The American College of the Immaculate Conception, or the American College of Louvain is a former

Roman Catholic Roman or Romans most often refers to: *Rome, the capital city of Italy *Ancient Rome, Roman civilization from 8th century BC to 5th century AD *Roman people, the people of ancient Rome *'' Epistle to the Romans'', shortened to ''Romans'', a lette ...

seminary in

Leuven Leuven (, ) or Louvain (, , ; german: link=no, Löwen ) is the capital and largest city of the province of Flemish Brabant in the Flemish Region of Belgium. It is located about east of Brussels. The municipality itself comprises the historic ...

Belgium Belgium, ; french: Belgique ; german: Belgien officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a country in Northwestern Europe. The country is bordered by the Netherlands to the north, Germany to the east, Luxembourg to the southeast, France to th ...

. Founded in 1857, it was operated by United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) to prepare European priests for service in the United States and to provide a residence for Americans priests studying at the Catholic University of Louvain. The American College closed in June 2011 due to low enrollment and a faculty shortage; its building was turned over to the

Katholieke Universiteit Leuven KU Leuven (or Katholieke Universiteit Leuven) is a Catholic research university in the city of Leuven, Belgium. It conducts teaching, research, and services in computer science, engineering, natural sciences, theology, humanities, medicine, l ...

(KU Leuven) for student housing. American College, Louvain

History

19th century

The American College was founded in 1857 by American bishops under the leadership of Bishop Martin J. Spalding of Archdiocese of Louisville and Bishop

Peter Paul Lefevere Peter Paul Lefevere, or Lefebre (April 30, 1804 – March 4, 1869), was a 19th-century Belgian born bishop of the Catholic Church in the United States. He was a missionary priest in the states of Missouri, Illinois and Iowa before he served as c ...

of Archdiocese of Detroit. It was created to train young European men to serve as

missionary A missionary is a member of a Religious denomination, religious group which is sent into an area in order to promote its faith or provide services to people, such as education, literacy, social justice, health care, and economic development.Tho ...

priests A priest is a religious leader authorized to perform the sacred rituals of a religion, especially as a mediatory agent between humans and one or more deity, deities. They also have the authority or power to administer religious rites; in p ...

in North America and to give American seminarians the opportunity to study at the Catholic University of Louvain. The college's signature song was a Marian hymn, O Sodales, authored by Gustave Limpens in 1862. The College grew rapidly in its early years, most notably under the rectorship of John De Neve, its second rector. Over 800 priests trained at the American College served in dioceses and vicariates during the second half of the 19th century across the United States. Some of the priests were eventually appointed as bishops of newly formed dioceses: * Bishop Charles John Seghers, foundee of the Alaska mission * Bishop Patrick Riordan of the Archdiocese of San Francisco * Bishop Alphonse Glorieux of the Diocese of Boise * Bishop John Baptist Brondel of the Diocese of Helena

20th century

The college continued to train young men for service to the Church in the United States into the twentieth century under the rectorship of Jules De Becker. it remained open during German occupation in

First World War World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...

. The college staff hid many documents and other valuable items of Leuven, including the statue of the

Sedes Sapientiae Seat of Wisdom or Throne of Wisdom (Latin: ''sedes sapientiae'') is one of many devotional titles for Mary in Roman Catholic tradition. In Seat of Wisdom icons and sculptures, Mary is seated on a throne with the Christ Child on her lap. For the ...

, The staff converted the college into an emergency hospital and dispensary of food and clothing. At its peak, the college was assisting 1,500 Leuven residents per day. With the declaration of war in 1939, the college closed. It reopened in 1952 under the rectorship of Father Thomas Maloney. The college expanded to accommodate the increased number of American priests and brothers wanting to study at the Catholic University. It also began offering sabbatical opportunities for priests, religious, and lay ecclesial ministers from all nations. In 1998, a major ethnic dispute known as the

Leuven crisis Leuven (, ) or Louvain (, , ; german: link=no, Löwen ) is the capital and largest city of the province of Flemish Brabant in the Flemish Region of Belgium. It is located about east of Brussels. The municipality itself comprises the historic c ...

erupted in Belgium between the

Flemish Flemish (''Vlaams'') is a Low Franconian dialect cluster of the Dutch language. It is sometimes referred to as Flemish Dutch (), Belgian Dutch ( ), or Southern Dutch (). Flemish is native to Flanders, a historical region in northern Belgium; ...

