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:

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. Lay Ministry formation integrates human, spiritual, intellectual and pastoral formation directed toward Church ministry.