Founded in 1791, St. Mary’s Seminary & University in Baltimore is the first Catholic seminary in the United States. For over two hundred years, St. Mary’s has been run by the Sulpician Fathers, a community of priests dedicated to the formation of seminarians. Many holy priests and bishops have been trained here, including Fr. Michael McGivney, the founder of the Knights of Columbus, whose cause for canonization is opened. The founder of the seminary, Bishop Simon Brute, is also begin investigated for sainthood!
Mount St. Mary’s Seminary, the largest seminary in the country, opened its doors in 1808. Bishops send men from all across the United States to be trained here. It is located in the beautiful countryside west of Baltimore, close to the site of the Battle of Gettysburg. One of the priests trained here was Fr. Stanley Rother, who was martyred in Guatemala in the 1980’s. Seminarians today pray for his intercession, that they might be holy and courageous priests of Jesus Christ.
The North American College was constructed in 1855 at the request of Blessed Pope Pius IX. Men from all around the United States go there to be trained as priests. The Americans live together in the College, but study in the different Catholic universities of Rome with seminarians from all around the world. They have opportunity to pray with the Pope, to visit the tombs of saints and martyrs, and to learn the rich history of the Catholic Church in the very place where much of it took place. They also have the chance to compete in soccer against the Italians and Swiss Guard!
Opened in 2011 on the campus of Catholic University of America, this seminary has grown quickly. Men live in the college seminary but take philosophy classes at Catholic University, a world class university run by the bishops of the United States. The magnificent Basilica of the Immaculate Conception, located in the center of campus, is the largest church in the country.