It takes a real man to be a priest. The Lord needs mature, courageous men who clearly understand and deeply love the Church and its teachings to follow Christ by giving their lives in sacrifice as worthy priests. As a priest, you stand “in persona Christi” (trans: in the person of Christ) as you celebrate the Sacraments that sustain the life of the Church in our wounded world. Through you as priest, the Lord will baptize new Christians, forgive sins, anoint the sick, and change bread and wine into Christ’s body and blood. To be well-armed for this vital, awesome mission, you will complete a challenging academic program, featuring in-depth courses in Philosophy, Theology, Church History and Scripture. There is also a year of internship in the middle of your studies, providing you with firsthand experience into the day-to-day life of parish priest. Seminarians in the Archdiocese of Cincinnati study at Mount St. Mary’s Seminary of the West on the eastside of Hamilton County.

PRE-REQUISITES

Entering seminarians will vary in their academic background. Some may have studied at a seminary college like the Pontifical College Josephinum in Columbus, while some may have a degree from a secular institution. Others may not have completed a degree. Some may have been theology or philosophy majors while others may have never taken any courses in those disciplines (e.g. engineers, scientists, etc.). Mount St. Mary’s has a Pre-Theology Program that fills in the gaps for those seminarians who enter without the necessary background coursework. The Seminary evaluates the needs of such students case-by-case. Seminarians in these circumstances may take some Pre-Theology foundational courses at Mount St. Mary or at a local college (e.g. Thomas More College). Fulfilling these pre-requisites can take from 1 to 2 years. Once the pre-requisites are done, the seminarian begins the formal ‘I Theology’ year at Mount St. Mary’s.

MASTER OF DIVINITY, FIVE-YEAR PROGRAM

The program involves 4 years of academic study, with a year of internship in the middle. The requirements are a combination of the courses necessary to complete the Master of Divinity degree (M.Div), the Priestly Formation courses specified by United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), and a year of internship.

Master of Divinity Requirements: You will complete 45 academic courses (141 quarter credit hours) in Scripture, Dogmatic Theology, Moral/Spiritual Theology, Church History, Liturgy, Music, Sacramental Theology, Canon Law, Religious Education, Evangelization, Pastoral Counseling & Leadership, and Homiletics.

USCCB Program of Priestly Formation Requirements: For this, you will take an additional 9 courses (27 quarter hours), with 3 classes in Biblical Studies, 2 courses in Moral/Spiritual Theology, 3 courses in Dogmatic-Liturgical Theology and 1 open elective.

Internship (Third Year): During this year, you will complete a Parish Internship and a Non-parish internship.

Overview of Process:
If needed, 1 to 2 years Pre-Theology.
First Year: I Theology.
Second Year: II Theology.
Third Year: Internship.
Fourth Year: IV Theology. Ordained a transitional deacon at the end of the Fourth Year.
Final Year: V Theology. Ordained a Priest at the end of the Final Year.
After Graduation: Assigned as an Associate Pastor at a parish for approximately 2-8 years.

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