After the Diocese of Madison closed Holy Name Seminary in Madison in 1995, a year of transition in 1996 was spent studying plans for use of the renamed Holy Name Catholic Center.
Tag: Holy Name Seminary
A timeline of key events in the Diocese of Madison’s 75-year history
Fifth in a series on the 75th anniversary of the Diocese of Madison
Following is a timeline of key events in the 75-year history of the Diocese of Madison under each of the diocese’s bishops.
Statue of Mary being restored
MADISON — With construction almost completed at Holy Name Heights — formerly Holy Name Seminary and the Bishop O’Connor Catholic Pastoral Center in Madison — there are many new and exciting changes that have taken place throughout the building over the past two years.
One thing that remains the same though is the statue of Mary that resides in the south courtyard of the building.
Thanks for coverage of Holy Name Heights and seminary
To the editor:
Just finished reading the August 25 copy of the Catholic Herald. Nice job! Super coverage of timely issues: back to school info/choices, refugee insights, lots of outreach info.
Most of all, thank you for Holy Name Heights coverage. Our son was a freshman at Holy Name Seminary High School during its last year open. Memories of the turmoil and sadness of that year still linger in the hearts of many.
A beloved building is reborn!
In 1995, many of us in the Diocese of Madison were very sad when Holy Name Seminary closed its doors.
The seminary had been a focal point for the diocese, with the building housing seminarians and many diocesan events. It was even the site of a pre-season training camp for the University of Wisconsin Badger football team for many years.
The seminary’s spire towered over the west side of Madison, a sign of the Church for all to see and hear as the seminary’s bells pealed every 15 minutes.
Holy Name ‘History Lounge’ seeks memories
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| Marc Ott, lead architect for Gorman & Company, displays some of the items that will be part of the History Lounge in Holy Name Heights, the former Holy Name Seminary in Madison (Catholic Herald photo/Kevin Wondrash). |
MADISON — “We really want to tell the entire story of what it was like to leave home and come to a seminary school and live every day with hundreds of other young men.”
In addition to being the lead architect on the project to repurpose the Bishop O’Connor Center (BOC) in Madison — the former Holy Name Seminary — Marc Ott from Gorman & Company has taken on a sentimental role.
Ott, member of St. Maria Goretti Parish in Madison, along with his wife and children who attend school there, is heading up the efforts to make part of the Holy Name Heights building a museum.
The so-called “History Lounge,” along with other parts of the building, will tell the stories of more than three decades of students who learned and lived within its walls.
The project has sentimental meaning for Ott who is a 1992 graduate of New Glarus High School and used to compete at Holy Name in football and wrestling.
Ott said it’s a “very special connection” and a “lot of fun” to work on the project there.
Looking back and looking ahead
Holy Name opened in 1963 and closed in 1995. The building was then renovated and re-opened in 1998 as the Bishop O’Connor Catholic Pastoral Center.
Since then, it has been serving as the home of diocesan offices and other organizations such as Catholic Charities, the Catholic Herald, Relevant Radio, and Catholic Mutual Group.
Within the last few years, studies were done to determine how to make better use of the building.
O’Connor Center project nearing completion
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| A look inside one of the fully-furnished apartments to be available at Holy Name Heights, located in the Bishop O’Connor Catholic Center (BOC) in Madison. (Catholic Herald photo/Kevin Wondrash) |
MADISON — People in the Diocese of Madison were recently given a “sneak peak” at the progress of the Bishop O’Connor Catholic Center (BOC) redevelopment.
The building served as Holy Name Seminary from 1963 until 1995. In 1998, it reopened as the Bishop O’Connor Catholic Pastoral Center. It has been serving as the home of diocesan offices and other organizations such as Catholic Charities, the Catholic Herald, Relevant Radio, and Catholic Mutual Group.
Within the last few years, studies were done to determine how to make better use of the building.
A decision was made for a historic redevelopment of the building, which would include converting part of it into 53 residential apartment units, to be called Holy Name Heights, along with still housing the diocesan and organization offices.
Gorman & Company was engaged by the diocese to serve as the developer of the $21 million project and provide architectural and construction services, and property management for the redevelopment.
Gorman successfully nominated the BOC as an historic landmark and had it placed on the National Register of Historic Places.
This designation enabled Gorman & Company to procure $5.8 million in historic tax credits to leverage for project costs.
Building tour
As dozens of potential tenants, former Holy Name students, and other interested guests sat in the Bishop O’Donnell Holy Name Memorial Chapel for the “sneak preview,” Msgr. James Bartylla, vicar general of the diocese, welcomed everyone to “an early vision how things are changing as we redevelop into these apartments.”
Holy Name Heights new residential community on Madison’s west side
MADISON — Imagine living in a unique apartment home in a beautiful historic building located on Madison’s west side, close to stores, restaurants, and golf courses.
As an added benefit for Catholics, this building offers weekday daily Masses and Eucharistic Adoration in a chapel featuring a large mosaic of Christ and stained glass windows, including one of Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta.
Celebrating continuity and new beginnings with redevelopment project
It’s time to celebrate both continuity and new beginnings, said Bishop Robert C. Morlino as he presided at a Mass and groundbreaking ceremonies for the redevelopment of the Bishop O’Connor Catholic Pastoral Center (BOC) on May 1.
Bishop O’Connor Center prepares for changes
MADISON — While not officially a done deal yet, the redevelopment plans for the Bishop O’Connor Center (BOC) in Madison are inching closer to reality.
This month, many items, including furniture and other items from the BOC, were given away to parishes, schools, and other organizations in the diocesan area.