When one thinks about seminary life one often conjures up images of a mysterious place far away from home. Nothing could be farther from the truth! The seminary is a vibrant community of men discerning their call to the priesthood. Imagine one hundred seminarians all seeking God's will, praying in common, celebrating the Eucharist together every day, sharing many of the same joys and struggles, and each of them seeking the priesthood. This is the vital reality of seminary life.

 

The seminary is a place where the Holy Spirit is at work. A place where Catholic men join together with the common goal of discerning God's call. It is a faith-filled community unlike any you will ever experience. The seminary is a dynamic community that promotes spiritual, intellectual, emotional and physical vitality. Since this is a time of intense discernment focusing on the priesthood, seminarians are asked not to date. However, they develop good friendships with people on and off campus

 

Seminarians fall into one of the following three categories: collegians, pre-theologians, or theologians. Collegians are seminarians enrolled in college seminary and are earning a bachelor's degree. Pre-theologians are men entering the seminary who have already earned a bachelor's degree. They are enrolled in a major graduate seminary and take one or two years of philosophy which is a prerequisite for the study of graduate theology. Theologians are those seminarians in the last four years of formation. They have completed their bachelor's degree and philosophy requirements and are enrolled in a major seminary where they earn a graduate degree in theology.

 

College and pre-theology is a time to test God's call to the priesthood. If a man is reasonably certain that God is calling him, that he has the gifts necessary for the priesthood, and that he could happily live this calling for a lifetime, he then goes on to study graduate theology at a major seminary. Major seminary is a time of profound spiritual, personal, and academic preparation for the priesthood.

 

The Archdiocese of Omaha utilizes the finest seminaries to train our men for the priesthood. We send our college seminarians to Conception Seminary College in Northwest Missouri, and to Cardinal Glennon College Seminary in St. Louis, Missouri. These seminaries provide our collegians with a solid formation and an excellent Catholic liberal arts education. After college, we send our men to study graduate theology at Kenrick Seminary in St. Louis, Missouri, Mount St. Mary Seminary in Emmitsburg, Maryland, the Pontifical College Josephinum in Columbus, Ohio, and to the North American College in Rome. The Vocation Director considers these college seminaries and theologates to be among the best available for our seminarians.