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.
Stay connected with St. Mary’s Ecumenical Institute after graduation through alumni resources, newsletters, events, library access, discounted audit opportunities, EI apparel, diploma frames, and transcript request information.
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.
Fr. Robert Cro, P.S.S., is a priest of the Diocese of Trenton and a member of the Society of St. Sulpice. A native of New York, Father Cro attended archdiocesan schools before earning a B.A. with a dual major in Classics and Physics from Williams College, followed by an M.A. in Classical Archaeology from Princeton University.
Prior to entering seminary, he also taught overseas in Japan and worked as an educational technology specialist for a large university. After receiving his S.T.B. and M. Div. from St. Mary’s Seminary and University in 2012, Father Cro was ordained and served as a parochial vicar for three years before entering the Society of St. Sulpice.
Since that time he served as a Sulpician Candidate at Theological College (2015-2017), earned a Licentiate in Church History (H.E.L.) from the Gregorian University in Rome (2017-2019) and taught history at St. Mary’s Seminary and University (2019-2022) before returning to Theological College where he was the Dean of Men (2022-2026) and then also Interim Vice-Rector (2025-2026). In the late spring of 2026 Fr. Cro was appointed Director of The McGivney Propaedeutic House of Formation in Baltimore, MD.
B.A., Williams College M.A., Princeton University S.T.B., M.Div., St. Mary’s Seminary & University H.E.L., Gregorian University, Rome
Fr. John McNerney, a native of Ireland, earned his B.A., M.Litt., and Ph.D. (Philosophy) degrees at University College in Dublin. He earned his S.T.B. at the Gregorian University in Rome. Ordained for the Diocese of Dublin, his first ministry was as a high school Religion and Theology teacher, then as chaplain and student advisor, and later the head of the chaplaincy department at Dublin University College. There he was also lecturer in business ethics and philosophy, organizing major international conferences and events exploring religious, esthetical, and philosophical topics.
Fr. McNearney joined the Theological College community in 2022 as a member of the formation faculty and Director of Basselin Scholars, after serving at The Catholic University of America as visiting research scholar in the department of politics and the first Distinguished Michael J. Novak Scholar. At Catholic University, he was also a Fellow at the Art and Carlyse Ciocca Center for Principled Entrepreneurship and accompanying scholar for the Röpke-Wojtyła Fellowship, as well as a faculty scholar at the Institute for Human Ecology.
In the late spring of 2026 Fr. McNearney was appointed Coordinator of Spiritual and Human Formation at The McGivney Propaedeutic House of Formation in Baltimore, MD.
B.A., M.Litt., Ph.D., University College Dublin S.T.B., Gregorian University, Rome
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