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St. Mary's Seminary & University

First in the Nation, Unmatched in Effectiveness

St. Mary’s is the first Roman Catholic seminary in the United States, still preparing priests from across the nation and the world. It is also home to St. Mary’s Ecumenical Institute and the Center for Continuing Formation. Thank you for joining us!

Learn About St. Marys
The Seminary

The Seminary

St. Mary’s Seminary/School of Theology was founded in 1791 by the Society of Saint Sulpice whose primary mission is to form candidates for the Roman Catholic priesthood. The Sulpicians came at the request of Bishop John Carroll to prepare priests for the newly formed nation. In the Sulpician tradition, seminarians, faculty, and formators comprise a formational community, grounded in Jesus Christ and primarily directed toward diocesan priestly service in the Church.

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The Ecumenical Institute

The Ecumenical Institute

St. Mary’s Ecumenical Institute (EI) was founded in 1968 as part of St. Mary’s Seminary & University, America’s oldest Roman Catholic seminary, in cooperation with ecumenical leaders. The Ecumenical Institute encourages people of all denominations to explore theological studies in a serious, open-minded, and supportive environment.

All EI programs are available wherever you are – on campus in Baltimore, and on-line.

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The Center For Continuing Formation

The Center For Continuing Formation

Opened in 1996, it is the mission of the Center for Continuing Formation to encourage bishops, priests, deacons, and lay ecclesial ministers to engage in human, spiritual, intellectual, and pastoral growth and to enable processes of growth that are ongoing, complete, systemic, and personalized. We offer special programs each year for pastors, newly ordained priests, and senior priests. We also hosts various bishops’ meetings, ecumenical gatherings, and other conferences as well.

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News

Lessons and Carols at St. Mary’s 2024

Once again, Advent arrives with the yearly celebration of Lessons and Carols at St. Mary’s. Join us on Monday, December 2, 2024 at 7:00 PM in St. Mary’s Chapel.

Register to Attend (free)

St. Mary’s Bids Farewell to Msgr. Hansen

The Holy Father, Pope Francis, has appointed our own Msgr. Fredrik Hansen as the Coadjutor Bishop of Oslo, Norway, the diocese of which Msgr. Hansen is a priest. Msgr. Hansen leaves for Norway on Monday, November 4th and we hope that he will be able to return for the last few weeks of the semester to say his goodbyes, after having worked at St. Mary’s for the last two years and having served as our Dean of Seminarians. He has been an invaluable part of our administration and our St. Mary’s community and we are rejoicing for this good news and sad for our loss of his wonderful presence at the same time. When he spoke this morning Msgr. Hansen asked for our prayers as he embarks on this new responsibility and assured us of his prayers for the entire St. Mary’s Community. Ad multos annos!

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Coming Moral Theology Conference

The third annual meeting of the Moral Theology & Seminary Teaching conference will take place on April 25 and 26, 2025 at St. Mary’s Seminary & University in Baltimore, MD. The conference is open to all Catholic moral theologians, but the focus of the conference is specifically on seminary teaching. Proposals for papers being taken.

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Effective 8/17/2023

The mandatory Covid vaccine policy has been lifted. Contact the Vice Rector’s office with any questions.

Review open positions at St. Mary’s Seminary & University.

Job Opportunities

Profile of a Seminarian

St. Mary’s is looking to the future of priestly ministry in the United States.

Our mission today as it will be tomorrow is to enable and support the formation of holy men, who are emotionally and psychologically mature, committed and equipped to meet fully the rigors of pastoral ministry in the Twenty-First Century with joy and authentic Christian witness. The people of God deserve nothing less.

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Explore the many ways you can support us

You can be part of the mission of St. Mary’s Seminary & University. First, and most importantly, pray for us: our faculty, seminarians, students, and staff. Then, if you are able and wish to contribute financially, there are many ways to give and opportunities to direct your donation to specific programs in St. Mary’s.