The Sacred Heart Seminary and School of Theology is a
Roman Catholic seminary in
Hales Corners, Wisconsin. It is associated with the
Priests of the Sacred Heart
The Congregation of the Priests of the Sacred Heart ( la, Congregatio Sacerdotum a Sacro Corde Iesu) abbreviated SCI, also called the Dehonians, is a Catholic clerical religious congregation of Pontifical Right for men in the Catholic Church f ...
, a
Catholic religious community of
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 ...
and
lay brothers founded in France in 1884 and in the US in the early 20th century.
When the
seminary program was established in 1932, the school was known as Sacred Heart Monastery. It offered classes in philosophy and theology for seminarians who were members of the Priests of the Sacred Heart.
The seminary is accredited by the
Association of Theological Schools in the United States and Canada and the
Higher Learning Commission. It is the largest seminary in the United States that trains men over the age of 30 for the priesthood.
Sacred Heart is also home to The Lux Center for Catholic-Jewish Studies, established in 2010 as a tribute to the life’s work of Dr. Richard Lux, professor of biblical studies for thirty-seven years. Lux emerged as an important national voice in promoting understanding and respect between Catholics and Jews. The Lux Center continues this work as the only such center in the world working within the Catholic seminary context of priestly formation.
Its current interim director is
Jon M. Sweeney.
History
In its early programs beginning in 1932, the seminary offered both philosophy and theology classes to seminarians affiliated with Priests of the Sacred Heart, which included laymen. In 1955, the philosophy program was moved elsewhere. The seminary was dedicated to theological preparation for men preparing for priesthood.
In 1968, construction of the existing building was completed across the street from the original school. In 1972 the name was changed to Sacred Heart School of Theology.
In 1973 Sacred Heart received approval to accept second-career presbyteral candidates who are sponsored by
dioceses or
religious congregations. It is the largest seminary in the US to accept men over the age of 30 for training for the priesthood. The candidates come from across the United States and Canada. The seminary offers a
Master of Divinity
For graduate-level theological institutions, the Master of Divinity (MDiv, ''magister divinitatis'' in Latin) is the first professional degree of the pastoral profession in North America. It is the most common academic degree in seminaries and divi ...
to men who are in a program of priestly formation.
It also offers a
Master of Arts for men and women seeking theological training in a Christian tradition.
References
External links
Official website
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Catholic seminaries in the United States
Catholic Church in Wisconsin
Seminaries and theological colleges in Wisconsin
Education in Milwaukee County, Wisconsin
Educational institutions established in 1932
Buildings and structures in Milwaukee County, Wisconsin
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Milwaukee
1932 establishments in Wisconsin