Mission Statement
The mission of Saint Meinrad Seminary and School of Theology is
the initial and ongoing formation of priests, permanent deacons,
and lay ministers to minister together effectively in the service
of the Roman Catholic Church.
The long tradition and rich Benedictine heritage of Saint
Meinrad Seminary and School of Theology instill:
- a love of learning integrated with a lifelong seeking of
God,
- a strong grounding in tradition and an ability "to attend to
the signs of the times" (Gaudium et spes 4),
- a love of the Church's liturgy and a personal commitment to a
life of prayer,
- a sense of hospitality that welcomes Christ in each person and
in the community of disciples gathered in Christ's name.
Realizing the Mission
Realizing this mission requires attention to the distinctive
identity and formation of priests, permanent deacons, and lay
ministers as well as the development of professional skills to
assist them in working together for effective ministry in the
Church and for the world.
The mission is carried out through programs in three areas:
- Priesthood formation, Saint Meinrad's traditional and
central work, faithful to the teachings of the Magisterium and in
accord with Pastores Dabo Vobis and the Program
of Priestly Formation 5th Edition of the United States
Conference of Catholic Bishops, prepares seminarians for ministry
in a multicultural Church. Ongoing formation for priests is
provided by the Institute for Priests and Presbyterates.
- Permanent Deacon formation works in partnership
with dioceses to prepare men for diaconal ministry in accord
with The National Directory for the Formation, Ministry,
and Life of Permanent Deacons in the United States. Additional
offerings are provided for ongoing formation.
- Lay Ministry formation integrates human,
spiritual, intellectual and pastoral formation directed toward
Church ministry.
