Saint John's Seminary, located in the
Brighton
Brighton () is a seaside resort and one of the two main areas of the City of Brighton and Hove in the county of East Sussex, England. It is located south of London.
Archaeological evidence of settlement in the area dates back to the Bronze A ...
neighborhood of
Boston
Boston (), officially the City of Boston, is the state capital and most populous city of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, as well as the cultural and financial center of the New England region of the United States. It is the 24th- mo ...
,
Massachusetts
Massachusetts (Massachusett: ''Muhsachuweesut Massachusett_writing_systems.html" ;"title="nowiki/> məhswatʃəwiːsət.html" ;"title="Massachusett writing systems">məhswatʃəwiːsət">Massachusett writing systems">məhswatʃəwiːsət'' En ...
, is a
Catholic
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 ...
major
seminary
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 ...
sponsored by the
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Boston.
Founded in 1884, the seminary has 114 seminarians
and approximately 60 lay students, mostly from dioceses in
New England
New England is a region comprising six states in the Northeastern United States: Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont. It is bordered by the state of New York to the west and by the Canadian provinces ...
.
The current rector is Fr. Stephen E. Salocks.
History
In 1864, wealthy Boston merchant James Stanworth acquired a farm on a hill in Brighton known as the Hildreth estate. Stanworth suffered losses in the
Panic of 1873 and his heirs found he owed substantial debts. Archbishop
John Joseph Williams
John Joseph Williams was an American bishop of the Roman Catholic Church. He was the fourth Bishop and first Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Boston, serving between 1866 and his death in 1907.
Early life and education
Williams was born in Bosto ...
purchased the Hildreth estate and construction of the Boston Ecclesiastical Seminary
began in 1881 and was completed in 1884. In 1883, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts granted a Charter to the Seminary to grant degrees in philosophy and divinity.
The Archbishop entrusted the seminary to his former teachers, the
Sulpicians.
Students began classes on September 22, 1884.
The First rector was
John Baptist Hogan.
The Seminary was incorporated under the laws of Massachusetts in 1892. In 1911, the Sulpicians withdrew from the seminary at the request of Archbishop
William Henry O'Connell,
who preferred a diocesan faculty more familiar with local conditions.
Saint John's Seminary adopted its present name in 1941.
Merger with Cardinal O'Connell Seminary
Cardinal O'Connell Seminary
Saint John's Seminary, located in the Brighton neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts, is a Catholic major seminary sponsored by the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Boston.
Founded in 1884, the seminary has 114 seminarians and approximately 60 l ...
, the archdiocesan
minor seminary for high school students in
Jamaica Plain, Massachusetts, was merged with Saint John's Seminary in 1968.
In 1970 its programs were relocated to a Foster Street site in Saint Clement's Hall.
Crisis and recovery after 2000 child sexual abuse scandal
In the wake of the
Catholic Archdiocese of Boston sex abuse scandal
The Catholic Archdiocese of Boston sex abuse scandal was part of a series of Catholic Church sexual abuse cases in the United States that revealed widespread crimes in the American Roman Catholic Church. In early 2002, ''The'' ''Boston Globe'' p ...
enrollment declined from a peak of 86 students in the academic year 2001–02 to 34 for 2005-06. Two years later, the seminary recovered to a student population of 63.
During the 2000s, nearly all the Seminary's land and buildings were sold to
Boston College
Boston College (BC) is a private Jesuit research university in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts. Founded in 1863, the university has more than 9,300 full-time undergraduates and nearly 5,000 graduate students. Although Boston College is classified ...
(BC), the neighboring
Jesuit
, image = Ihs-logo.svg
, image_size = 175px
, caption = ChristogramOfficial seal of the Jesuits
, abbreviation = SJ
, nickname = Jesuits
, formation =
, founders ...
-run college. In 2001, Boston College leased St. Clement's Hall, formerly the site of the Seminary's undergraduate division, and it bought the property in June 2004.
In May 2007, the Archdiocese sold the Seminary's open land, its library building and several other structures.
Rector John Farren, OP resigned and protested the 2007 sale in a letter to
Cardinal O'Malley.
After the land sales, the campus of the Seminary consists only of Saint John's Hall.
Sexual misconduct scandal and resignations
In August 2018, the rector of Saint John's was placed on administrative leave after two former seminarians claimed on social media that sexual misconduct occurred at the school.
The new allegations forced a new investigation by Archdiocese of Boston against Saint John's.
