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.
Members of the St. Mary’s community have an impact far beyond our Baltimore location. These are some of the latest examples.
Dr. Dennis Castillo gave a paper in Philadelphia on January 7 at the American Catholic Historical Association. The paper was titled “A Tale of Two Earthquakes: The Knights of Malta and Disaster Relief in 1783 and 1908.”
Fr. Innocent Smith gave a presentation titled “Bible Missals and the Franciscan Liturgy” at the Issues in Medieval Liturgy Seminar, North American Academy of Liturgy, Toronto, January 2–5, 2023. He will be leading an intellectual retreat for college students sponsored by the Thomistic Institute in Washington, DC on January 13–15 titled “The Mystery of the Liturgy.”
Over the Christmas break, Dr. Paul Seaton’s activity included the following:
Dr. James Starke presented on “Liturgy as Mystery” at the North American Academy of Liturgy’s annual meeting, which was held January 2–4, 2023 in Toronto, Canada. He serves as a member of the Board of Directors of the Federation of Diocesan Liturgical Commissions and attended the first of the Board’s biannual meetings for 2023 in Houston, TX on January 24–27.
Msgr. Fredrik Hansen’s article “Papal Legates and the Jurisdiction of Diocesan Bishops” was published in The Jurist—Studies in Church Law and Ministry, the journal of the CUA School of Canon Law (volume 78/2 [2022]: 477–99). The article examines the relationship between diocesan bishops and papal legates in relation to the power of jurisdiction (potestas regiminis), considering both the historical development of this relationship and current legislation based in the Second Vatican Council and the 1983 Code of Canon Law.
Dr. Michael Gorman’s book Apostle of the Crucified Lord: A Theological Introduction to Paul and His Letters (2nd ed.) has been published in Portuguese translation as O Apóstolo do Senhor Crucificado.
Ms. Emily Hicks and St. Mary’s are featured in a photo on the website of ARECONF (https://www.areconf.org/; scroll down), the international Applied Research in Education Conference, held in Rome, at which she presented a paper in May of last year.
St. Mary’s own Dr. Bill Scalia has just published his latest book of poetry, titled Signal / Noise.
Dr. Scalia describes the book in his own words: “Signal / Noise concerns our search for meaning amid the noise that is constituent of human experience. Part I, ‘Noise,’ examines the background–and foreground–radiant static of human experience, originating (perhaps) in the Fall. Part II, ‘Signal,’ surfaces hope, an inborn drive for meaningful existence. Part III, ‘Return,’ resolves that search at its genesis and terminus: the idea of home. The controlling themes of Signal / Noise are faith, experience, and the vagaries of God.”
Signal / Noise is available for purchase from:
Dr. Scalia teaches writing, rhetoric, and literature at St. Mary’s and has published widely in literature and film. He holds a Ph.D. in English from Louisiana State University.
Dear Seminarians, Faculty Members, Staff and all Members of the St. Mary’s Community, We awoke on the last day of 2022 to learn with sadness of the passing of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, an important and great figure in the life of the Church and of the world, at the age of 95. We had known over his last few days that his health was failing, so this was not a surprise but nevertheless represents a very sad and also momentous event. Pope Benedict was in many ways a source of stability, consolation and strength in troubling times throughout his life. As a child he was subjected to the perversion of German society, his beloved homeland, by the tyranny of Adolph Hitler and the horrors of Nazism. Through the grace of a faithful Catholic family he grew up to become a holy and outstanding priest, theologian, teacher, curial official and eventually Pope. He was an important figure during the Second Vatican Council and a bulwark of doctrinal stability and fidelity thereafter, a moderating and transitional figure as our Holy Father during the ongoing post-Vatican II debates over the place of our faith in the world today, and in the lives of Catholics. He had the grace to recognize when his health was not adequate to carry the burdens of the office entrusted to him, and so be became the first Pope in 600 years to relinquish his office in favor of someone who could better sustain the important role of the Roman Pontiff in tumultuous times. Since 2013 he has continued his faithful service to God and to the Church as Emeritus Pope under Pope Francis. Let us give thanks for the life and service of Joseph Ratzinger, Pope Benedict XVI, and as he has passed through the gates of death let us keep his legacy of sound theology and faithful service to God and the Church alive on our own fidelity and service in the vocations that have been given to us by God. Let us keep Pope Benedict, his family, and the Church in our prayers in a special way at this time. We will observe the traditional practices of mourning for a deceased Pope at St. Mary’s in the coming days. May he rest in peace and may his soul and the souls of all the faithful departed through the mercy of God rest in peace. Amen. Rev. Phillip J. Brown, P.S.S. President-Rector St. Mary’s Seminary & University
On October 21, Fr. Paul Maillet, St. Mary’s Director of Spiritual Life, presented a lecture-recital at The Schubert Club of Fairfield County in Connecticut. His program highlighted the differences and contexts of “Six Moments Musicaux” by both Schubert and Rachmaninoff. As Fr. Maillet notes, “‘Moments musicaux’ . . . the name suggests evocative, improvisatory, and in some cases fleeting musical miniatures, as opposed to long, thought-out, and highly structured compositions. Two famous composers wrote sets of six moments musicaux: the early romantic, Franz Schubert and the late romantic, Sergei Rachmaninoff. Thus, the two sets can be seen as sort of “musical bookends” marking the span of nineteenth-century romantic piano literature.” The Schubert Club recorded the event and uploaded it to YouTube.
