Founded 1808 Emmitsburg, Maryland

Transcription

1 MOUNT ST. MARY'S SEMINARY MOUNT ST. MARY'S SEMINARY Founded 1808 Emmitsburg, Maryland

2

3 The formation of future priests... is considered by the Church to be one of the most demanding and important tasks for the future of the evangelization of humanity. - Blessed Pope John Paul II in Pastores dabo vobis Zeal Tempered with Charity Forming Parish Priests with Shepherds Hearts Each morning before I enter my office, I always check on two things. First, I look over the second-floor balcony into St. Bernard s Chapel to see if there are men praying before the Blessed Sacrament. Second, I walk through the hallways listening for the sounds of laughter. If these two things are present prayer and joy I know all is well at the seminary. Mount St. Mary s has always remained focused on a single mission: to form good, holy priests who will shepherd God s people with great zeal, but also with great humility. We prepare parish priests who are devoted to the Holy Eucharist and the Blessed Mother, and are loyal to the Gospel and the teachings of the Church. To this end, our program of formation is eminently practical. We understand that dioceses want priests who are defenders of the faith, to be sure, but also loving and gentle shepherds in love with the Lord who will serve well in a typical parish setting. As the Church and society have undergone major changes and as more is expected of priests seminary formation has grown in complexity. So while Mount St. Mary s continues to rely on its 200-year-old tradition of training priests, we do not operate out of habit simply because that is the way things have always been done. Rather, taking to heart the principles outlined in Pastores dabo vobis, we continue to assess our formation process and have made significant changes in recent years. Have these changes been fruitful? In the past eight years, the Mount has graduated 160 men, and all but three are still in priestly ministry. Alumni often visit the seminary and express joy in their priestly ministry. Some have become noted scholars in their field of study. This is a testament not only to our tremendous faculty and staff, but also to the healthy fraternity among the men, a vibrant academic culture, and the palpable spirit of grace one feels here on Mary s Mountain. If you ve never been to the Mount, or if it has been years since you ve visited, I invite you to be our guest. I m confident you ll be impressed not just with our legacy, but with the quality of formation we offer to today s seminarians. I think the Mount is continuously trying to maintain faithfulness to the Church, and also keep current to train priests who can reach people where their needs are. They re adapting their formation to help people in today s society. - A vocation director from the Southeast Sincerely in Christ, Rev. Msgr. Steven Rohlfs, S.T. D. Rector

4 4

5 If you could breathe our mountain air and taste the repose of the deep woods and streams... We are half in the sky; the height of our situation is almost incredible. - St. Elizabeth Ann Seton On Mary s Mountain Emmitsburg, Maryland Mount St. Mary s Seminary was founded in 1808 by the French immigrant missionary priest Father John Dubois. The seminary has an over 200-year tradition of excellence in the formation of candidates for the Catholic priesthood. National Shrine Grotto of Lourdes Every day, seminarians can be found praying at the beautiful shrine dedicated to Our Lady of Lourdes which is located on the mountain behind the seminary. The site attracts hundreds of thousands of pilgrims each year from around the world. They come to pray at the replica of the Lourdes shrine, built only 21 years after the apparitions of Our Lady in France in Surrounding the grotto is a picturesque network of paved paths flanked by shrines to saints as well as the Stations of the Cross and mysteries of the Rosary. Seminarians participate in celebrations of major feasts held on the site. The grotto in 1884 National Shrine of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton In a house which was very small, but with ample space for charity, she sowed a seed in America which by Divine Grace grew into a large tree. - Blessed Pope John XXIII When Elizabeth Ann Seton and her companions arrived in Emmitsburg in June of 1809, they spent nearly six weeks living in a log cabin on Mary s Mountain before moving to the valley below. Until her death in 1821, Mother Seton worked tirelessly, founding the Sisters of Charity of St. Joseph and the American parochial school system. She was the first native-born American woman to be canonized a saint. A magnificent basilica bearing her name and containing her tomb stands two miles from the seminary. The Mount has coherence, a vision, a healthiness. The location is inspiring, nestled in the woods surrounded by a saintly patrimony. - A vocation director from the Midwest 5

