St. Viator College
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| St. Viator College | |
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| Active: | 1865—1939 |
| Type: | Private |
| Religious affiliation: | Catholic |
| Students: | 300 |
| Location: | Bourbonnais, IL, USA (Coordinates: ) |
| Campus: | Rural (now Suburban) |
St. Viator College was a Catholic institution of higher education founded 1865[1] in Bourbonnais, Illinois by the Viatorians. St. Viator College had a preparatory department and high school in addition to the college and seminary. Under financial pressure, it closed in 1939.[2]
St. Viator's grew out of the original village school, in 1865 to an academy for boys[3] with the help of Father P. Beaudoin and Brothers Martel and Bernard, and in 1868 to a four-year college with the aid of Father Thomas Roy. After nine years of work, Father Roy, after whom Roy Memorial Chapel was named, returned to his home in Canada, and was succeeded by Father M. J. Marsile, who oversaw the College for another 25 years. Marsile Alumni Hall was named in his honour.[2]
In 1906, several buildings were destroyed by fire, but courses continued in improvised quarters and new buildings were erected. Father Marsile afterward resigned, and Reverend J. P. O'Mahony C.S.V. was appointed president. For most of its years, the College had an enrollment of over 300 students. Many of the College's graduates were priests, but even more entered the professions of law and medicine.[2] During its existence, St. Viator was the host of the Catholic State Basketball Tournament for Illinois.[4]
After St. Viator's closed in 1939,[1] the campus was purchased by Olivet Nazarene College.[5]
Contents |
[edit] Notable people
- Fulton J. Sheen[6]
- John Tracy Ellis[7]
- G. Raymond Sprague[8]
- Bernard James Sheil[9]
[edit] Notes and references
- ^ a b http://www.kcc.cc.il.us/hss/jpaul/french%20canadian/Page_17x.html Chronology: A Time-Line of French, French-Canadians, Illinois, Bourbonnais, Kankakee, and the World, p.17]
- ^ a b c The Catholic Encyclopedia: An International Work of Reference.. by Charles George Herbermann, Edward Aloysius Pace, Condé Bénoist Pallen, Thomas Joseph Shahan, John Joseph Wynne. Published 1913, Robert Appleton Co., p.400
- ^ Viatorians: Where We Serve Around the World (Chicago)
- ^ Illinois High School Association, Illinois H.S.toric: Catholic High School Basketball Tournaments in Illinois by ROBERT PRUTER
- ^ History of the Village of Bourbonnais
- ^ www.fultonsheen.com -- Biography
- ^ http://www.onr.com/user/cat/csw/volume4/v4memoria.htm
- ^ "Father Sprague, senior priest of diocese, dies at 92," Catholic Archdiocese of Peoria, Catholic Post, May 6, 2001.
- ^ "Meat, and a Bishop," Time, Monday, Jul. 24, 1939.