From June 8-10, 2023, St. Mary’s Seminary & University will host a conference titled “The Primacy of God in a Secular Age: On the Theological Virtue of Faith.” The conference is sponsored by The Sacra Doctrina Project in partnership with SMSU.
Featured Speakers will be:
The conference is currently requesting papers. Those interested should submit a 300-word abstract proposal via The Sacra Doctrina Project website. Priority consideration will be given to proposals received by December 15, 2022; proposals will also be accepted through January 1, 2023.
For more information, visit: sacradoctrinaproject.org/conference.
The National Conference of Diocesan Vocation Directors (NCDVD) held their annual convention in Baltimore from September 2-9 at the Hilton Inner Harbor, next to Camden Yards. To thank the participants for visiting Baltimore and to show them the wonderful formation opportunities at St. Mary’s Seminary & University, a special “Night at the Parks” was held on September 6.
Approximately 100 vocation directors came to Roland Park from the hotel. The evening began with Vespers in St. Mary’s Chapel; Archbishop William E. Lori, presided. Then, they joined the seminary community for an Orioles-themed “tailgate” dinner in the refectory. The meal was preceded by a short video greeting from none other than Cal Ripken himself. September 6 marked the 27th anniversary of the night Cal broke Lou Gehrig’s consecutive game streak.
Seminarians offered brief tours to those interested in seeing the seminary’s renovated living spaces.
The evening continued with transportation from Roland Park to Oriole Park where the vocation directors saw an Orioles home game, accompanied by St. Mary’s President-Rector, Fr. Philip Brown, P.S.S., and a number of faculty and seminarians.
The vocation directors were mightily impressed with the creativity and depth of St. Mary’s hospitality.
St. Mary’s Center for Continuing Formation is currently accepting registrations for the annual New Pastors’ Program to be held November 6-11, 2022 at the Center on the St. Mary’s campus in Baltimore, MD.
See the detailed schedule and download the registration form on the New Pastors’ Program page.
St. Mary’s President Rector, Fr. Phillip J. Brown, P.S.S., presents his next reflection for the St. Mary’s community, Letters from the Park. In it, Fr. Brown takes his inspiration from a quote from Dante’s The Divine Comedy, saying:
It seemed appropriate to me to reflect for this second of the revived Letters from the Park on this passage, an image of one emerging from catastrophe, looking back on perils escaped, as he moves forward toward new vistas, some dark and fearsome, others offering hope, eventually leading to a final sublime state.
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Letters from the Park
Letter #2
May 2022 Pentecost Baltimore: Roland Park Neighborhood
Dante Aleghieri, La Divina Commedia Canto 1:22-27
Dear St. Mary’s Community,
The Divine Comedy is the story of a soul. Written in the fourteenth century, it touches on themes strangely contemporary. “Contemporary” because they are universal: the ultimate consequences of human actions; how to live in the face of the unpredictability and stresses of human existence; what is our relationship with God, and what should our relationships with one another be like; what constitutes good governance and bad governance in human affairs; what, ultimately, is life all about.
Civilization seemed at a high point when Dante wrote, but it was also plagued by corruption, violence, selfishness, and decadence in its highest circles. The themes of the Comedy are not exclusively “spiritual” but related as well to the real world in which its characters had lived.
Dante and his guide, the Roman poet Virgil, travel together through the Inferno (hell), Purgatorio (purgatory) and eventually to Paradiso (heaven), the three realms beyond life in this world. They meet only people who had lived in this world who have now gone on to eternal rewards and punishments, some for purgation before, but with the assurance of, entering heaven. Dante’s voyage begins on Holy Thursday and ends on Wednesday of Easter week. As Easter Season 2022 comes to an end and we return to Ordinary Time the day after Pentecost, things are feeling more normal, as we yearn for more “normal,” even as we are reminded that we have not moved completely beyond the perils of our current times. It seemed appropriate to me to reflect for this second of the revived Letters from the Park on this passage, an image of one emerging from catastrophe, looking back on perils escaped, as he moves forward toward new vistas, some dark and fearsome, others offering hope, eventually leading to a final sublime state.
Dante’s image is an appropriate point of reflection, I believe, as we emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic of 2020-2022. Descending upon us so swiftly, it was here before we really knew what was happening; not unlike a shipwreck, beginning with small but ominous signs that something was amiss, then suddenly affecting thousands, hundreds of thousands, millions of people, many of whom lost their lives. We mourn those who have passed and pray for their loved ones. We seem to have made it through the worst now, but it has not completely gone away. We are emerging like Dante’s character still looking back at perilous waters as we move more and more toward safety.