6 6

7 The priest should mold his human personality in such a way that it becomes a bridge and not an obstacle for others in their meeting with Jesus Christ. - Pastores dabo vobis Bridges to Christ Human Formation To be a credible witness for Christ, a priest must be authentic, approachable, kind, and uncompromising in character as a Christian gentleman. The reality, however, is that few men will walk through the doors of the seminary ready to serve the Church with these high ideals. Our formators carefully consider a new seminarian s admission documents and profile, and become familiar with the man and his needs in the context of a trusting and open relationship. If a young man has difficulties or areas for growth, our formation faculty will mentor him by setting practical and realistic goals that deal forthrightly with all areas of concern. Over time, a willing seminarian will exhibit a remarkable growth in maturity, virtue and character. Evaluation Meetings The Mount has a unique format for meeting with bishops and vocation directors to discuss the progress of seminarians. Instead of the vocation director going from office to office to speak with various personnel, the rector calls together all parties involved: the vice-rectors, formation advisor, academic dean, and pastoral field director, who meet together to review the formation progress of all the seminarians from his diocese. Thinking with the Church We teach men to avoid unhealthy rigidity and to truly think with the Church in areas of liturgy, doctrine, devotion, and clerical dress. The model constantly placed before them is that of a faithful, joyful father who speaks the truth of the Gospel with love. Mount priests are doing very well in our diocese and are widely perceived as wellbalanced. I don t think we ve lost a Mount priest in over ten years. - A vocation director from the Midwest The Formative Community The seminarians themselves, as a fraternal community, are highly formative for one other. When a new man arrives, he finds himself pulled into a brotherhood that will not allow him to become socially isolated. In this way, candidates receive valuable human formation simply by being in the seminary environment and interacting with their brothers in Christ. 7

8 The Mount is very strong spiritually. I am always impressed by the spirit of prayer in the house. There s always been a good community among the men, a good spirit throughout the seminary. - A vocation director from the Northeast 8

9 Spiritual formation... should be conducted in such a way that students may learn to live in an intimate and unceasing union with God the Father through his Son Jesus Christ, in the Holy Spirit. - Optatam Totius Abiding in the Trinity Spiritual Formation During a recent internal evaluation conducted by the seminary, we asked vocation directors what they valued most about Mount St. Mary s, and they overwhelmingly cited the strength of our spiritual formation. As one visiting priest put it, I ve noticed that men at the Mount don t just learn things about Jesus; they learn to fall in love with Him. Our goal is to help seminarians develop a spiritual foundation for a lifetime of priestly ministry. Twenty priests serve as spiritual directors and help men to develop an intimate relationship with the Trinity nourished by prayer, Scripture and Tradition, celebration of the sacraments, and marked by a sincere devotion to Mary, the Mother of God and Mother of the Church. The Habit of Prayer The habit of prayer is formed by daily Mass, Morning and Evening Prayer, a personal daily Holy Hour, and other private devotions. A very strong fraternity among the men lends accountability to prayer. Eucharistic Spirituality By the end of first theology, seminarians are expected to integrate a daily Eucharistic Holy Hour into their prayer life, with the expectation that they will adopt it as a lifetime habit of devotion. A Holy Hour with Eucharistic Adoration and Benediction is available twice each day at the seminary. My approach to spiritual direction is to meet a man where he currently is on his spiritual journey, whether he is new to the seminary or advanced in his spiritual life, and to immerse him in Scripture and Catholic tradition. I help him to become very aware of the great theological heritage of the sacrament of holy orders as well as the spirituality of the priestly life. - Fr. Charles Conner, Mount spiritual director 9

10 10

11 Theological formation is both complex and demanding. It should lead the candidate for the priesthood to a complete and unified vision of the truths which God has revealed in Jesus Christ and of the Church s experience of faith. - Pastores dabo vobis Faith and Reason Intellectual Formation The goal of intellectual formation is to deepen the seminarian s understanding of the Faith, thus drawing him closer to the mysteries of God, while at the same time equipping him to credibly proclaim the Gospel of Christ to people in today s society. The academic legacy of Mount St. Mary s is evidenced by the many graduates who have gone on to become bishops, scholars in their fields of study, and seminary professors. We demand academic excellence from candidates with the view that they must thoroughly grasp the Church s teaching as expressed by the Magisterium, the Doctors of the Church, and contemporary theologians. Our intellectual tradition, while rigorous by any standard, is imbued with a healthy awareness of the pastoral goals it serves (cf., Pastores dabo vobis #55). We train our men to be good parish priests striving for holiness each day. Degree Programs At the pre-theology level, the seminary offers the philosophy credits required by the PPF, which can lead to a Master of Arts in Philosophical Studies (M.A.P.S.). At the theology level, students may earn the Master of Divinity (M.Div.), the Master of Arts in Theology (M.A.), or the Bachelor of Sacred Theology (S.T.B.). Dual degree candidacy is common, especially for those who will pursue advanced studies in the U.S. or Europe. The seminary is fully accredited by the A.T.S. and the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools. Personalized Academic Mentoring The Mount s faculty have the ability to challenge the most advanced students and the capacity to mentor those who struggle to meet academic expectations. We have an array of resources available to ensure academic achievement: an advanced technology infrastructure, writing specialists, student-to-student tutoring, and a Learning Skills Department that can help identify and address learning challenges. The Mount has always been known for its strong spirituality, but the academics are as challenging as any seminary we send men to. In my view, the seminary has a very appropriate level of academic rigor. - A vocation director from the mid-atlantic 11