-speaking population and the

Walloons Walloons (; french: Wallons ; wa, Walons) are a Gallo-Romance ethnic group living native to Wallonia and the immediate adjacent regions of France. Walloons primarily speak '' langues d'oïl'' such as Belgian French, Picard and Walloon. Walloo ...

(French speakers). To resolve the dispute, the Catholic University of Louvain was split into KU Leuven in Leuven and the

Université catholique de Louvain The Université catholique de Louvain (also known as the Catholic University of Louvain, the English translation of its French name, and the University of Louvain, its official English name) is Belgium's largest French-speaking university. It ...

(UCLouvain) in

Louvain-la-Neuve Louvain-la-Neuve (, French for ''New Leuven''; wa, Li Noû Lovén) is a planned town in the municipality of Ottignies-Louvain-la-Neuve, Wallonia, Belgium, situated 30 km southeast of Brussels, in the province of Walloon Brabant. The town was ...

, Belgium. The American College, remaining in Leuven, maintained ties with both new institutions.

Sponsorship and governorship

The American College was sponsored and overseen by American Catholic

bishops A bishop is an ordained clergy member who is entrusted with a position of authority and oversight in a religious institution. In Christianity, bishops are normally responsible for the governance of dioceses. The role or office of bishop is ca ...

through the USCCB. The other American-sponsored college in Europe was the

Pontifical North American College The Pontifical North American College (NAC) is a Catholic Church, Roman Catholic educational institution in Rome, Italy, that prepares seminarians to become priests in the United States and elsewhere. The NAC also provides a residence for Pri ...

Rome , established_title = Founded , established_date = 753 BC , founder = King Romulus (legendary) , image_map = Map of comune of Rome (metropolitan city of Capital Rome, region Lazio, Italy).svg , map_caption ...

. The college was overseen by the Committee for the American College, its

board of directors A board of directors (commonly referred simply as the board) is an executive committee that jointly supervises the activities of an organization, which can be either a for-profit or a nonprofit organization such as a business, nonprofit organiz ...

. Fourteen American bishops sat on the committee; the last committee chair was Bishop David Ricken of the

Diocese of Green Bay The Roman Catholic Diocese of Green Bay ( la, Diocesis Sinus Viridis) was established on March 3, 1868, by Pope Pius IX. It covers the city of Green Bay, as well as Brown, Calumet, Door, Florence, Forest, Kewaunee, Langlade, Manitowoc, Marinet ...

. The college also had an advisory board of lay persons and clergy. At the close of the 2010–2011 academic year, there were nineteen

seminarians A seminary, school of theology, theological seminary, or divinity school is an educational institution for educating students (sometimes called ''seminarians'') in scripture, theology, generally to prepare them for ordination to serve as clergy, ...

in formation with the college. Their sponsoring dioceses were: Boise, Cheyenne, Congregation of Holy Cross, Green Bay,

Lublin Lublin is the ninth-largest city in Poland and the second-largest city of historical Lesser Poland. It is the capital and the center of Lublin Voivodeship with a population of 336,339 (December 2021). Lublin is the largest Polish city east of t ...

, Madison,

Milwaukee Milwaukee ( ), officially the City of Milwaukee, is both the most populous and most densely populated city in the U.S. state of Wisconsin and the county seat of Milwaukee County. With a population of 577,222 at the 2020 census, Milwaukee is ...

, Orange,

Portland (Oregon) Portland (, ) is a port city in the Pacific Northwest and the largest city in the U.S. state of Oregon. Situated at the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers, Portland is the county seat of Multnomah County, the most populous c ...

, Rochester, Salford, and Spokane.

Mission

The primary mission of the American College was the formation of priests who would serve the

Catholic Church The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the largest Christian church, with 1.3 billion baptized Catholics worldwide . It is among the world's oldest and largest international institutions, and has played a ...

North America North America is a continent in the Northern Hemisphere and almost entirely within the Western Hemisphere. It is bordered to the north by the Arctic Ocean, to the east by the Atlantic Ocean, to the southeast by South America and the Car ...

. In addition to the classes offered by KU Leuven the College provided a comprehensive program of human, spiritual, intellectual, and pastoral formation for seminarians. The college also hosted graduate students studying canon law and theology in Leuven. The college ran a semester-long

sabbatical A sabbatical (from the Hebrew: (i.e., Sabbath); in Latin ; Greek: ) is a rest or break from work. The concept of the sabbatical is based on the Biblical practice of ''shmita'' (sabbatical year), which is related to agriculture. According to ...

program for priests, religious, or laity sent by their dioceses or religious congregations. Both the graduate students and sabbaticals took classes through KU Leuven while living at and participating in activities at the college.

