in community, praying together and receiving spiritual direction. During the program's existence, 40 men participated, 15 of whom entered seminary, and as of 2013, six have been ordained priests. Despite these efforts, the high school program continued to decline in enrollment. In 1991, the high school program stopped having an independent faculty and the seminarians began attending classes at Shanley High School, as they had in the past. The last high school seminarian graduated in 2001, and the program ended. Bishop Samuel J. Aquila became Bishop of Fargo in 2002, and despite the declining enrollment, he continued to support the seminary. Effort was made to increase the seminary's enrollment, but it was unsuccessful. On April 8, 2010, Bishop Aquila announced that Cardinal Muench Seminary would close after the next academic year. The seminary officially closed on May 13, 2011, the Feast of Our Lady of Fátima. During its 49 years of existence, 923 men participated in Cardinal Muench Seminary programs. The seminary graduated 364 men, 123 of whom have been ordained priests as of 2013. Notable alumni Msgr. Brian Donahue, Vicar General of the Diocese of Fargo Tim Mathern, North Dakota state senator; attended the Cardinal Muench high school program List of rectors Rev. Edward Arth (1966 - ??? ); (1978 ???) Rev. Valentine G. Gross (?–1990) Rev. Brian Donahue (1990–2002) Msgr. Gregory J. Schlesselmann (2002–2011) See also List of Roman Catholic seminaries List of closed Roman Catholic seminaries in the United States References External links Seminary webpage Educational institutions established in 1962 Educational institutions disestablished in 2011 Defunct Catholic secondary schools in the United States Defunct Catholic universities and colleges in the United States Defunct schools in North Dakota Defunct private universities and colleges in North Dakota Catholic secondary schools in North Dakota Catholic seminaries in the United States Schools in Cass County, North Dakota School buildings completed in 1965 Seminaries and theological colleges in North Dakota 1962 establishments in North Dakota