12 Faculty Mount St. Mary s has well-credentialed faculty that are frequently called upon to lead retreats and academic workshops across the country. Several faculty members regularly appear on radio and television, including EWTN. All our priest faculty have extensive pastoral experience in parishes and several have served as vocation directors. Fr. Daniel Mindling, OFM, Cap, has served as academic dean since 1993 and has shaped the seminary s academic standards to conform with the norms of the Program for Priestly Formation. He is an accomplished moral theologian and serves on several committees of the USCCB, including the Pro-Life Committee. Pre-Theology Our pre-theology program provides a solid foundation in catechesis, priestly spirituality, and the perennial philosophy of St. Thomas Aquinas. At the outset, we introduce men to the seminary by helping them form a spiritual plan of life. We also place a high priority on helping new seminarians take time to seriously discern chaste celibacy. Academically, we ensure that men possess the intellectual skills needed to articulate a wide range of philosophical concepts knowing that the priest must be able to engage believers and non-believers alike. Our carefully planned curriculum requires Latin and Greek as well as all the philosophy courses required by the Holy See and the U.S. bishops. Qualified students may earn a Master of Arts in Philosophical Studies. After two years of formation, our men are well prepared for serious theological study as well as deeper discernment of their vocations. Pastoral Workshops The national shortage of clergy means that priests are becoming pastors much sooner than in the past. Recognizing this trend, the Mount has added special workshops by national experts in areas such as stewardship, pastoral psychology, parish finance and management, and the leadership qualities of a modern pastor. Recognizing that an apprenticeship under a good pastor is necessary before a young priest becomes a pastor himself, our aim is to provide men with the basic skills necessary to administer a parish even if it is only a few years after ordination. I like the fact that the Mount is teaching priests not to come in recklessly when they are first ordained. They teach them to work collaboratively with the pastor and the people, and teach practical things like handling finances. The Mount is helping them recognize that they are professional people, that they need to lead like shepherds. - A vocation director from the Southeast 12

13 Special Programs Holy Land Experience The entire deacon class travels to the Holy Land for a 17-day pilgrimage, including a five-day canonical retreat on the banks of the Sea of Galilee. The pilgrimage is a capstone experience, pulling together years of Scripture study, Christology, and spirituality. The men are able to pray at the places where Jesus walked and where He instituted the sacraments, including an overnight vigil in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. The experience contributes immensely to their preaching and spirituality and helps fulfill the Holy Father s request that we become aware of the suffering of the Christians in the Holy Land. The pilgrimage is subsidized by generous donors. Spanish Training As the U.S. Hispanic population approaches 50 percent, proficiency in Spanish has become very important for priests. In addition to Spanish classes, we celebrate a weekly Spanish Mass, have several Hispanic PFE sites, and offer an immersion program in Guatemala. Students may also pursue a Certificate in Hispanic Ministry. Depending on the needs of the diocese and the ability of the student, the seminary can craft a course of study that ranges from familiarity with the language and culture to the ability to preach and provide counsel in Spanish. English as a Second Language Foreign-born seminarians are well-served at the seminary. We have full-time faculty who administer a highly regarded ESL program as well as two full-time tutors who help men fully understand their theological coursework. The fraternal culture at the Mount helps foreign students to learn U.S. customs and assimilate the culture. The seminary is spot-on in making accommodations for our foreign men, including help with Visa issues and academics. The staff even helps me with all the paperwork. The Mount has a leg up in this area. - A vocation director from the mid-atlantic 13

