Mission

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Praying hands statue
Prayer for Vocations
and Other Prayers

Inspired by the love of the Trinity, urged by the self-emptying of Christ,
and in prayerful communion with the Church, we seek to be and to form
servant-leaders; priests and lay persons who are self giving and life-giving.

Empowered by the Holy Spirit and sharing in the mission of Christ who reconciles
all people to God and to one another in the communion of God’s Kingdom, we strive
to call forth others to join us in this loving service of evangelization.

Guiding Principles

Within the Seminary community, the formation faculty, mandated by the Bishop, strives to model this Vision, to make it incarnate by leadership and example.
As a Seminary community, we strive to pass on what we have received, proclaiming Christ through the living tradition of the Church and fostering a Eucharistic vision of community. In this context, the preparation for priesthood and lay leadership focuses on the development of the total person – human, intellectual, spiritual and pastoral.
The formation for pastoral service acknowledges interdependence. We, the Seminary community, willingly cooperate with others in fulfilling our Vision and Mission. In openness to the world, we strive to be faithful to the Church’s preferential option for the poor.

Institutional Scope

Guided by our Mission Statement, the Seminary prepares men for the ministerial priesthood for dioceses and religious communities. To this end, the Seminary seeks to promote a Christian and priestly spiritual life, an academic formation in keeping with the standards of the constituent university, and a sense of the Church's mission and mature qualities of leadership in accord with the needs of priestly ministry.

In admitting candidates to the programme of priestly formation, the Seminary accepts candidates from dioceses and religious communities across Canada. While no American dioceses are represented among the student body at present, the Seminary has a long list of graduates from various locations in the United States. Seminarian applicants must be sponsored by the bishop of their diocese or by the Superior of their religious community.

The Seminary also provides an opportunity for education in theology and philosophy to both men and women, religious and lay. The laity play an integral role and form part of the wider seminary community, thus representing the fullness of the Church within the Seminary. A distinct formation programme exists to foster the total growth of lay candidates for ministry in the Church.