[1] The Bishop of Fargo, Cardinal Aloisius Joseph Muench, wished to establish a seminary, but retired in 1959 before the project could be begun.
In 1957, a powerful tornado struck the city of Fargo, destroying hundreds of homes on the north side as well as damaging Sacred Heart Convent and Shanley High School.
[1][2] Cardinal Muench's successor, Bishop Leo Ferdinand Dworschak, instructed that the now-vacant Sacred Heart Convent be reconstructed as a minor seminary for high school boys.
[1][2] After Cardinal Muench died in February of that year, the seminary was renamed in his honor, though it still remained under the patronage of St. Pius X.
[1][2] Bishop Dworschak expounded on the reason for the renaming, writing at the time:"Before he could launch the project of a seminary he was called upon to exchange his title of Bishop of Fargo for the high office of a cardinal; and, before we could actually begin operation of the minor seminary which is now in preparation, Cardinal Muench was called to his eternal reward...
There is no way in which we—bishop, clergy, religious and people—can pay a finer tribute to his memory than by supporting the work in which he was so interested through prayer, through encouragement of vocations and through financial help.
[1] Bishop Dworschak decided that a new facility was necessary, and an 80-acre property was chosen on Fargo's north side, a short distance.
[1] Construction began in 1965, and was completed in the fall of 1966, making it the largest building project the Diocese of Fargo had ever undergone.
[1][2] Now, Cardinal Muench seminarians would matriculate to North Dakota State, and the seminary would provide philosophy, humanities, and classics instructors to the university.
[1] During the late 1980s and early 1990s, the seminary, in conjunction with the Diocese of Fargo, began increasing outreach efforts to attract seminarians.