14 14

15 The seminary which educates must seek really and truly to initiate the candidate into the sensitivity of being a shepherd. - Pastores dabo vobis Shepherds after Christ s Heart Pastoral Formation In a sense, all priestly formation has its end in pastoral formation, for a priest is called to give himself to others just as Christ gave Himself for the Church. The Mount s great strength for more than 200 years has been the formation of parish priests filled with pastoral charity and trained for a variety of parish settings. Upon ordination, men are equipped to be true parish priests: to teach, evangelize, counsel, minister to the sick and needy, promote vocations, and to competently administer and shepherd a parish. Pastoral Field Education The location of Mount St. Mary s affords access to more than 85 sites for pastoral assignments that range from rural parishes to urban institutions in Baltimore and Washington D.C. We choose each site and supervisor carefully and set clear expectations. When making field assignments, we take into consideration the man s experience; for example, a former teacher will not be assigned to a school, but perhaps to prison ministry in order to provide greater breadth of experience. Priesthood Integration Assessment We have developed a unique evaluation instrument to ensure that Mount priests can work effectively in a normal parish setting. The Priesthood Integration Assessment (P.I.A.) requires fourth-year seminarians to be able to effectively answer even the most difficult questions that arise in pastoral ministry. Deacons must master the answers to over 400 questions taken from real-life parish scenarios on topics ranging from medical ethics and liturgy to canon law and Scripture in essence, the whole spectrum of pastoral theology. This oral assessment is very challenging and has tremendous value for new priests. Moreover, it helps the seminary measure its own effectiveness in specific areas of formation. Men come out of the Mount really knowing the Faith. I think the test the men take in their fourth year is very helpful for connecting academic study to life in the parish. When the rector reviewed the P.I.A. assessment with me, I was impressed. It s a very effective tool. - A vocation director from the Northeast While I never would have said this while I was studying for the P.I.A., I can honestly say after a year in a parish that it was the most effective instrument in my formation. It s really given me confidence to speak with parishioners about sensitive topics. - A newly ordained priest 15

16 16

17 Theological formation is both complex and demanding. It should lead the candidate for the priesthood to a complete and unified vision of the truths which God has revealed in Jesus Christ and of the Church s experience of faith. - Pastores dabo vobis Discerning Celibacy To Love on Earth as They Love in Heaven Mount St. Mary s is very deliberate in mentoring men as they carefully discern priestly celibacy. At the very beginning of formation, we present the charism of celibacy through the lens of Blessed Pope John Paul s Theology of the Body, which emphasizes the nuptial meaning of the human body. At the same time, we present a grounded and realistic view of how a parish priest lives chaste celibacy in a society that both glorifies and debases sexuality. Our formators are very effective at dealing forthrightly and patiently with issues of sexuality and self-mastery. We teach men how to form healthy relationships, guard their chastity, and to live celibacy with peace and joy. Living Celibacy on Campus A great strength of the seminary is its connection with Mount St. Mary s University. While the seminary is separate from the general campus, seminarians interact regularly with both male and female students. Vocation directors value the fact that seminarians are being formed in a realworld setting, which enables them to encounter many of the same situations they will face in parish or school assignments. Rector s Seminars C. S. Lewis once said, A good father is always patient when teaching his child to walk. But he is never satisfied until the child can run. In this vein, Rector Msgr. Steven Rohlfs conducts extensive seminars, meeting for 75 minutes with each class every week. In First Theology alone, the rector delivers over 40 hours of seminars devoted exclusively to discerning priestly celibacy. This includes a thorough exposition of the history and theology of celibacy as well as downto-earth, practical advice for setting boundaries in relationships and living chastely in the Internet age. How do I know whether God has given me the gift of celibacy? The answer is that you must make a diligent discernment of celibacy, just as you do for priesthood as a whole. By gathering good information, praying, talking about celibacy in spiritual direction, living chastely, and listening to your heart, you will be able to transform the fear of celibacy into a concern. In this way, the discernment of celibacy will not paralyze you or traumatize you; it will help you grow in sexual integration. -Former vice rector Fr. Brett Brannen in To Save a Thousand Souls 17