Closure

On November 22, 2010, the USCCB released a statement:

"Due to the small number of seminarians and available priest faculty, the American College of the Immaculate Conception in Leuven, Belgium, has announced its closure in June 2011."

On August 19, 2011, the USCCB, the American College board, KU Leuven and UCLouvain signed an agreement on the future use of the American College property. The facility was renovated in 2013 to serve as housing for Mater Dei and the St. Damien Community students, and for American researchers studying philosophy, theology and

canon law Canon law (from grc, κανών, , a 'straight measuring rod, ruler') is a set of ordinances and regulations made by ecclesiastical authority (church leadership) for the government of a Christian organization or church and its members. It is th ...

at KU Leuven and UCLouvain.

Rectors

* Peter Kindekens, Archdiocese of Detroit, 1857-1860 * John De Neve, Archdiocese of Detroit, 1860-1891 * John Willemsen, Archdiocese of Mechelen, 1891-1898 * Jules De Becker, Archdiocese of Mechelen, 1898-1931 * Pierre de Strycker, Archdiocese of Mechelen, 1931-1939 * Thomas Francis Maloney,

Diocese of Providence The Roman Catholic Diocese of Providence ( la, Dioecesis Providentiensis) is a diocese of the Catholic Church in the United States. The diocese was erected by Pope Pius IX on February 17, 1872 and originally comprised the entire state of Rhode ...

, 1952-1960 * Paul D. Riedl, Diocese of Springfield, 1960-1970 * Clement E. Pribil,

Archdiocese of Oklahoma City The Archdiocese of Oklahoma City ( la, Archidioecesis Oclahomensis) is a Latin Church ecclesiastical territory or archdiocese of the Catholic Church in the South Central region of the United States. Its ecclesiastical territory includes 46 coun ...

, 1970-1971 * Raymond Francis Collins,

, 1971-1978 * William J. Greytak, Diocese of Helena, 1978-1983 * John J. Costanzo,

Diocese of Pueblo The Diocese of Pueblo ( la, Dioecesis Pueblensis) is a Latin Church ecclesiastical territory or diocese of the Catholic Church in southern Colorado. The diocese was created on November 15, 1941. It encompasses the southern half of Colorado, from ...

, 1983-1988 * Thomas P. Ivory,

Archdiocese of Newark The Archdiocese of Newark is a Latin Church ecclesiastical jurisdiction or archdiocese of the Catholic Church in northeastern New Jersey, United States. Its ecclesiastic territory includes all of the Catholic parishes and Catholic school, schools ...

, 1988-1992 * Melvin T. Long, Diocese of Salina, 1992-1993 * David E. Windsor,

Congregation of the Mission , logo = , image = Vincentians.png , abbreviation = CM , nickname = Vincentians, Paules, Lazarites, Lazarists, Lazarians , established = , founder = Vincent de Paul , fou ...

, 1993-2001 * Kevin A. Codd, Diocese of Spokane, 2001-2007 * Ross A. Shecterle,

Archdiocese of Milwaukee The Archdiocese of Milwaukee ( la, Archidiœcesis Milvauchiensis) is a Latin Church ecclesiastical territory or archdiocese of the Catholic Church headquartered in Milwaukee, Wisconsin in the United States. It encompasses the City of Milwaukee, a ...

, 2007-2011

Episcopal alumni

Over the years, a number of graduates of the American College have been appointed to the episcopacy. Bishop-alumni of the college include: * Matthew Francis Brady (1893-1959), Bishop of Burlington (1938-1944) and Bishop of Manchester (1944-1959) *

Edward Kenneth Braxton Edward Kenneth Braxton (born June 28, 1944) is an American prelate of the Catholic Church who served as bishop of the Diocese of Belleville in Illinois, from 2005 to 2020. Braxton previously served as an auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of ...

(°1944),

Auxiliary Auxiliary may refer to: * A backup site or system In language * Auxiliary language (disambiguation) * Auxiliary verb In military and law enforcement * Auxiliary police * Auxiliaries, civilians or quasi-military personnel who provide support of ...

Bishop of St. Louis (1995-2001), Bishop of Lake Charles (2001-2005), and Bishop of Belleville (2005-2020) * Jean-Baptiste Brondel (1842-1903),

Bishop of Vancouver Island The Diocese of Victoria ( la, Dioecesis Victoriensis in Insula Vancouver) is a Latin Church ecclesiastical territory or diocese of the Catholic Church in the Canada, Canadian Provinces and territories of Canada, province of British Columbia. Its ...