Risks, dangerous risks, remain. But risks there have always been, are, and will always be in this life. In the end, however, our lives are determined not by the dangers but by the courage and determination with which we face them. Not fate but hope is our lodestar. That is at the heart of Dante’s message: the serious risks and dangers of life do not have the final word—not for those who have faith, those who trust in the Spirit of God who guides us. Faith and salvation await us, lived in hope even during darkest days, not just spiritually but in the real circumstances of our lives—like a pandemic. And were it only a pandemic! So many other fearsome realities continue to beset us: a war of aggression, thought impossible in our day and time; senseless shootings; continued polarization and political rancor.
The Divine Comedy was written fifty years before the Black Plague wiped out one-third to one-half the population of Europe, a major event that challenged human beings to the extreme. But we endured, emerged from it, regained hope, faith and determination, just as we are doing in the face of the challenges we are having to face. The pandemic preoccupied us for over two years. We have an opportunity to regain a larger perspective now—not only that there are other terrible challenges in front of us, like war abroad and random violence at home, but also because there is much that is hopeful in front of us, if we only recover our vision for the hopefulness that having a future is. And we do have a future, one that can be better than the past, even if we must continue to endure negative challenges as we pursue positive progress. What will make all the difference, I believe, is that we come to realize and embrace the fact that history and the future are not just things that happen, they are things that people make happen. It is through the quality of how we live our lives and embrace values and initiatives that will make our world and the future better than past events that have darkened our lives that will make the difference, if we commit ourselves to living those values and carrying those initiatives out.
Another favorite author whose writings are filled with great wisdom, who has offered much hope and given much strength to generations of Christian believers is St. Augustine of Hippo. Something he said gave me perspective for what I wanted to say in this letter, which is that however challenging these past years have been, and the present seems to be, through faith we will experience a resilience that we otherwise might not have dreamed we had; an ability to heal from the wounds the past few years have inflicted on us and shape our present and our future in ways that will allow us to move beyond the challenges toward something stable, satisfying and hopeful; something ultimately sublime. As Augustine says:
“Bad times, hard times, this is what people keep saying; but let us live well, and times shall be good. We are the times: such as we are, such are the times.”
St. Augustine, Sermon 80:8
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At evening vespers on Tuesday, April 26, 2022, St. Mary’s welcomed Knights of Columbus Supreme Knight, Patrick Kelly, and Most Reverend William E. Lori, Archbishop of Baltimore and also the Supreme Chaplain of the Knights, at a special charter ceremony inaugurating the Blessed Michael McGivney Council of the Knights of Columbus at St. Mary’s. The development of the Council is notable as it is established at the very seminary from which Fr. Michael McGivney, founder of the Knights of Columbus, graduated in 1877.
The ceremony took place in St. Mary’s Chapel where a portrait of Fr. McGivney and a relic were placed in honor with flanking candles. Archbishop Lori presided at the Evening Prayer and preached the homily. In addition to Supreme Knight Kelly, Knights of Columbus State attended along with Very Reverend Daniel Moore, Acting Provincial of the Society of Saint Sulpice, United States Province.
The service was followed by a celebratory dinner and additional addresses, including a speech by the first Grand Knight of the new Council, Mr. Michael Schultz, Second-Year Seminarian from the Archdiocese of Louisville.
Knights of Columbus video summary of the event
Charter presentation during Evening Vespers.
Supreme Knight Patrick Kelly speaks to the congregation.
(In the center) Most Rev. William E. Lori, Archbishop of Baltimore and Supreme Chaplain of the Knights of Columbus, (to the immediate left) Mr. Patrick E. Kelly, Supreme Knight, (next left) Rev. Phillip J. Brown, P.S.S., President-Rector of St. Mary’s Seminary & University. (To the right of Archbishop Lori) Mr. Michael L. Schultz, 2nd Year Seminarian of the Archdiocese of Louisivlle. (Remainder) The faculty and student members of the new Council.
Acting Provincial of the United States Province of the Society of Saint Sulpice, Very Rev. Daniel Moore, P.S.S., speaks at the dinner with fond memories of his membership in the Knights.
Friday, May 20, 2022 • 7:30 PM EDT St. Mary’s Chapel at St. Mary’s Seminary & University
Free and open to the public, but registration is requested. Register online at Eventbrite.
Franz Schubert: Sonata in E minor D. 566 (unfinished) César Franck: Prélude, Aria et Final (1887) Erwin Schulhoff: Suite No. 3 for the Left Hand (1927) Maurice Ravel: La Valse (composer’s version for solo piano) (1919)
Vladimir Stoupel returns to St. Mary’s to present a timely recital. His program features several pieces composed in reflection on World War I. This look back into history helps us to cope with the crisis-ridden present and to commemorate the lives lost in the war. We need distance to be able to process all this. Music is especially necessary in times of crisis! It offers us a protected space; it gives us the opportunity to reflect. War destroys, music builds up.
Vladimir Stoupel is an individualist with an extraordinarily rich tonal and emotional palette. The Washington Post praised his “protean range of expression” and Der Tagesspiegel Berlin described his performance as “enthralling and atmospherically dense.” His extraordinary technical command allows him to explore the outermost limits of expression, mesmerizing audiences with his musical intensity.
View/download the Event Flyer.