18 18

19 Because the liturgical life of the seminary shapes the sensitivities and attitudes of seminarians for future ministry, an authentic sense of the holy mysteries should be carefully preserved in all liturgical celebrations along with a care for their beauty and dignity. - Program for Priestly Formation Celebrating the Sacred Mysteries Liturgical Training Today s seminarians have a great love for liturgy and a strong desire to celebrate the sacraments with reverence and devotion. It is the responsibility of the seminary faculty to present the fullness of the Church s liturgical tradition in all its transcendent beauty. We present the practicalities of celebrating the sacraments in a parish setting, teaching men to take a balanced approach. We teach them to have an appropriate sense of liturgical decorum and to foster full participation according to the mind of the Church and the expectations of their bishop. The Mount provides formal training in the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite to seminarians whose bishops have requested it. Our aim is to prepare men to celebrate Mass so that by their bearing they show forth the Person of Christ. Preaching Practicum St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross (Edith Stein) once said, Tell me nothing about love if it is without truth. Tell me nothing about truth if it is without love. One without the other becomes a destructive lie. Seminarians at the Mount are taught to present the truth of the Gospel with kindness and in a manner that is compelling to the listener. Students are put into stand and deliver situations from the first weeks of formation, by which they become more comfortable speaking about the faith in a public setting. To help hone their skills, Mass and preaching practica are recorded and studied, then sent to the diocese so that the bishop and vocation director can see first-hand how their men are progressing. When I visit the Mount I sometimes take brother priests with me and they re always very impressed with the liturgies. The Mount provides excellent training in the Church s liturgical tradition. -A vocation director from the Northeast 19

20 [It is an] absolute necessity that the new evangelization have priests as its initial new evangelizers. Pastores dabo vobis 20

21 I sense that the moment has come to commit all of the Church s energies to a new evangelization and to the mission. No believer in Christ, no institution of the Church can avoid this supreme duty: to proclaim Christ to all peoples - Blessed John Paul II, Redemptoris Missio The New Evangelization Proclaiming Christ to all People Mount 2000 Every February, 1,500 teens descend on Mount St. Mary s campus for a weekend youth retreat that includes Eucharistic Adoration, catechesis, and fellowship. The event is run by seminarians and includes a very strong emphasis on developing a prayer life and discerning one s vocation. March for Life The Mount has had a strong presence at the March for Life since it began in The seminary hosts youth groups on campus, and seminarians serve at liturgies on the day of the March. Campus Mission Trips New forms of outreach have been initiated by seminarians as they have taken to heart the challenge of the New Evangelization. A large group of men organize mission trips to secular college campuses to speak with students about Christ and His Church in a loving and non-confrontational way. On a recent three-day trip on spring break, they spoke with more than 500 students, 70 of whom signed up for Bible studies run by the local campus ministry. The men returned to seminary with a renewed enthusiasm for their studies, especially philosophy, because of its importance when speaking to non-believing students. Chaplaincy Program Every sports team at the university, even intramural teams, has a seminarian who serves as its chaplain. The seminarians receive special training that they might spiritually mentor both male and female athletes. Many priest alumni report that the chaplaincy provides valuable pastoral experience, especially for working with young people. I spoke to one student who told me about how his father was an atheist and his mother had stopped attending church. You could see in his eyes that just hearing the name of Jesus, hearing that God loved him, was very powerful. - Second theologian speaking about a Campus Mission Trip 21

22 With our new bishop we intensely evaluated the seminaries we send men to. We send to the Mount not just because of tradition, but because it remains a very strong seminary. - A vocation director from the Northeast 22

23 Training Priests for the Third Millennium American priests serve in a society that is increasingly secular and culturally diverse. For this reason, Mount St. Mary s steeps seminarians in the study of the Church s role in the world. Faculty help them to grasp and appreciate the rich history of the Church and to recognize the signs of the times, enabling them to present the Gospel with clarity in the current age. Moreover, the diversity of sending dioceses and the presence of international seminarians broadens the men s sense of the universal Church. Simply put: Mount graduates are rooted in the Church s tradition and are equipped and eager to bring Christ to others in today s society. I m 71 years old, and I ve seen a lot in my time. I ve evaluated 15 seminaries very closely, and I m just so impressed with the quality of the men today... I see the Mount as very strong. I like the pastoral formation, and the spirituality is one of the best I ve seen anywhere. I m impressed with the personal interest of the rector. He knows every guy by name and expresses himself very well to the seminarians; that is impressive. - A vocation director from the Midwest Our diocese wants practical priests, guys who can work with the staffs in our parishes. Priests who graduate from the Mount know their job coming out of seminary, and they actually do the work in the parishes. All the practice in hospitals, visiting parishes, the pastoral training it s preparing them very well. - A vocation director from New England

24 MOUNT ST. MARY'S SEMINARY Rector Msgr. Steven Rohlfs Vice Rector for Human Formation Fr. Brian Doerr Vice Rector for Pastoral Formation Fr. Ken Brighenti Vice Rector for Pre-Theology Msgr. Stuart Swetland Academic Dean Fr. Daniel Mindling Admissions Mrs. Susan Nield Director of Seminary Development Mr. Philip McGlade Old Emmitsburg Road Emmitsburg, MD Main Phone: Fax: Seminary blog: