in the July 6, 1831, letter of father Simon Gabriel BrutÈ , S.S., from Mt. St. Mary's College in Emmitsburg, to Father Stillinger. Father BrutÈ - who was to become Bishop of the Diocese of Vincennes, Indiana - told him: "As for that good idea of a little college and seminary at Sportsman's Hall. . . you do well to submit it to your bishop." Father BrutÈ had advised early communication with Bishop Kenrick, since this type of idea would require much thought and preparation in the hope that its time would come. That time was eleven years later, when, while on visitation at Saint Vincent Parish, Bishop Kenrick noted on July 14, 1842, in his Diary and Visitation Record, that the plan to use the Sportsman's Hall property and the buildings thereon for a college and seminary was acceptable to both Father Stillinger and to Father Michael O'Connor, the Vicar General. In fact both Bishop Kenrick and Father O'Connor had entered into communication with Father John Timon, C.M., superior to the Vincentians in the United States and later the first Bishop of Buffalo, concerning the staffing of this proposed educational institution. But Father Timon eventually responded that he did not have, at that time, the manpower to staff such a college and seminary. The main drawback to this plan, however, appeared to have been the forecast that, in the impending division of the Diocese of Philadelphia, such a Sportsman's Hall college and seminary would most probably be in the territory of the new Diocese of Pittsburgh. But, with Father O'Connor, who would become the first Bishop of Pittsburgh one year later, the idea was germinal and would reach fruition with the coming of the Benedictines to Saint Vincent Parish in 1846.

Click to Enlarge
"The Saint Vincent of the Future" (1946)
Plans for campus expansion prior to the fire. Note campus expansion to the south, as opposed to the westward direction it is today. Note domed Basilica towers, buildings where the athletic fields are today, as well as field in the current Science Center location.

Father Stillinger had also shown other interests in education. When, in 1835, the Saint Vincent Church and parochial residence were built, he had also directed the construction of a small one-story brick structure, located approximately 250 feet to the southeast of the church. Father Stillinger had hoped to use this building for school purposes, but such was not the case, at least in those early years. As we shall learn presently, however, this little building would figure prominently in the next decades of the annals of Saint Vincent. Father Stillinger, further, in his 1870 autobiographical letter, demonstrated his interest in education by laying claim to having "purchased by his own funds" the farm two miles from Saint Vincent on which Saint Xavier Academy was to be built. But, as shall be seen later, major credit for the impetus of founding this institution of secondary education really belongs to others.

Education Dream