Saint Gregory’s Rises from the Ashes to Become Oklahoma’s Catholic University
St. Gregory University before dorms and additional classroom buildings were erected.

By Chele Carr
Saint Gregory’s

SHAWNEE — The year was 1913 and the Benedictine community of Sacred Heart Abbey had already faced countless challenges. Even when their monastery and school complex burned to the ground in 1901, they did not give up in the face of challenge. Rather, they intensified their efforts to rebuild from the ashes of disaster and looked for new opportunities to bring their efforts to an increased level of success.

One such opportunity came when the city of Shawnee offered a parcel of land on which the monks could establish a campus to replace the school complex that had been destroyed by fire. The city founders considered the presence of a Catholic university a wonderful cultural and economic asset. The monks considered the offer as an opportunity to bring their school to a growing center of population and commerce.

A partnership was forged, and in October 1912 construction began on a barren hill for a landmark building of ambitious proportions. Bishop Meers-chaert of Oklahoma City granted final approval for the new location on January 1, 1913. St. Gregory the Great was chosen to be the patron of the new endeavor in April, and in May, church officials and guests from far and near paused to bless and to celebrate the laying of the cornerstone for this new campus. According to the diary of Fr. Leo Gariador, OSB, construction crews were pouring concrete on the fourth floor of the new building on October 8, 1913. Classes began on the new campus September 9, 1915.

More than 90 years have passed since the cornerstone was laid for St. Gregory’s University. In that time, the tree-lined boulevard leading into campus has welcomed thousands of students and guests. The institution has also continuously responded to changing trends in student needs and the shifts in the market. In this light, while St. Gregory’s provided an excellent high school education for many years, it eventually opted to focus on college-level instruction in the 1960s. Likewise, in 1996 St. Gregory’s responded to the changing needs of our students, the climate of higher education and our own institutional needs when it took the bold step of designing a new type of bachelor’s degree that emphasized flexibility and personalized design. St. Gregory’s gained accreditation to offer bachelor’s degrees in 1997, and was quickly recognized as one of the “Best Small Colleges in America.”

“As St. Gregory’s approaches the centennial anniversary of its establishment in Shawnee, we reaffirm the mission and heritage that we have received as a Catholic and Benedictine community of higher learning,” said SGU President Fr. Lawrence, OSB. “The legacy of Benedictine education in Oklahoma is a strong one, and we at St. Gregory’s are very proud of the positive contributions made by the many alumni of our original schools at Sacred Heart, St. Gregory’s High School, St. Gregory’s College and now St. Gregory’s University.  

From the days at Sacred Heart, to the establishment of a new campus for working adults in Tulsa, St. Gregory’s has always evolved to meet the needs of the local population, and especially the needs of the Catholic Church in this region. The vision for St. Gregory’s is articulated in its strategic plan Building on a Firm Foundation - the Centennial Plan for St. Gregory’s University. This document outlines the many ways that St. Gregory’s will celebrate its Catholic and Benedictine heritage and tradition. It also emphasizes how St. Gregory’s will continue to provide education that focuses on student success; cultivate relationships with key constituent groups, and strengthen their resources to continue the development of facilities and programs; and to provide adequate financial assistance to students and families who wish to pursue their education at St. Gregory’s.

St. Gregory’s is currently in active dialogue with diocesan officials in Oklahoma City, Tulsa, Little Rock and Amarillo to understand more clearly how they might better serve the needs of the Catholic population in the area. Among other plans, the launching of a master’s degree program is anticipated in the near future, as well as the construction of a beautiful retreat and conference facility on the main campus in Shawnee.  

“We are grateful for the support and encouragement we have received from the Church in Oklahoma over the years, Fr. Lawrence stated. “As we move into the future, we will continue to cultivate the active participation and support of the Catholic population of Oklahoma and surrounding states to further strengthen our high quality academic programs, so that we might be a hub for the intellectual and spiritual development of our youth, young adults, families, lay ministers, religious and clergy.”