The Roman Catholic Church operates many seminaries, theology schools, and divinity schools. Most, if not all, Roman Catholic seminaries are officially affiliated with at least one diocese or order. They may serve students from outside the dioceses and orders that they’re formally associated with, though.
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Augustinian Seminaries and Theology Schools
There are several orders and groups of Roman Catholics who identify with St. Augustine and call themselves Augustinians. The following institution has connections to at least one Augustinian group:
- St. Thomas University School of Theology and Ministry, a Roman Catholic theology school in Florida that was founded by Augustinians
Benedictine Seminaries and Theology Schools
The Order of Saint Benedict is known for following the Rule of Saint Benedict. There are several Benedictine seminaries and theology schools that are currently or have formerly been affiliated with the order:
- St. John’s University’s School of Theology and Seminary, a Roman Catholic theology school in the Archdiocese of St. Louis that was founded by Dominicans
- Mount Angel Seminary, a historically Benedictine seminary in Oregon
- St. Vincent Seminary, a Benedictine seminary in Pennsylvania
Dominican Seminaries and Theology Schools
The Order of Preachers, or Dominican Order, is marked by its rich intellectual tradition and mendicant vows. There are several Roman Catholic seminaries that identify with the Dominican Order:
- Aquinas Institute of Theology, a historically Dominican theology school in
- Barry University Department of Theology and Philosophy, a Dominican theology school in Florida
- Dominican School of Philosophy and Theology, a Dominican theology school in California that’s also affiliated with the University of California Berkeley
- Dominican House of Studies, a Dominican seminary in the Province of St. Joseph, which is in the Eastern United States
Franciscan Seminaries and Theology Schools
Franciscans follow the spiritual disciplines and teachings of St. Francis of Assisi. Like Benedictines, they also take mendicant vows. There are a couple Franciscan theology schools and seminaries:
- Franciscan School of Theology, a Franciscan seminary that’s also affiliated with the University of San Diego, which is a Roman Catholic university
- Catholic Theological Union, a Roman Catholic theology school that’s affiliated with the Franciscans and many other orders
Jesuit Seminaries and Theology Schools
The Society of Jesus is known for its academic pursuits, intellectual research, and cultural endeavors. There are several Jesuit theology schools and seminaries:
- Boston College School of Theology and Ministry, a Jesuit theology school in Boston
- Jesuit School of Theology of Santa Clara University, a Jesuit theology school in California
- Loyola Marymount University Department of Theological Studies, a Jesuit seminary in California
- Seattle University School of Theology and Ministry, an interdenominational seminary that has Jesuit roots
Diocese-Based Roman Catholic Seminaries and Theology Schools
Many Roman Catholic theology schools and seminaries are geographically based and serve the surrounding dioceses:
- Athenaeum of Ohio, the seminary of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati
- Christ the King Seminary, the seminary of the Diocese of Buffalo
- Immaculate Conception Seminary of Seton Hall University, the seminary of the Archdiocese of Newark
- Notre Dame Seminary, the seminary of the Archdiocese of New Orleans that also serves dioceses of Africa and elsewhere in the Southern United States
- Sacred Heart Major Seminary, the seminary of the Archdiocese of Detroit
- St. Charles Borromeo Seminary, the seminary of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia
- St. John Vianney Theological Seminary, a Roman Catholic seminary in Colorado that serves dioceses in the Rocky Mountains
- St. John’s Seminary (in California), the seminary of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles
- St. John’s Seminary (in Massachusetts), a seminary of the Archdiocese of Boston
- St. Joseph’s Seminary, the major seminary of the Archdiocese of New York
- St. Mary Seminary and Graduate School of Theology, the seminary of the Diocese of Cleveland
- St. Mary’s Seminary and University, the seminary of the Archdiocese of Baltimore
- St. Patrick’s Seminary and University, a Roman Catholic seminary serving dioceses of the Western United States and Pacific Rim
- St. Paul Seminary School of Divinity, a seminary serving dioceses in the midwest
- St. Vincent de Paul Regional Seminary, a Roman Catholic Seminary of the dioceses of Florida
- University of St. Mary of the Lake Mundelein Seminary, the largest Roman Catholic seminary and theology school in the United States; serves dozens of dioceses and is the primary seminary of the Archdiocese of Chicago
Other Roman Catholic Theology Schools and Seminaries
Several other seminaries aren’t officially affiliated with a particular order or diocese but still serve the Roman Catholic Church:
- Augustine Institute, a seminary founded as part of Pope John Paul II’s New Evangelization movement
- Catholic University of America’s School of Theology and Religious Studies, a Roman Catholic theology school in Washington, D.C.
- Holy Apostles College and Seminary, a Roman Catholic seminary in Connecticut
- S.S. Cyril and Methodius Seminary, a Polish seminary of the Roman Catholic Church run by the RSHM
- Kenrick-Glennon Seminary, a Roman Catholic seminary in Missouri
- Marylhurst University Religious Studies Graduate Department, a Roman Catholic theology school in Oregon
- Mount Saint Mary’s Seminary, a Roman Catholic seminary in Maryland
- Pontifical College Josephinum, a Roman Catholic divinity school in Ohio
- Pope St. John XXIII National Seminary, a Roman Catholic seminary that has a curriculum designed for adults over 30
- St. Bernard’s School of Theology and Ministry, a Roman Catholic theology school in Upstate New York
- St. Meinrad Seminary and School of Theology, a Roman Catholic theology school in Indiana
- University of Notre Dame’s Department of Theology, a Roman Catholic theology school in Indiana
- University of St. Thomas School of Theology, a Roman Catholic theology school in Texas
Other Roman Catholic Orders’ Seminaries and Theology Schools
Many other orders have official seminaries or agreements with seminaries.
The Religious of the Sacred Heart of Mary (RSHM) oversees S.S. Cyril and Methodius Seminary, which is a seminary dedicated to training Polish Roman Catholics.
The Catholic Theological Union came together when several distinct Roman Catholic traditions united their educational efforts in this one school. Thus, it’s not surprising that the theology school serves many orders, including Combonis, Claretians, Blessed Sacrament Fathers and Brothers, Passionists, Holy Ghost Fathers or Spiritans, Lazarists or Vincentians, the Congregation of the Missionaries of the Most Precious Blood of Our Lord Jesus Christ, Viatorians, Scalabrinians, the Congregation of the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, Redemptionists, Columbans, Servants of Mary or Servites, Augustinians, Xaverian Missionaries or Xavierians, Divine Word Missionaries or Steyler Missionaries, Crosiers, Maryknollers, the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate, and Dehonians. (The Catholic Theological Union is not the only seminary to serve many orders, but it is one of the more diverse Roman Catholic theology schools.)
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Anglo-Catholic Seminary
In addition to the officially Roman Catholic seminaries, there also is an anglican seminary that has been greatly influenced by Roman Catholic doctrine and tradition:
- Nashotah House, an anglo-catholic, conservative seminary of The Episcopal Church
Looking for more seminaries? We also have lists of anglican, eastern, and eccumneical seminaries. Alternatively, check out all Christian seminaries or all our lists of denomination-based seminaries.