St. Mary's Seminary is the first Roman Catholic seminary in the nation: rich in tradition while focused on priestly preparation for the 21st-century.
These pages provide information on the history, personnel, environment, and formation (in the Sulpician tradition) at St. Mary's.
The three pages in this section of our site touch on the very basics of the formation process.
A major part of priestly formation is intellectual formation, accomplished through the pursuit of academic degrees.
Desiring to assist in the strengthening of Hispanic ministry and recognizing the need for well-prepared priests dedicated in-part or in-full to this ministry, St. Mary’s Seminary and University has established a specialized track in Hispanic ministry.
St. Mary’s Propaedeutic Stage implements the vision of the Program for Priestly Formation (6th edition). It takes place in a revitalized and expanded structure on the historic grounds of the original St. Mary’s Seminary in downtown Baltimore. The McGivney House welcomes candidates from all dioceses and is not limited to candidates destined to enter St. Mary’s Seminary & University, but is the recommended program for those who will come to St. Mary’s.
St. Mary’s Ecumenical Institute (EI) was founded in 1968 by St. Mary’s Seminary & University, America’s oldest Roman Catholic seminary, in cooperation with ecumenical leaders. St. Mary’s is accredited by the Association of Theological Schools and by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools. 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.
The Ecumenical Institute invites people of all denominations into theological study that pursues excellence and promotes ecumenical understanding and respect. All EI programs are available wherever you are - on campus in Baltimore, and on-line.
St. Mary's Ecumenical Institute has a rolling admissions policy. Students may apply at any time for admission by submitting the appropriate materials.
The Ecumenical Institute offers accredited graduate theological programs for two master’s degrees, several graduate certificates, and introductory explorations.
The post-master’s Certificate of Advanced Studies in Theology (CAS) is designed for individuals who possess a master’s degree in theology (e.g., MAT.), ministry (e.g., MACM), divinity (e.g., MDiv), or a related field and who desire to continue their theological education with a general or focused program of study.
The Doctor of Ministry program roots ministry in the mission of God, the ways God is working in your context, in your ministry, and in you.
Students have a host of resources available to support their theological education, from free parking and a great library to writing assistance and advising.
St. Mary's Ecumenical Institute offers accredited graduate theological education that is intellectually rigorous, personally enriching, and professionally empowering.
More than 750 alums of St. Mary's Ecumenical Institute are making a difference in Baltimore, in Maryland and D.C., West Virginia and Pennsylvania, and around the world.
General communication and individual contacts
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.
Forming Supervisors for Vocational Synthesis implements the vision of the Program for Priestly Formation (6th edition) for the final stage of preparation for the priesthood.
Conference space rentals include a large room that will seat as many as 58 and smaller rooms that will seat from 4 to 30.
St. Mary's Center for Continuing Formation offers and hosts a variety of continuing formation programs for priests in the spirit of the Bishops' new Basic Plan for the Ongoing Formation of Priests.
St. Mary’s Seminary & University’s Pinkard Scholars is the cornerstone of Youth Theological Studies at SMSU.
For more information about any of our conference facilities or space rentals, please contact our offices directly.
The Marion Burk Knott Library of St. Mary’s Seminary and University is the largest specialized theological library in the Baltimore area, with additional materials in the areas of philosophy, psychology, pastoral counseling and church history, among others. The library receives over 390 periodicals and maintains a collection of 20,000 volumes of bound periodicals. Other holdings include newspapers, microfilm, and audio-visual materials.
The Associated Archives at St. Mary’s Seminary & University opened in the spring of 2002. Located on the campus of the nation’s first Roman Catholic seminary, this program brings together the archives of the Archdiocese of Baltimore (est. 1789), St. Mary’s Seminary & University (est. 1791), and the Associated Sulpicians of the United States (U.S. Province est. 1903), making it one of the most significant repositories for records relating to the early history of the Catholic Church in the United States.
Click here for more information about hours and visitor policies.
This section was created to provide researchers with a brief description of the open collections in the archives of the Archdiocese of Baltimore, St. Mary's Seminary & University, and the Associated Sulpicians of the United States.
The Associated Archives at St. Mary’s Seminary & University has developed a genealogical policy responsive to individuals researching their Catholic roots.
We facilitate personal integration of the human, spiritual, intellectual, and pastoral dimensions necessary for authentic priestly witness and service in the image of Jesus Christ.
April 21, 2025
Dear Seminarians, Faculty Members, Staff and all Members of the St. Mary’s Community,
The St. Mary’s Seminary and University community, students, faculty, and staff join Catholics everywhere and the whole world in mourning the passing of Pope Francis. Pope Francis began his pontificate proclaiming the God’s mercy and concluded with a message of hope. Throughout he called upon all people to recognize the goodness of creation and take better care of the environment our lives depend on. He emphasized God’s love for all and encouraged Christians in particular to avoid judging others and to mirror God’s love to them. He focused attention on the essentials of the faith of Christians, and on its entirety, encouraging us to address our particular concerns from that perspective. He encouraged all of us who believe to exude the joy of the Gospel.
Pope Francis modeled what it means to be a priest after the heart of Jesus Christ: accompanying people and ministering to them with mercy, compassion, love and fidelity to the Magisterium. For thirteen years as our Holy Father he was an example of the kind of priest who strives to live that ideal. Forming priests after the heart of Jesus is the central mission of St. Mary’s. May the model and the legacy of Pope Francis continue to inspire those being formed for the priesthood and those who serve as priests. May our memories of Pope Francis continue to animate the ministry of those who serve the Church, especially priests, and for us at St. Mary’s those who carry out the important work of forming future priests for service in the Church, to God’s people, to all people.
Rev. Phillip J. Brown, P.S.S. President Rector St. Mary’s Seminary & University
St. Mary’s Own “Home Opener!” On Saturday, March 30, St. Mary’s seminarians held their annual wiffle ball spring opener. Team Redemptorists—coached by Professor of Moral Theology and Spirituality, Rev. Dennis Billy, C.Ss.R.—faced off against Team Sulpician—coached by St. Mary’s President Rector, Rev. Phillip Brown, P.S.S.—on a sunny “field of dreams.” Team Redemptorist won the contest which, of course, included a spring picnic lunch, games, and good times.
Below are some event photos (click on the thumbnail to open the full-size picture).
On Wednesday, March 19—the Solemnity of St. Joseph—St. Mary’s Seminary welcomed back Oslo coadjutor Bishop Fredrik Hansen, former faculty member, Dean of Seminarians, and Sulpician Candidate, for the Pontifical Mass celebrating the Feast of St. Joseph followed by a festive reception. His Eminence, Cardinal Christophe Pierre, Apostolic Nuncio to the United States of America, Baltimore Archbishop William Lori and Sulpician Provincial Very Rev. Daniel Moore, P.S.S. joined over 100 special guests for the celebration.
Below the photos which follow is the text of Bishop Hansen’s homily.
(view/download as PDF)
Bishop Fredrik Hansen St. Mary’s Seminary and University, Baltimore 19 March 2025
2 Samuel 7:4-5a, 12-14a, 16 Psalm 89:2-3, 4-5, 27 and 29 Romans 4:13, 16-18, 22 2 Matthew 1:16, 18-21, 24a
Our Holy Father, Pope Francis—for whose health and recovery we continue to pray—observed in his apostolic letter Patris Corde that “[a]fter Mary, the Mother of God, no saint is mentioned more frequently in the papal magisterium than Joseph, her spouse”.
The Church as a whole also turns continuously to Saint Joseph, looking to his example of faith, of justice, of righteousness. He is honored as the last of the Patriarchs and as the Patron of the Universal Church, he is invoked at every celebration of the holy sacrifice, and he is held up as the protector of so many personages, causes, realms and communities that no two lists are the same and, quite possibly, possibly no list is complete.
The wealth of both ecclesiastical pronouncements and expressions of popular piety focused on Saint Joseph, like the Marian treasury of the Church, makes a comprehensive exposition of this beloved saint most challenging.
Allow me instead to dwell on one striking trait of Saint Joseph: his silence. I do so both as his silence is worthy of meditation and imitation, and as it speaks—in my humble opinion—to qualities that in a particular way should guide ecclesiastics in this present age.
The holy Gospels make plain the silence of Saint Joseph as not a single word is attributed to him. He is placed before us as a silent man, a man of contemplation and a quiet faith. This silence of Saint Joseph is, however, not a failure to speak or the absence of speech. It is clear that he spoke, such as when he espoused himself to the Virgin or when he—giving voice to the angelic proclamation—announced the name of Jesus. So, what exactly characterizes his silence? What exactly does his example place before us? I believe the silence of Saint Joseph, the reserved quite of the Spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary, points to three specific characteristics.
First, his reserved silence speaks of a man who listened readily and continuously to God. Saint Joseph allowed God to speak, to speak the Law, to speak truth, to speak into his life that unique and glorious mission that God had set out for him. Rather than being focused on his own words and his own speech, Saint Joseph was silent to hear God and, thereby, to do the will of God and to do so faithfully and in justice.
The ordained ministry begins not with us, but with the word of God speaking to us and speaking us into service. This comes to the fore in the very rite of ordination, where the candidate is called forth. He does not on his own stand up and state “Adsum.”