(1879-1883) and

Bishop of Helena The Diocese of Helena ( la, Dioecesis Helenensis) is the Latin Church ecclesiastical territory or diocese of the Catholic Church in western Montana with its cathedral located in Helena. The diocese was created from the year-old Apostolic Vicariat ...

(1884-1903) *

Ferdinand Brossart Ferdinand Brossart was a German American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He was born in the Diocese of Speyer, and served from 1915 to 1923 as the fourth bishop of the Diocese of Covington. Early life Ferdinand Brossart was born on Octobe ...

(1849-1930), Bishop of Covington (1915-1923) *

Charles Albert Buswell Charles Albert Buswell (October 15, 1913 – June 14, 2008) was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church who served as bishop of the Diocese of Pueblo in Colorado from 1959 to 1979. Biography Early life Charles Buswell was born on ...

(1913-2008), Bishop of Pueblo (1959-1979) *

Alphonse Liguori Chaupa Alphonse Liguori Chaupa (27 July 1959 – 21 March 2016) was a Roman Catholic bishop. Ordained to the priesthood in 1987, Chaupa was named auxiliary bishop of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Rabaul, Papua New Guinea Papua New Guinea ...

(1959-2016),

Bishop of Rabaul (2000-2003) and Bishop of Kimbe,

Papua New Guinea Papua New Guinea (abbreviated PNG; , ; tpi, Papua Niugini; ho, Papua Niu Gini), officially the Independent State of Papua New Guinea ( tpi, Independen Stet bilong Papua Niugini; ho, Independen Stet bilong Papua Niu Gini), is a country i ...

(2003-2008) * Francis Joseph Christian (°1942),

Bishop of Manchester (1996–2018) *

Edmund Michael Dunne Edmund Michael Dunne (February 2, 1864 – October 17, 1929) was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as bishop of the Diocese of Peoria in Illinois from 1909 until his death in 1929. Biography Early life Edmund Dunn ...

(1864-1929), Bishop of Peoria (1909-1929) *

Shelton Joseph Fabre Shelton Joseph Fabre is an American prelate of the Catholic Church who has served as the Archbishop of Louisville since March 30, 2022. He served as bishop of the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux from 2013 to 2022 and was auxiliary bishop of the Ar ...

(°1963),

Bishop of New Orleans (2006-2013), Bishop of Houma-Thibodaux (2013–2022) and Archbishop of Louisville (2022- Present) *

Joseph John Fox Joseph John Fox (August 2, 1855 – March 14, 1915) was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church who served as bishop of the Diocese of Green Bay in Wisconsin from 1904 until his death in 1914. Biography Early life Joseph Fox was b ...

(1855-1915), Bishop of Green Bay (1904-1915) *

Alphonse Joseph Glorieux Alphonse Joseph Glorieux (February 1, 1844 – August 25, 1917) was a Belgian-born missionary and prelate of the Catholic Church. He served as the first bishop of the Diocese of Boise in Idaho from 1893 until his death in 1917. He previousl ...

(1844-1917), Vicar Apostolic of Idaho (1884-1893) and Bishop of Boise (1893-1917) *

Charles Pasquale Greco Charles Pasquale Greco (October 29, 1894 – January 20, 1987) was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as bishop of the Diocese of Alexandria in Louisiana from 1946 to 1973. Greco also served as the supreme chaplain o ...

(1894-1987),

Bishop of Alexandria The Patriarch of Alexandria is the archbishop of Alexandria, Egypt. Historically, this office has included the designation "pope" (etymologically "Father", like "Abbot"). The Alexandrian episcopate was revered as one of the three major episco ...

(1946-1973) * Francis Janssens (1843-1897), Bishop of Natchez (1881-1888) and Archbishop of New Orleans (1888-1897) *

Egidius Junger Egidius Jünger, also spelled Aegidius Jünger (April 6, 1833 – December 26, 1895), was a German-born prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as bishop of the Diocese of Nesqually in the Washington Territory in the United States from ...

(1833-1895), Bishop of Nesqually (1879-1895) * Jean-Nicolas Lemmens (1850-1897),

Bishop of Victoria The Bishop of Victoria, Hong Kong was (from 1849 to 1951) the Ordinary of a corporation sole including Hong Kong and South China that ministered to 20,000 Anglicans. Bishops *18491865 (ret.): George SmithHandbook to the Diocese of Victoria (Hong K ...

(1888-1897) *

Stephen Aloysius Leven Stephen Aloysius Leven (April 30, 1905 – June 28, 1983) was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Bishop of San Angelo from 1969 to 1979. Biography Early life and education Stephen Leven was born in Blackwell, Okl ...

