St. Mary's Seminary is the first Roman Catholic seminary in the nation: rich in tradition while focused on priestly preparation for the 21st-century.
These pages provide information on the history, personnel, environment, and formation (in the Sulpician tradition) at St. Mary's.
The three pages in this section of our site touch on the very basics of the formation process.
A major part of priestly formation is intellectual formation, accomplished through the pursuit of academic degrees.
Desiring to assist in the strengthening of Hispanic ministry and recognizing the need for well-prepared priests dedicated in-part or in-full to this ministry, St. Mary’s Seminary and University has established a specialized track in Hispanic ministry.
St. Mary’s Propaedeutic Stage implements the vision of the Program for Priestly Formation (6th edition). It takes place in a revitalized and expanded structure on the historic grounds of the original St. Mary’s Seminary in downtown Baltimore. The McGivney House welcomes candidates from all dioceses and is not limited to candidates destined to enter St. Mary’s Seminary & University, but is the recommended program for those who will come to St. Mary’s.
St. Mary’s Ecumenical Institute (EI) was founded in 1968 by St. Mary’s Seminary & University, America’s oldest Roman Catholic seminary, in cooperation with ecumenical leaders. St. Mary’s is accredited by the Association of Theological Schools and by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools. The Ecumenical Institute encourages people of all denominations to explore theological studies in a serious, open-minded, and supportive environment. All EI programs are available wherever you are - on campus in Baltimore, and on-line.
The Ecumenical Institute invites people of all denominations into theological study that pursues excellence and promotes ecumenical understanding and respect. All EI programs are available wherever you are - on campus in Baltimore, and on-line.
St. Mary's Ecumenical Institute has a rolling admissions policy. Students may apply at any time for admission by submitting the appropriate materials.
The Ecumenical Institute offers accredited graduate theological programs for two master’s degrees, several graduate certificates, and introductory explorations.
The post-master’s Certificate of Advanced Studies in Theology (CAS) is designed for individuals who possess a master’s degree in theology (e.g., MAT.), ministry (e.g., MACM), divinity (e.g., MDiv), or a related field and who desire to continue their theological education with a general or focused program of study.
The Doctor of Ministry program roots ministry in the mission of God, the ways God is working in your context, in your ministry, and in you.
Students have a host of resources available to support their theological education, from free parking and a great library to writing assistance and advising.
St. Mary's Ecumenical Institute offers accredited graduate theological education that is intellectually rigorous, personally enriching, and professionally empowering.
More than 750 alums of St. Mary's Ecumenical Institute are making a difference in Baltimore, in Maryland and D.C., West Virginia and Pennsylvania, and around the world.
General communication and individual contacts
It is the mission of the Center for Continuing Formation to encourage bishops, priests, deacons, and lay ecclesial ministers to engage in human, spiritual, intellectual, and pastoral growth and to enable processes of growth that are ongoing, complete, systemic, and personalized.
Conference space rentals include a large room that will seat as many as 58 and smaller rooms that will seat from 4 to 30.
St. Mary's Center for Continuing Formation offers and hosts a variety of continuing formation programs for priests in the spirit of the Bishops' new Basic Plan for the Ongoing Formation of Priests.
St. Mary’s Seminary & University’s Pinkard Scholars is the cornerstone of Youth Theological Studies at SMSU.
For more information about any of our conference facilities or space rentals, please contact our offices directly.
The Marion Burk Knott Library of St. Mary’s Seminary and University is the largest specialized theological library in the Baltimore area, with additional materials in the areas of philosophy, psychology, pastoral counseling and church history, among others. The library receives over 390 periodicals and maintains a collection of 20,000 volumes of bound periodicals. Other holdings include newspapers, microfilm, and audio-visual materials.
The Associated Archives at St. Mary’s Seminary & University opened in the spring of 2002. Located on the campus of the nation’s first Roman Catholic seminary, this program brings together the archives of the Archdiocese of Baltimore (est. 1789), St. Mary’s Seminary & University (est. 1791), and the Associated Sulpicians of the United States (U.S. Province est. 1903), making it one of the most significant repositories for records relating to the early history of the Catholic Church in the United States.
Click here for more information about hours and visitor policies.
This section was created to provide researchers with a brief description of the open collections in the archives of the Archdiocese of Baltimore, St. Mary's Seminary & University, and the Associated Sulpicians of the United States.
The Associated Archives at St. Mary’s Seminary & University has developed a genealogical policy responsive to individuals researching their Catholic roots.
We facilitate personal integration of the human, spiritual, intellectual, and pastoral dimensions necessary for authentic priestly witness and service in the image of Jesus Christ.
The following was developed by longtime EI faculty member and pastor of Epworth Chapel UMC the Rev. Dr. C. Anthony Hunt and shared as part of his presentation on “Police, Protest & Possibility” for the virtual #TheologyTownHall held Wednesday, June 17, 2020. [Join us at noon on Wednesdays for Theology Town Halls led out by different members of the EI community.]
