Theological College (Catholic University of America)

Theological College is the national Catholic diocesan seminary for the Latin Church in the United States. The school was founded in 1917 and is located in Washington, D.C. It is affiliated with the Catholic University of America and is owned and administered by priests of the Society of Saint-Sulpice.

Theological College
The seal of Theological College
Latin: Seminarium Sancti Sulpitii
Former names
Sulpician Seminary
(1917–1940)
TypeCatholic seminary
Established1917 (1917)
Religious affiliation
Catholic Church (Catholic University of America, Society of Saint-Sulpice)
RectorGladstone Stevens, P.S.S.
Vice-RectorChris Arockiaraj, P.S.S.
Students45
Location
Washington, D.C.
,
United States
AffiliationsUnited States Conference of Catholic Bishops; Congregation for the Clergy
Websitetheologicalcollege.org
Theological College

It is located near the campus of CUA, across from the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, and close to other Brookland-area Catholic institutions such as Capuchin College, the house of the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate, and the Dominican House of Studies. The larger neighborhood is for this reason referred to as "Little Rome".

History

In 1889, priests belonging to the Society of Saint Sulpice were asked to administer the divinity college of the Catholic University of America. In 1917, they began building their own seminary next to the university. The Sulpician Seminary was first run as an extension of Saint Mary Seminary in Baltimore, Maryland, but became an independent institution in 1924. In 1940, the Catholic University school of theology assumed responsibility for training its seminarians, whereupon the seminary was renamed Theological College.[1]

Sulpician tradition

The formation program of Theological College is guided by the principles and ethos of the Sulpician Fathers as articulated by Father Jean-Jacques Olier, founder of the Society of St. Sulpice: “to live supremely for God in Christ Jesus our Lord, so much so that the inner life of His only Son should penetrate to the inmost depths of our heart and to such an extent that everyone should be able to say ‘It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me.'” Founded to reform the clergy in 1630s France, the Society retains its commitment of “developing men of character, educating effective priests, forming pastoral leaders and nurturing an apostolic spirit.”

The Society’s five hallmarks are a commitment to ministerial priesthood, the cultivation of an apostolic spirit, an emphasis on spiritual formation, the creation of a formational community, and the exercise of collegiality.

This approach gives special emphasis and recognition to the importance of mental prayer and spiritual direction. Particular devotion to Our Lady under the title Sedes Sapientiae, Seat of Wisdom, is another distinctive characteristic.

Academic programs

The Order of Saint-Sulpice focuses on training priests through its seminaries.[2] To that end, the Theological College provides priestly formation through three separate academic programs: a two-year certified pre-theology program; a theology program; and the Basselin scholars program for undergraduate-level seminarians.[1] The latter, an eponymous endowed scholarship of Theodore B. Basselin for “the very best and brightest seminarians”, is administered by the Catholic University school of philosophy and students complete both a Ph.B and a Ph.L in Philosophy through this program.

The theology program at Theological College offers three degree tracks for prospective seminarians: an S.T.B./M.Div. program, an S.T.B./S.T.L. program adding an extra year of studies after priestly ordination, and an S.T.B./J.C.L. program adding two extra years of study after priestly ordination.

The seminary houses and forms seminarians from the following dioceses: Charleston, Corpus Christi, Dallas, Los Angeles, Fort Worth, Little Rock, Lafayette, Louisville, Memphis, New York, Pittsburgh, Portland, Raleigh, Richmond, Rockville Centre, Salt Lake City, Santa Fe, St. Augustine, Syracuse, Washington, and Worcester.[3]

Rectors
No.NameYears served
1.mccl Rev. Francis Havey, PSS1917-1924; 1926
2.cha Rev. John F. Fenlon, PSS1924-1925
3.hos Rev. J. Benjamin Tennelly, PSS1926-1931
4.oconeld Rev. Anthony Vieban, PSS1932-1944
5.oconelw Rev. Llyod P. McDonald, PSS1944-1949
6.ken Rev. John P. McCormick, PSS1949-1968
7.ohe Rev. Eugene A. Walsh, PSS1968-1971
8.ohe Rev. Edward J. Frazer, PSS1971-1976
9.bur Rev. Anthony F. Lobo, PSS1976-1982
10.hay Rev. Albert C. Giaquinto, PSS1982-1986
11.oconor Rev. Lawrence B. Terrien, PSS1986-1992
12.hic Rev. Howard P. Bleichner, PSS1992-2002
13.dar Rev. Thomas Hurst, PSS2002-2007
14.mur Rev. Mel Blanchette, PSS2007-2011
15.pur Rev. Phillip J. Brown, PSS2011-2016
16.pur Rev. Gerald D. McBrearity, PSS2016–2020
17.pur Rev. Dominic G. Ciriaco, PSS2020–2023
18.pur Rev. Gladstone Stevens, PSS2023-present

Faculty

The eighteenth and current rector of Theological College is the Reverend Gladstone Stevens, PSS, Ph.D., who assumed this position in August 2023. He succeeded Reverend Dominic Ciriaco, PSS, who served as rector from 2020 to 2023. The current vice-rector is Reverend Chris Arockiaraj, PSS, M.S., S.T.B., Ph.L., Ph.D., D. Min., The faculty includes six priests, five of whom are Sulpicians, and one permanent deacon who are appointed by the Sulpician Provincial Council. The position of rector must be approved by both the president of the Catholic University and the archbishop of Washington.[1]

Notable alumni

Theological College is the alma mater of over 1,500 priests, including 45 bishops and six cardinals.[2] These include:

References
  1. "Mission and History". Theological College. Archived from the original on February 24, 2012. Retrieved February 3, 2012.
  2. "Theological College, Washington, D.C." What We Do. Sulpician Order. Archived from the original on March 10, 2012. Retrieved February 17, 2012.
  3. "Sending Dioceses". Theological College. Retrieved October 14, 2023.

38°55′51″N 76°59′58″W

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