On Tuesday, November 15th there was a celebration to mark the 225th anniversary of the arrival of the Sulpicians in America and the founding of St. Mary’s Seminary.  His Eminence Marc Cardinal Ouellet, P.S.S., Prefect for the Congregation of Bishops, received an honorary degree from St. Mary’s Seminary & University.  To read Marc Cardinal Ouellet’s remarks, click here. The ceremony was attended by several of the United States’ Cardinals; Timothy Cardinal Dolan, Seán Cardinal O’Malley, Donald Cardinal Wuerl, Archbishop Christophe Pierre (the Apostolic Nuncio of the United States) and over 30 Bishops and Archbishops who are in Baltimore at the time for the USCCB meeting.  The Province of the United States invited the seminarian communities of Theological College of the Catholic University of America, the other Sulpician seminary in the United States, and Mount St. Mary’s in Emmetsburg, founded by the Sulpicians, to join the seminarian community of St. Mary’s Seminary & University for the special celebration.

On April 8, 1791, with the blessing of Father Jacques-André Emery, superior general of the Society of the Priests of Saint Sulpice, four priests and five seminarians embarked from Saint-Malo, France on a chartered ship destined for the port of Baltimore, Maryland.  Upon their arrival, Father Francois Chares Nagot, the superior, accompanied by Fathers Antoine Garnier, Jean-Marie Tessier, and Michel Levadoux, was welcomed by Bishop John Carroll, the first bishop of the diocese of Baltimore — which at the time encompassed the entire fledging nation.  Eight days after their arrival in Baltimore, Maryland, the Sulpician community moved into a large building on Paca Street, just one mile north of city center, which was to become the first Roman Catholic seminary in the United States.   St. Mary’s Seminary was officially opened on October 3, 1791.

225 years later St. Mary’s Seminary & University continues to thrive and serve the original mission of preparing men for the Roman Catholic priesthood and proudly counts over 6000 living alumni in the United States and throughout the world.    St. Mary’s Ecumenical Institute, founded in 1968, expanded the mission to serve men and women seeking graduate theological degrees, many of whom have served the Archdiocese of Baltimore over the past 48 years.    Fr. Phillip J. Brown, P.S.S., the President Rector of St. Mary’s Seminary & University remarked “The priests of the Society of St. Sulpice have been forming priests for service in diocese of the United States for 225 years. Theirs is a unique contribution to the life of the Church in the United States, as we represent the only religious community whose principal and virtually sole work is the initial and ongoing formation of parish priests. St. Mary’s has formed more priests for service in the United States than any other seminary and can therefore justly be called America’s “cradle of pastors.”

From the Catholic Review:

Sulpicians mark 225 years of training men to be priests

November 23, 2016
By Christopher Gunty
editor@catholicreview.org

In October 1791, five men began studies for the priesthood at the first seminary in the United States, just a couple years after the Diocese of Baltimore was established as the first in the country in 1789. At the time of that humble beginning – when Bishop John Carroll, Baltimore’s first bishop, welcomed four priests from the Society of St. Sulpice and the five seminarians – the Diocese of Baltimore encompassed the whole fledgling nation.

– See more at: http://www.catholicreview.org/article/news/local-news/sulpicians-mark-225-years-of-training-men-to-be-priests#sthash.mcBs3FGi.dpuf

Copyright (c) 2016, Catholic Review Media, www.catholicreview.org. All rights reserved. Used with permission.

Photo Gallery:

...

Over 200 seminarians, faculty, staff, board members and special guests gathered on Thursday, April 21st to honor and thank Fr. Hurst for his exemplary leadership of St. Mary’s over the past 9 years.  Archbishop William Lori presided at Evening Prayer for the entire community.  Remarks by Fr. Kemper, Fr. Witherup and Mr. David Kinkopf, Vice Chair of the Board concluded the service.  All the guests enjoyed a cocktail reception in Laubacher Hall where they were able to thank Fr. Hurst personally for his leadership and dedication of America’s first Roman Catholic Seminary.

Click below to read the speakers’ remarks.

Archbishop Lori

Fr. Hurst, P.S.S.

Fr. Kemper, P.S.S.

Fr. Witherup, P.S.S.

Mr. David Kinkopf

Please view gallery images below:

...

Three notable preachers will keynote St. Mary’s Ecumenical Institute’s second Festival of Preaching, April 15-16. The festival’s focus is “Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. – The Preacher as Public Theologian.”

The festival begins at 7 pm with Dr. Arthur Sutherland’s talk, “Where Have All the Prophets Gone?: The Theological Role of the Preacher in the Public Square,” followed by the preaching of Rev. Brenda Girton-Mitchell of Metropolitan Baptist Church in Washington.  The evening concludes by considering “After Ferguson, Charleston and Sandtown: Preaching and Public Theology Today.”

Saturday, Rev. Dr. S. Todd Yeary of Douglas Memorial Church will preach at 9, followed by discussion of “Half Truths and Little Lies: Partisan Politics and Preaching Today.”

The morning concludes with Dr. C. Anthony Hunt’s address, “I’ve Seen the Promised Land: The Legacy of Martin Luther King, Jr. and Prophetic Preaching” and a discussion of “Prophetic Preaching and Public Theology for Today and Tomorrow” by Dr. Reginald Thomas (moderator) Bishop Wolfgang Herz-Lane, Dr. Lisa Weah, Dr. C. Anthony Hunt.

Lunch is provided in the refectory, followed by 7 exciting workshop choices:

• Rev. Dr. Alvin Hathaway – “Crying in the Wilderness: Developing Community Partnerships”
• Rev. Rodney Hudson – “Dry Bones Can Live: Preaching for Community Change”
• Rev. Dr. Ruby Gilliam – “Prophetic Church Leadership for Women”
• Rev. Michael Parker– “Preaching a New Song: Engaging a New Generation”
• Rev. Dr. Christopher Dreisbach – “Just Policing: Developing Community-Police Partnerships”
• Rev. Dr. Reginald Thomas – “Preaching for Church Growth”
• Rev. Dr. C. Anthony Hunt – “Foundations of Prophetic Preaching”

Our final preacher is Bishop Walter Scott Thomas of New Psalmist Baptist Church, with the day concluding at 3:30.

The $50 cost includes the entire program, including lunch and beverage break. Register online at https://festivalofpreaching2016.eventbrite.com.

...

On Saturday, March 12th, 2016, fifteen seminarians from the Archdiocese of Baltimore and the Dioceses of Albany, Greensburg, Manchester, Pittsburgh, Richmond, Scranton, Syracuse, Wilmington and Worcester were installed into the Ministry of Lector.  Fourteen seminarians from the Archdiocese of Baltimore and the Dioceses of Albany, Erie, Manchester, Metuchen, Richmond, Scranton, Wilmington and Worcester were installed in the Ministry of Acolyte.  Bishop Edward C. Malesic of the Diocese of Greensburg presided.

Lectors proclaim the Scriptures at liturgical celebrations and serve as catechists; acolytes serve at Eucharistic celebrations and bring the Eucharist to the sick

...