Institute for Priests and Presbyterates

For 160 years, Saint Meinrad Seminary and School of Theology has educated and formed diocesan priests for the Catholic Church. Today, that mission includes a venture to help dioceses provide the ongoing formation needed for their priests.

The Institute for Priests and Presbyterates aims to help priests sharpen their skills for more effective ministry and to keep both priests and presbyterates holy, healthy and effective in various ministry settings and stages of life.

Facilitating the transition from seminary into parish ministry for newly ordained priests.
For Newly Ordained Priests

Helping new pastors acquire the knowledge and skills for their ministry
For the Newly Appointed Pastor

Training seasoned pastors who have been chosen to mentor newly ordained priests and newly appointed pastors.
Mentor Training

Building presbyteral unity with the bishop and among priests.
Resources For Presbyteral Unity

Reinvigorating priests for new ministry challenges.
Four-week mini-Sabbatical for Priests

Equipping international priests with the knowledge and skills to minister well in the United States.
Accent and Acculturation for International Priests

Preparing priests for the transition into the retirement years.
Applying Creativity to Ministry in Retirement

The Institute's programs are designed to complement dioceses' implementation of Pope St. John Paul II's  Pastores Dabo Vobis, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops' The Basic Plan for the Ongoing Formation of Priests, and the 2013 edition of Congregation for the Clergy's Directory on the Life and Ministry of Priests.

Each of these attests to the importance of formation for priests, both individually and as a member of the presbyterates to which they belong - the assembly of priests and their bishop in a particular diocese.