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Emmaus Hall
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Emmaus Hall from left to right: 1950, 1993 and 2006 (click thumbnails for larger image)
For more photos, click here.
Architect: Jackson and Associates, St. Cloud; Grooters, Leapaldt, Tideman
Contractor: Wahl Construction Company, St. Cloud, Minnesota
Dates: 1950–1951; renovation 1993-1994
Emmaus Hall was constructed in 1950 by the Diocese of Saint Cloud as a seminary for priesthood students. The architect was Frank W. Jackson, St. Cloud. It was commonly called “the Seminary” or “Cloud Hall”. The building is a four story structure of reinforced concrete faced with brick and other decorative stone. The lounge and library are enhanced by a series of stained glass windows. It cost $600,000 to build the housing for the expected 100 seminarians from not only Saint Cloud from various dioceses across the country. The building was blessed on 16 September 1952 by Cardinal Edward Mooney of the Archdiocese of Detroit, two archbishops and 24 bishops from 12 states and Yugoslavia.
A mural of Mary, Queen of the Apostles, was added behind the altar in 1960. It depicts Mary and the 12 Apostles. The mural was comissioned by Rev. William A. Renner and took nearly two years to complete. It was painted in Rome by professor Enrico Guadenzi who used live models to create the mural. Upon completion, it was shipped to SJU and installed the St. Paul Statuary Co.
In the 1960s, after Vatican Council II, there was a decline in seminarians across the nation. At first the extra spaces were used for overflow housing for the university, but Rome preferred that the seminary be a separate building. St. Cloud's Bishop Jerome Hanus bequeathed the seminary building back to St. John’s in 1988. With that transfer, the old seminary received its new identity as Emmaus Hall, and was used for housing lay and religious students of the School of Theology. “Emmaus” is the town to which the disciples were walking after Easter morning when Jesus came and walked with them and explained the scriptures; at Emmaus they recognized the risen Lord in the breaking of the bread.
In 1993, a significant renovation was undertaken: 10 apartments were created as well as 22 larger rooms and 33 single rooms making occupancy at 65 students. At that time, Seminary students began to be housed in the renovated St. Francis (Frank) House and School of Theology students to live in Emmaus Hall. Also some classrooms were built in the ground floor of Emmaus Hall for the School of Theology. It has also served as office space for some of the various programs of the university.
Housing was provided on the second floor of Emmaus Hall in Fall 2011 for female boarding students enrolled at St. John's Prep, who had previously lived in Richarda Hall at CSB.
Bibliography“Archbishop Murray Dedicates Seminary,” St. Cloud Register, Vol. 28, No. 39, page 1.
Barry, Colman OSB, Worship and Work, 1980, pp. 295-296.
Bourassa, Stan. "Students in Diocesan Seminary Like Facilities of New Building," The Record, 29 February 1952, p. 2. [Also photo of basement recreation room on p. 4.]
Culhane, Dick “Seminary Cornerstone Laid Today,” The Record, 27 April 1950.
"Fr. Kevin appointed rector; Saint John's assumes control of seminary," Saint John's Magazine, vol. 27, no. 4, Summer 1988, p. 9
McDonald, James X., “Cardinal Presides at Blessing of Diocesan Seminary Building,” The Record, 26 September 1952.
"Mural Adorns Chapel," The Record, February 12, 1960, p. 4.
Twomey, Joseph “St. John’s Seminary Rediscovered” The Record, 9 April, 1992 p. 6.
Yzermans, Vincent A., The Spirit in Central Minnesota, Vol. 1, 1989. pp 337-341.
See Also:
Bachmeiser, Ben. "Taking a Cue." The Record, 15 February 1966, p. 4.