On November 22, 2019, the Archdiocese of Boston and former U.S. Attorney Donald Stern concluded that there was some accuracy to the 2018 allegations, such as the expulsion of two students in 2014 for inappropriate sexual conduct, an incident from 2015 where six students received anonymous
sexual text messages, and excessive drinking at a 2015 bachelor party which was held on campus.
Despite also criticizing Saint John's for having poor leadership, poor financial oversight, and inadequate human formation of seminarians,
the joint investigation also concluded that the sexual misconduct which occurred at the seminary was not unlawful.
In December 2019, Stephen Salocks, who was named interim rector when the investigation started, replaced Msgr. James Moroney as the Rector of Saint John's Seminary.
In addition to promoting Salocks, Boston Archbishop Cardinal Sean Patrick O'Malley also named Fr. Thomas Macdonald as the new Vice Rector.
Enrollment statistics
Participating dioceses
Most students are from dioceses in New England: in Massachusetts, from the
Archdiocese of Boston
The Archdiocese of Boston ( la, Archidiœcesis Bostoniensis) is a Latin Church ecclesiastical territory or archdiocese of the Catholic Church located in the New England region of the United States. Its territorial remit encompasses the whole of ...
and the Dioceses of
Fall River
Fall River is a city in Bristol County, Massachusetts, Bristol County, Massachusetts, United States. The City of Fall River's population was 94,000 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 United States Census, making it the List of municipaliti ...
,
Springfield, and
Worcester
Worcester may refer to:
Places United Kingdom
* Worcester, England, a city and the county town of Worcestershire in England
** Worcester (UK Parliament constituency), an area represented by a Member of Parliament
* Worcester Park, London, Engla ...
; in Connecticut, from the
Archdiocese of Hartford
The Archdiocese of Hartford is a Latin Church ecclesiastical territory or archdiocese of the Catholic Church in Hartford, Litchfield and New Haven counties in the U.S. State of Connecticut. The archdiocese includes about 470,000 Catholics, more ...
; and also from the dioceses of
Burlington, Vermont,
Manchester
Manchester () is a city in Greater Manchester, England. It had a population of 552,000 in 2021. It is bordered by the Cheshire Plain to the south, the Pennines to the north and east, and the neighbouring city of Salford to the west. The ...
, New Hampshire, and
Providence
Providence often refers to:
* Providentia, the divine personification of foresight in ancient Roman religion
* Divine providence, divinely ordained events and outcomes in Christianity
* Providence, Rhode Island, the capital of Rhode Island in the ...
, Rhode Island.
In the academic year of 2014-2015, Saint John's began receiving seminarians from the Diocese of
Rochester, New York. That same year, the Diocese of
Portland, which encompasses all of Maine, resumed sending seminarians. Saint John's also serves as the seminary for a few men from dioceses outside the U.S.
College-level seminary candidates for the Archdiocese of Boston reside at Our Lady of Providence Seminary College in
Providence, Rhode Island
Providence is the capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Rhode Island. One of the oldest cities in New England, it was founded in 1636 by Roger Williams, a Reformed Baptist theologian and religious exile from the Massachusetts ...
and various other institutions.
Academics
Seminary programs
As a major seminary, an institution providing formation for the Catholic priesthood, Saint John's offers a four-year program leading to the
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 di ...
degree. There is also a program leading to the
Master of Arts
A Master of Arts ( la, Magister Artium or ''Artium Magister''; abbreviated MA, M.A., AM, or A.M.) is the holder of a master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The degree is usually contrasted with that of Master of Science. Tho ...
in Theology.
In addition, "Saint John's Seminary offers a two-year program of initial formation for those candidates who are college graduates and have no prior experience of formal preparation for the sacrament of Holy Orders."
Those who complete the Pre-Theology Program may qualify to receive a
Bachelor of Philosophy (B.Phil.).
Programs for lay students
The Seminary's Theological Institute for the New Evangelization offers programs for lay people wishing to work in Roman Catholic ministry, leading to the degrees Master of Theological Studies for the New Evangelization, and Master of Arts in Ministry (MAM). These programs are based at a separate campus in accordance with norms of the Holy See.
The MAM division of TINE also offers non-credit catechist training programs in evangelization and
apologetics.
Accreditation
The Seminary is accredited by the
Association of Theological Schools and by the
New England Association of Schools and Colleges
The New England Association of Schools and Colleges, Inc. (NEASC) is a United States' regional accreditation association providing educational accreditation. NEASC serves over 1500 public, independent schools, and technical/career institutions ...
.
Athletics
Seminarians partake in sports including basketball, football, golf, softball, and soccer,
including intramural games with BC club teams. Twice a year St. John's Seminary competes in softball games against Pope St. John XXIII National Seminary (Weston, MA) and Our Lady of Providence College Seminary (Providence, RI). With access to the Flynn Recreation Complex at
Boston College
Boston College (BC) is a private Jesuit research university in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts. Founded in 1863, the university has more than 9,300 full-time undergraduates and nearly 5,000 graduate students. Although Boston College is classified ...
, seminarians contend in intramural basketball and soccer leagues against
Boston College
Boston College (BC) is a private Jesuit research university in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts. Founded in 1863, the university has more than 9,300 full-time undergraduates and nearly 5,000 graduate students. Although Boston College is classified ...
students.
Daily life
The daily schedule includes classes and services in chapel.
Seminarians have off-campus pastoral assignments at least once per week. Most seminarians also have a "house job", such as
sacristan
A sacristan is an officer charged with care of the sacristy, the church, and their contents.
In ancient times, many duties of the sacrist were performed by the doorkeepers ( ostiarii), and later by the treasurers and mansionarii. The Decreta ...
or bookstore manager. Each seminarian meets with his
spiritual director
Spiritual direction is the practice of being with people as they attempt to deepen their relationship with the divine, or to learn and grow in their personal spirituality. The person seeking direction shares stories of their encounters of the di ...
twice monthly.
Notable alumni
*
Robert Joseph Banks
Robert Joseph Banks (born February 26, 1928) is an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church, serving as bishop of the Diocese of Green Bay in Wisconsin from 1990 to 2003. He also served as an auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Boston ...
, bishop of Green Bay 1985–2003
*
Hugh F. Blunt (1877–1957), priest and poet
*
George William Coleman, bishop of Fall River since 2003
*
Daniel Anthony Cronin
Daniel Anthony Cronin (born November 14, 1927) is an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as bishop of the Diocese of Fall River in Massachusetts from 1970 to 1992, and as archbishop of the Archdiocese of Hartford in Connec ...
, archbishop of Hartford 1992–2003
*
Richard Cushing, archbishop of Boston 1944–1970
*
John Michael D'Arcy, bishop of Fort Wayne-South Bend 1985–2009
*
Jonathan DeFelice
Jonathan DeFelice is an American Catholic priest and the former President of Saint Anselm College in Goffstown, New Hampshire. Serving the college for 24 years, Father DeFelice was the longest serving college president in the state of New Hampsh ...
, OSB, president of
Saint Anselm College
*
Daniel Francis Desmond, bishop of Alexandria (Louisiana) 1933–1945
*
George Albert Guertin, bishop of Manchester 1907–1931
*
Daniel Anthony Hart, bishop of Norwich 1995–2003
*
William A. Hickey, bishop of Providence 1921–1933
*
Alfred Clifton Hughes
Alfred Clifton Hughes, KCHS (born December 2, 1932) is a retired American prelate of the Catholic Church. He served as the 13th archbishop of the Archdiocese of New Orleans in Louisiana from 2002 to 2009.
Hughes previously served as bish ...
, bishop of Baton Rouge 1993–2002 and archbishop of New Orleans 2002–2009
*
Frederick Kriekenbeek, exorcist and priest in
Cebu
Cebu (; ceb, Sugbo), officially the Province of Cebu ( ceb, Lalawigan sa Sugbo; tl, Lalawigan ng Cebu; hil, Kapuroan sang Sugbo), is a province of the Philippines located in the Central Visayas region, and consists of a main island and 16 ...
*
Richard Lennon, bishop of Cleveland since 2006
*
Joseph Francis Maguire, bishop of Springfield 1977–1991
*
Richard Joseph Malone, bishop of Portland 2004–2012 and bishop of Buffalo 2012–2019
*
John Brendan McCormack
John Brendan McCormack (August 12, 1935 – September 21, 2021) was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as the ninth bishop of the Diocese of Manchester from 1998 until 2011.
Biography
Early life and education
John Mc ...
, bishop of Manchester 1998–2010
*
John P. McDonough, Chief of Chaplains of the
U.S. Air Force
*
Henry J. Meade, Chief of Chaplains of the U.S. Air Force
*
Roger Morin
Roger Paul Morin (March 7, 1941 – October 31, 2019) was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He was the third Bishop of Biloxi. Pope Francis accepted his resignation on December 16, 2016.
Early life and education
Roger Morin ...
, bishop of Biloxi since 2009
*
John Bertram Peterson
John Bertram Peterson (July 15, 1871 – March 15, 1944) was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as bishop of the Diocese of Manchester in New Hampshire from 1932 until his death in 1944. He previously served as an aux ...
