Almost immediately recognized as being insufficient, planning for a third cathedral began shortly after construction was completed.

When Joseph Crétin was appointed as the bishop of the newly established Diocese of St. Paul in July 1851, a log chapel served as the first cathedral.

However, even prior to Crétin's arrival, Father Augustin Ravoux urged him to purchase land for a new cathedral to serve the fast-growing population of Saint Paul as the log chapel was proving too small.

Ravoux ended up buying twenty-two lots at the intersection of Wabasha and Sixth streets for $900 ($32,962 in 2023) for the purpose of building the new cathedral.

[1]: 5 [2]: 58 Crétin was initially hesitant to accept consecration as bishop of the new Diocese of Saint Paul because of the financial outlay required to build a cathedral.

[1]: 13  Crétin began education of seminarians in early 1853, selecting two boys, John Ireland and Thomas O'Gorman, out of the regular school.

[6]: 358  The damage was repaired, but in March 1889 the education of students was moved to a new location on Sixth and Main Streets.