One key to a church’s vitality is the quality of the relationships it establishes with a broad spectrum of leaders and institutions throughout its community. One of the most important set of relationships a church can develop is with police and other public safety officials. Recent well-publicized police-involved shootings and deaths, and the shootings and deaths of a number of police officers around the nation, have stained police-community relations and resulted in unrest in many areas.
Working proactively rather than reactively to strengthen a church’s relationship with its surrounding community and with police engenders trust. It also helps improve the quality of life for persons living and working in particular communities. It is a part of the theological task of churches to “seek the welfare” (shalom, peace, well-being) of all people in their respective communities (Jeremiah 29:7). Individuals, churches, groups, organizations, institutions, and even governments can promote the wellbeing of communities by making a sincere commitment to strengthen the relationship between the church, the community, and the police.
Here are ten ways that individuals, churches, and other community organizations can work toward strengthening these relationships.
[DOWNLOAD AS PDF]
Alexander, Michelle The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness
Alinsky, Saul Rules for Radicals: A Practical Primer for Realistic Radicals
Baker-Fletcher, Garth Dirty Hands: Christian Ethics in a Morally Ambiguous World
Beckford, Robert God of the Rahtid
Bonhoeffer, Dietrich The Cost of Discipleship
Brown, Claude Manchild in a Promised Land
Canon, Katie Katie’s Canon: Womanism and the Soul of the of the Black Community
Coates, Ta-Nehisi Between the World and Me
Cone, James A Black Theology of Liberation God of the Oppressed The Cross and the Lynching Tree
Davis, Angela Freedom is a Constant Struggle: Ferguson, Palestine and the Foundations of a Movement
Diangelo, Robin White Fragility: Why It’s So Hard for White People to Talk about Racism
Du Bois, W.E.B The Souls of Black Folk
Dyson, Michael Eric Come Hell or High Water: Hurricane Katrina and the Color of Disaster Tears We Cannot Stop: A Sermon to White America The Black Presidency: Barack Obama and the Politics of Race in America
Freire, Paulo Pedagogy of the Oppressed
Gunning Francis, Leah Ferguson and Faith: Sparking Leadership and Awakening Community
Harding, Vincent Hope and History: Why We Must Share the Story of the Movement
Hendricks, Obery The Politics of Jesus: Rediscovering the True Revolutionary Nature of Jesus’ Teachings and How they have been Corrupted
Hunt, C. Anthony Blessed are the Peacemakers: A Theological Analysis of the Thought of Howard Thurman and Martin Luther King, Jr. Come Go with Me: Howard Thurman and Gospel of Radical Inclusivity I’ve Seen the Promised Land: Martin Luther King, Jr, and the 21st Century Quest for the Beloved Community And Yet the Melody Lingers: Essays, Sermons and Prayers on Religion and Race, vol. 1 My Hope is Built: Essays, Sermons and Prayers on Religion and Race, vol.2 Stones of Hope: Essays, Sermons and Prayers on Religion and Race, vol. 3
Jacobson, Dennis Doing Justice: Congregations and Community Organizing
Johnson, Cedric Race, Religion and Resilience in the Neoliberal Age
Jones, William R. Is God a White Racist?
Kendi, Ibram How to Become and Antiracist
Lebacqz, Karen Justice in an Unjust World
Lebron, Christopher The Making of Black Lives Matter
Kelsey, George Racism and the Christian Understanding of Man
King, Jr., Martin Luther “Suffering and Faith” in The Christian Century (April 1960) Strength to Love Where do We Go from Here: Chaos or Community? Why We Can’t Wait
McMickle, Marvin Pulpit and Politics: Separation of Church and State in the Black Church Where have all the Prophets Gone?: Reclaiming Prophetic Preaching in America
Recinos, Harold Jesus Weeps: Global Encounters on Our Doorstep
Smith, Kenneth and Ira Zepp, Jr. The Search for Beloved Community: The Thinking of Martin Luther King, Jr.
Stevenson, Bryan Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption
Stone, Nic Dear Martin
Tatum, Beverly Why are All the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria
Townes, Emilie A Troubling in My Soul: Womanist Perspectives on Evil and Suffering
Thomas, Frank How to Preach a Dangerous Sermon
Thurman, Howard Jesus and the Disinherited The Luminous Darkness: A Personal Interpretation of the Anatomy of Segregation and the Ground of Hope
Jim Wallis America’s Original Sin: Racism, White Privilege and the Bridge to a New America
West, Cornel Prophecy Deliverance Race Matters
Williams, Chad, et. al., eds. Charleston Syllabus: Readings on Race, Racism and Racial Violence
Williams, Reggie Bonhoeffer’s Black Jesus: Renaissance Theology and an Ethic of Resistance
X, Malcom The Autobiography of Malcolm X
Young, Josiah U. No Difference in the Fare: Dietrich Bonhoeffer and the Problem of Racism
April 23, 2024 | Ecumenical Institute News, St. Mary's Ecumenical Institute
The following was developed by longtime EI faculty member and pastor of Epworth Chapel UMC the Re...
April 22, 2024 | Ecumenical Institute News, St. Mary's Ecumenical Institute