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.
St. Mary’s Ecumenical Institute allows students to register for classes by paying the term’s registration fee. Full payment of tuition and student services fee, or partial payment with a deferred-payment contract, is due no later than the first day of classes. Deferred-payment contracts, whereby the tuition is payable in installments, without finance charges, are available to new students and continuing students who maintain good credit at St. Mary’s. Payments may be made by check, money order, or credit card (VISA, MasterCard, American Express, or Discover).
Each student is fully responsible for his or her own financial obligations. Students who fail to make their full tuition payment, or first installment on a deferred-payment contract, by the first class meeting may have their registrations cancelled. Students who fail to make a scheduled tuition payment are invoiced and assessed a late-payment fee for each occurrence. Repeated or extended delinquency within a term may result in an administrative withdrawal from the term’s class(es). Students who are administratively withdrawn (a) lose all monies paid, (b) are responsible for tuition for the course according to the tuition reduction and refund policy printed below, and (c) receive no credit for the classes in which they were enrolled. Students who fail to meet their financial obligations on time, write checks with insufficient funds, or otherwise establish poor credit at St. Mary’s may not be permitted future registration with a deferred-payment contract.
Students with outstanding financial obligations are not permitted to register for classes; receive credit for the courses for which tuition monies are due; or receive a grade report, transcript, certificate, or diploma.
A student’s financial obligations are considered fulfilled when a check paid to St. Mary’s clears the bank or a credit-card transaction is approved.
Students who withdraw from a course are obligated to fulfill their financial obligations for the course. The schedule printed below lists the deadlines by which an official written and signed withdrawal notice (download the Add/Change/Drop Form here) must be received by the Registrar in order for the student to be eligible for the corresponding percent of reduction in tuition:
Any student who fails to withdraw officially or who is administratively withdrawn is not entitled to a reduction or refund.
Students who change from audit to credit must pay full credit tuition regardless of the date their change in registration status becomes effective.
Students who change from credit to audit pay audit tuition. This change must be made by the mid-point of the term (the specific date is published in the school calendar). The change is made by submitting to the Registrar a signed copy of the Request for Change in Course Status. A student who fails to submit a signed form will not be switched to audit status. A student who submits a signed form after the published deadline must pay full credit tuition.
Financial documents that relate to a student’s stay at St. Mary’s may be examined only by those parties at St. Mary’s who are directly responsible for students’ accounts or billing matters.