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Cloister of the Sacred Heart

    The Mission of the Seminary of Our Lady of the Snows  is to prepare mature adults for service as clergy of the Church. Personal formation is the central process by which preparation is accomplished. While there are set knowledge areas requiring mastery, the key is personal conversion; a process that, indeed, is the work of a lifetime.

    During the time in Seminary, the seminarian will experience a thoughtful, individually tailored process for examining the "Call" and knowing the depths of her/his own heart. The process, in general, is noteworthy for its emphasis on prayerfulness, living the Sacraments, engaged spirituality, or Spirit in action, and mentorship. This Seminary is primarily about living the Kerygma of Our Lord in daily work and interaction. It is about living theology not merely studying it.

    After completion of the interview process (including review of the formal application, background and reference checks) and, assuming acceptance, the seminarian will work with a designated Bishop, the Rector of the Seminary, and one or more local mentors to establish a "Personal Formation Plan." This is designed to acknowledge any prior advanced education and experience & ensure the most meaningful process for seminary study and development.

Core Competencies

All courses are developed and organized in accordance with the canonically required ten core competency areas. These are: 

  1. Spirituality & Prayer

  2. Sacramental Theology (Rites & Liturgics)

  3. Biblical Studies

  4. Theology

  5. Christology

  6. Ecclesiology 

  7. Ethics & Morality

  8. Ministry & Pastoral Care

  9. Comparative Religion & Philosophy

  10. Sacred Languages ( Koine Greek, Latin, and/or Biblical Hebrew).

Many of our courses can be satisfied through web-based learning, or through distance learning (correspondence and telephone conferences and study materials on CD). In all cases, courses involve responding to essay-type questions, and reading is meant to quicken meditation and prayer along with vibrant dialogue with one’s mentor, Bishop and the Rector of the Seminary.

Required Courses

The following list of courses provides an overview of the curriculum leading to the award of the Licentiate in Sacred Theology [STL]. This is the terminal degree that recognizes completion of all academic and formational expectations leading to consideration for ordination by the College of Bishops. Advanced applicants may "test out" of a required course through documentation in the form of transcripts of prior work that effectively covers the same material. [In cases where documentation is lacking, essays demonstrating understanding of core ideas are requested to fulfill the standards.]

All courses are also available to existing clergy of the Church in fulfillment of continuing education requirements. The Church Website will also  host occasional continuing education seminars.

Required Course Listing:

200 Developing a Personal Formation Plan [ 2 credits]

201 Foundations: The Second Vatican Council [2 credits]

202 The Canon Law, Constitution, Principles & Standards of the Catholic Church Universal [ 2 credits ]

203-4 Patristics I & II [ 6 credits]

205-6 Ecclesiology, Church History & Contemporary Issues [2 credits]

301-2 Basic Koine Greek I & II / or Biblical Hebrew I & II / or Latin I & II [ 6 credits each]

303-4 Hermeneutics I & II [ 6 credits]

304-5 The Jewish Canon I & II [ 6 credits]

306-7 The Christian Canon I & II [ 6 credits]

308-9 The Apocrypha, Dead Sea Scrolls & the Nag Hammadi Library I & II [ 6 credits]

401-2 Prayer, Spiritual Exercises & Ascetical Theology [ 6 credits]

403-4 Transcendence & Formation I & II [ 6 credits]

405-6 Dogmatic Theologies & A Reformed Catholicism I & II [ 6 credits]

407-8 Sacramental Theology & Liturgics I & II [6 credits]

501-2 Christological Investigations I & II [6 credits]

503-4 Theology at the Third Millennium I & II [6 credits]

601    Ethics & Morality [ 3]

701    Ministry & Pastoral care [3]

802    The Nexus between A Reformed Catholicism & Other Faith Systems [3]

901-2 Pastoral Counseling & the Christian Unconscious I & II  [6]

LP1-2 Liturgical Practice I & II [6 credits]

PC1-2 Pastoral Care Practicum I & II [ 6 credits]

The Seminary  is a true "Seminary without Walls" accommodating late vocations and those who already have a profession, experience the Call to serve as priests, and wish to do so outside of the Roman context. The program calls for completion of 107 credits (or the documented equivalent) upon which the STL is awarded. Much of the work is web-based, though a period of residency is required and may be fulfilled by attendance at colloquia and symposia in the Northeast. A mentorship model and practical application of learning is stressed throughout.

To provide opportunities for people in all walks of life and respecting the full range of economic means, tuition has been set at a minimal $55 per credit hour to offer an affordable option.

There is a $150 application fee for reviewing documents, processing them and establishing the “Personal Formation Plan.” Credit card payments are accepted. Deferred payment arrangements are available.

[Courses cannot be initiated until a personal formation plan has been developed, agreed to, and signed. Tuition for seminary training will be based on the plan and the number of courses required.]


Copyright 2004