(1905-1983),

Bishop of San Antonio (1956-1969) and Bishop of San Angelo (1969-1979) *

Camillus Paul Maes Camillus Paul Maes (March 13, 1846 – May 11, 1915) was a Belgian-born American prelate of the Catholic Church. He served as the third Bishop of Covington from 1885 until his death in 1915. He remains the longest-serving bishop of the diocese an ...

(1846-1915), Bishop of Covington (1885-1915) * Thomas Francis Maloney (1903-1962), sixth rector of the American College and

Bishop of Providence (1960-1962) * Russell Joseph McVinney (1898-1971), Bishop of Providence (1948-1971), influential in reopening the college in 1952 * Theophile Meerschaert (1847-1924), Bishop of Oklahoma (1891-1924) * Robert Edward Mulvee (1930-2018), Bishop of Wilmington (1985-1995) and Bishop of Providence *

Henry Joseph O'Brien Henry Joseph O'Brien (July 21, 1896 – July 23, 1976) was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as the first Archbishop of Hartford from 1945 to 1968. Biography Henry O'Brien was born in New Haven, Connecticut, to Mic ...

(1896-1976), Archbishop of Hartford (1945-1968) *

John Joseph O'Connor John Joseph O'Connor may refer to: * John O'Connor (cardinal), archbishop of New York * John J. O'Connor (bishop of Newark), American prelate of the Catholic Church. * John J. O'Connor (New York representative), U.S. Representative from New York * ...

(1855-1927), Bishop of Newark (1901-1927) * Bertram Orth,

(1900-1908) *

David Laurin Ricken David Laurin Ricken (born November 9, 1952) is an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church, serving as the bishop of the Diocese of Green Bay in Wisconsin since 2008. Ricken previously served as bishop of the Diocese of Cheyenne in Wyoming ...

(°1952),

Coadjutor Bishop A coadjutor bishop (or bishop coadjutor) is a bishop in the Catholic, Anglican, and (historically) Eastern Orthodox churches whose main role is to assist the diocesan bishop in the administration of the diocese. The coadjutor (literally, "co ...

Cheyenne The Cheyenne ( ) are an Indigenous people of the Great Plains. Their Cheyenne language belongs to the Algonquian language family. Today, the Cheyenne people are split into two federally recognized nations: the Southern Cheyenne, who are enroll ...

(1999-2001), Bishop of Cheyenne (2001-2008), and Bishop of Green Bay (2008-present) *

Patrick William Riordan Patrick William Riordan (August 27, 1841 – December 27, 1914) was a Canadian-born American prelate of the Catholic Church who served as Archbishop of San Francisco from 1884 until his death in 1914. He served during the 1906 San Francisco e ...

(1841-1914), Archbishop of San Francisco (1884-1914) * Charles-Jean Seghers (1839-1886),

(1873-1878, 1884-1886), Archbishop of Oregon City (1880-1884), and "Apostle of Alaska" * John Lancaster Spalding (1840-1916), Bishop of Peoria (1877-1908) and co-founder of

The Catholic University of America The Catholic University of America (CUA) is a private university, private Catholic church, Roman Catholic research university in Washington, D.C. It is a pontifical university of the Catholic Church in the United States and the only institution ...

William Stang William Stang (April 21, 1854 – February 2, 1907) was a German-born American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as the first bishop of the Diocese of Fall River in Massachusetts from 1904 until his death in 1907. Biography Early l ...

(1854-1907), Bishop of Fall River (1904-1907) * Augustine Van de Vyver (1844-1911), Bishop of Richmond (1889-1911) *

Edward Weisenburger Edward Joseph Weisenburger, J.C.L., is an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church, serving as the bishop of the Diocese of Tucson in Arizona since 2017. He previously served as the bishop of the Diocese of Salina in Kansas from 2012 to ...

(°1960), Bishop of Salina (2012–2017) and Bishop of Tucson (2017–present) * Alexander Mieceslaus Zaleski (1906-1975), Bishop of Lansing (1965-1975)

References

External links

1917 Catholic Encyclopedia Entry on The American College

USCCB Statement on the Closing of The American College of Louvain

USCCB Statement on the Preservation of the Heritage of The American College of Louvain
{{DEFAULTSORT:American College of the Immaculate Conception, The Former Catholic seminaries Buildings and structures in Flemish Brabant Educational institutions established in 1857 Educational institutions disestablished in 2011 Education in Leuven 1857 establishments in Belgium