Second, the silence of Saint Joseph speaks of a man who carefully and prudently avoided constant or meaningless speech. Notice that sharp contrast between Saint Joseph on the one hand, and the Apostles on the other. How often in the Gospels do the disciples rush to words, rush to opine or comment? Our Lord himself warns against empty words, against speaking and speaking, all devoid of purpose or actual content. How many ecclesiastics speak much, yet bring none to penance or fasting, convert not a single soul. Contrast such incessant speaking with the immensely powerful final words of so many of the martyrs. They often said little more than “Jesus and Mary” as the deadly blow drew nigh. Their words are remembered, however, through the centuries.
Third and finally, the silence of Saint Joseph speaks of a man who tempered his words until they were needed. When Saint Joseph pointed to Egypt and called the Holy Family to make haste there in the night, his words were required. And when spoken, they had impact and effect, and there was no questioning them.
One who neither allows time to listen to God in prayer or simply fills every possible moment with his own words, will seldom be the origin of a clarion call to act that will move hearts and minds. It is striking how the Church constantly invites her ministers to see their very life, their example of the Christian life, as the most powerful weapon in their arsenal when leading the faithful. Not words upon words, but the witness of the theological and human virtues, the witness of being a priest who can in truth say, “it is no longer I that live, but Christ that lives in me” (Gal 2.20). Such a deacon or priest, indeed such a bishop, will when he does speak, be heard and set the world ablaze.
In conclusion: Saint Joseph lays out an example of silence, and example that points to the need to place God first, to remain quiet when quiet is called for, and to speak with a voice of authenticity and integrity when words are needed. Let us all, as Pope Francis closes his letter on Saint Joseph, strive to “imitate his virtues and his zeal”.
See a recording of the Mass. The homily begins at the 20:50 mark.
An evening to remember! On Tuesday, March 11, St. Mary’s Seminary & University was filled with gratitude as pastoral ministry supervisors from parishes, hospitals, and direct service sites gathered for an evening of reflection and celebration. Joined by seminary administrators, the event provided a unique opportunity to engage in a meaningful feedback session followed by evening prayer, reception, and dinner with seminarians and faculty. This memorable evening was a heartfelt tribute, honoring the dedication and collaborative efforts of the ministry supervisors who are integral to the continued success of our pastoral formation program.
Photos (courtesy of Larry Canner); click each picture to view full-size.
St. Mary’s celebrated Lunar New Year on January 30, 2025 with a special liturgy, traditional foods, song, dance, and much joy.
Rev. Hy Nguyen, P.S.S., Associate Professor of Systematic Theology, presided at the liturgy and hosted the celebrations. Over 250 attendees participated in the festivities with all the food provided by the Vietnamese community.
View a selection of photos from the evening below.
St. Mary’s former Dean of Seminarians and Assistant Professor of Pastoral Studies, Rev. Msgr. Fredrik Hansen, was ordained to the episcopacy for the Diocese of Oslo on January 18, 2025. Several administration and faculty members accompanied a contingent of seminarians to Norway for the liturgy and celebrations. Bishop Hansen was consecrated to become the coadjutor bishop of Oslo and Bishop Bernts Eidsvig’s successor.
St. Mary’s Staff and Faculty attending the ordination:
St. Mary’s Seminarians attending the ordination: (left-right in photo below):
Full coverage (with many more photos) can be found on the website of the Diocese of Oslo. Though the site is in Norwegian, it can be viewed in a browser with built-in translation capabilities to English—for example, Google Chrome or Microsoft Edge. See the following articles:
Photos (courtesy of Fr. Daniel Moore, P.S.S.); click each picture to view full-size.
St. Mary’s Seminary & University sends congratulations and a warm welcome to Cardinal Robert McElroy, named by Pope Francis as the next Archbishop of Washington. Cardinal McElroy, currently the Bishop of San Diego, received his priestly formation at St. Patrick’s Seminary in Menlo Park, CA, originally founded and operated by the Society of Saint Sulpice.
On Friday, November 22, 2024, St. Mary’s celebrated the Mass of Candidacy for Holy Orders. In this rite, seminarians express their commitment to continue their preparation for the priesthood to completion and are accepted by the bishop for the remainder of their journeys.
This year, three candidates were received into Candidacy:
Bishop Denis J. Madden, Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Baltimore, joined the St. Mary’s community to preside at the liturgy.
Other photos from the liturgy:
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! Fr. Phillip J. Brown, P.S.S. President-Rector
At the Knights of Columbus international conference this year, the St. Mary’s Seminary & University Council 17759 received two awards:
the Star Award for Recruitment Efforts during the previous fraternal year.
the Third Place Award for Outstanding College Council.
The reception of the third place award for Outstanding College Council means the council was recognized among the top three councils at all seminaries and universities throughout the world in the entire Knights of Columbus.
Receiving the awards (in the photograph) are Joseph Ryan, fourth year seminarian from the Diocese of Syracuse, and C.J. Wild, third year seminarian from the Diocese of Buffalo and the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA.