Plans for building an institution were approved by the State of Oceana in 1896; work started three years later. After much delay, because of financial problems, the institution was finished in 1909. James Smith was the first priest. At that time the Saint George's Chapel was still officially called the Roman Catholic Episcopical Institute of Saint George. It consisted of a monastery, nun's quarters, priest offices and a church. In 1920 an episcopical boarding school was added for locals.