By Joe Pinter, News Editor, @JPinter93
November 1, 1948
By the 1850s, the Vatican realized there was a problem in Western New York. They thought the solution should be to expand the churches in the area and have an organized, structured service. It also wanted to build a school that would produce clergy members. However, this would not be fully completed until the next century.
By the mid 9th century, Rev. Thomas Plassmann, O.F.M. traveled to Rome and spoke to Pope Pius XI to get permission for a new seminary—the Christ the King seminary. Plassmann thought “Christ the King” was as fitting a name as he could think of.
He received permission, and a seminary was built in Olean, N.Y, in 1933.
However, a decline in Catholic followers forced the church to reorganize itself. The seminary was moved to East Aurora, and it was on this day that groundbreaking for the new Christ the King seminary was held.