, professor, bishop of Manchester 1932–1944
*
Joseph John Rice, bishop of Burlington, 1910–1938
*
Nicholas Samra
Nicholas James Samra (born August 15, 1944) is the eparch emeritus of the Melkite Catholic Eparchy of Newton in the United States. He is also Apostolic Administrator of the Melkite Greek Catholic Eparchy of Nuestra Señora del Paraíso in ...
, Melkite Greek Catholic bishop of Newton, appointed 2011
*
William Laurence Sullivan (1872–1935), Unitarian minister
*
Henry A. Walsh, member of the first class from St. John's
*
James Anthony Walsh
James Anthony Walsh (February 24, 1867 – April 14, 1936) was the co-founder of Maryknoll Fathers and Brothers.
Background
The son of James Walsh and Hanna Shea, James Anthony was born in Cambridge, Massachusetts. After completing his ...
(1867–1936), co-founder of the
Maryknoll Fathers and Brothers
*
John Joseph Wright, professor, first bishop of Worcester 1950–1959, bishop of Pittsburgh 1959–1969, cardinal
* Major General Paul K. Hurley 24th US Army Chief of Chaplains
Notable faculty
* Romanus Cessario, O.P.,
Master of Sacred Theology of the
Dominican Order
The Order of Preachers ( la, Ordo Praedicatorum) abbreviated OP, also known as the Dominicans, is a Catholic mendicant order of Pontifical Right for men founded in Toulouse, France, by the Spanish priest, saint and mystic Dominic of ...
, professor of systematic theology and member of the
Pontifical Academy of St. Thomas Aquinas.
*
Christopher J. Coyne
Christopher James Coyne (born June 17, 1958) is an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. Since 2015, he has been bishop of the Diocese of Burlington in Vermont. Coyne previously served as an auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of I ...
, Bishop of Burlington, VT
* James Patrick Moroney, rector, professor of liturgy and executive secretary of the
''Vox Clara'' commission
*
Louis Sebastian Walsh
Louis Sebastian Walsh (January 22, 1858 – May 12, 1924) was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as bishop of the Diocese of Portland in Maine from 1906 until his death in 1924.
Biography
Early life
Louis Walsh was ...
, Bishop of Portland (Maine), 1906-1924
*
Michael C. Barber, S.J., Bishop of Oakland, California, Director Emeritus-Spiritual Formation
*Mark O'Connell, J.C.D. '90, Auxiliary Bishop of Boston, Judicial Vicar and Professor of Canon Law
Rectors
Under Sulpician administration:
* 1884–89:
John Baptist Hogan, S.S.
* 1889–94: Charles B. Rex
* 1894–01: John Baptist Hogan, S.S.
* 1901–06: Daniel E. Maher, S.S.
* 1906–11: Francis P. Havey
Under archdiocesan administration:
* 1911–26:
John Bertram Peterson
John Bertram Peterson (July 15, 1871 – March 15, 1944) was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as bishop of the Diocese of Manchester in New Hampshire from 1932 until his death in 1944. He previously served as an aux ...
* 1926–33: Charles A. Finn
* 1933–38: Joseph C. Walsh
* 1938–50: Edward G. Murray
* 1950–58: Thomas J. Riley
* 1958–65: Matthew J. Stapleton
* 1966–66: Lawrence J. Riley
* 1966–71: John A. Broderick
* 1972–81:
Robert Joseph Banks
Robert Joseph Banks (born February 26, 1928) is an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church, serving as bishop of the Diocese of Green Bay in Wisconsin from 1990 to 2003. He also served as an auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Boston ...
* 1981–86:
Alfred Clifton Hughes
Alfred Clifton Hughes, KCHS (born December 2, 1932) is a retired American prelate of the Catholic Church. He served as the 13th archbishop of the Archdiocese of New Orleans in Louisiana from 2002 to 2009.
Hughes previously served as bish ...
* 1986–91: Thomas J. Daly
* 1991–99: Timothy J. Moran
* 1999–2002:
Richard G. Lennon
* 2002–07: John A. Farren, OP
* 2007–12:
Arthur L. Kennedy
* 2012–18: James P. Moroney
** 2018–2019: Stephen E. Salocks (Interim)
* 2019–Present: Stephen E. Salocks
References
External links
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Saint John's Seminary, Massachusetts
Brighton, Boston
Catholic seminaries in the United States
Educational institutions established in 1884
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Boston
Universities and colleges in Boston
1884 establishments in Massachusetts