History
Seminary program
William Quarter, the first Roman Catholic Bishop of Chicago, bishop of Chicago, oversaw the creation in 1844 and early development of the University of Saint Mary of the Lake to ordain more priests to serve the growing diocese. However, due to financial problems, the seminary was forced to close in 1866. In 1921, Archbishop George Mundelein reopened the facility as Saint Mary Of the Lake Seminary to deal with another priest shortage. He also wanted to create an American clergy to unite all the different Catholic ethnic groups. In 1926, Saint Mary opened a new campus church, designed by Chicago architect Joseph W. McCarthy. In 1926, Saint Mary hosted the 28th International Eucharistic Congress.Pontifical theological faculty
In September 1929, the Congregation for Catholic Education, Sacred Congregation for Seminaries and Universities in Rome granted a charter to Saint Mary, allowing it to grant pontifical academic degrees. In 1934, this authority became permanent. Saint Mary became the first pontifical university in the United States. Monsignor Reynold Henry Hillenbrand served as rector of St. Mary from 1936 to 1944.Niles College
In 1961, Archbishop Albert Gregory Meyer, Albert Meyer opened the Niles College campus in Niles, Illinois as a site for the two-year Liberal arts education, liberal arts program. The Mundelein campus now hosted second and third year college classes in philosophy, followed by a four-year theology curriculum. Under Cardinal John Cody, the undergraduate program was transferred to Loyola University of Chicago as the Niles College of Loyola University. Saint Mary now became a graduate school of theology only. In 1971, Saint Mary affiliated with the Association of Theological Schools. Cardinal Cody, appointed the Reverend Thomas J. Murphy as the fifth rector of Saint Mary on September 15, 1973. In 1976, Saint Mary inaugurated a Doctor of Ministry degree and celebrated the 50th anniversary of its first ordinations. Archbishop Joseph Bernardin revised the graduate program at Saint Mary to bring it in compliance with the ''Program of Priestly Formation'', written by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, US Conference of Catholic Bishops. In 1986, Bernardin opened the Center for Development in Ministry at St. Mary. The new center provided continuing education for clergy, religious and laity.University of Saint Mary of the Lake
In 1986, Saint Mary of the Lake Seminary returned to its original name of the University of Saint Mary of the Lake (USML). The archdiocese renamed the graduate school as Mundelein Seminary. In 1996, Mundelein Seminary was visited by members of the Bishops' Committee on Seminaries. After meeting with faculty and students, the committee gave a strong recommendation to the seminary program.Mundelein Seminary
Cardinal Francis George in February 2000 transferred the three archdiocesan programs of ministry formation to Mundelein Seminary: * Lay Ministry Formation Program * Diaconate Formation Program * Instituto de Liderazgo Pastoral (Pastoral Leadership Institute) The archdiocese transferred the Center for Development in Ministry to the archdiocesan Pastoral Center. Mundelein Seminary now became the center for the formation of priests, deacons and lay people. The USML board of advisors decided to adopt a formal name, the University of Saint Mary of the Lake / Mundelein Seminary. This follows the style of most pontifical universities, which have a formal name and a common name. Also in 2000, Cardinal George established the Liturgical Institute at USML In 2007, USML published ''The Mundelein Psalter.'' It is the first complete one-volume edition containing the approved English-language texts of the Liturgy of the Hours, with psalms that are pointed for the chanting of the Divine Office. On September 22, 2012, Sister Sara Butler, a USML professor and a member of the International Theological Commission, became a papally-appointed expert at the 13th Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops on the New Evangelization. Monsignor Dennis J. Lyle was the outgoing Rector (academia), rector and president of the seminary and university; he was succeeded on July 1, 2012, by the Reverend Father Robert Barron (priest), Robert Barron. Father Thomas A. Baima is the Vice-Rector for Academic Affairs, coordinating the schools and institutes of the university. On December 3, 2012, Elizabeth Nagel was named to succeed Father John G. Lodge as president of the (mostly lay and postgraduate) Pontifical Faculty of Theology. In 2021, USML celebrated its centennial. Approximately 116 seminarians from 24 dioceses were enrolled that year, despite the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2022, the University received a grant from the Lilly Endowment to help fund development of a project to integrate new pedagogical methods into formation programs for seminarians, priests and lay leaders.Campus
Located in the village of Mundelein on Saint Mary's Lake, the USML campus occupies over . USML has a capacity for about 400 students. Its buildings are distinctive for their neo-Georgian architecture, laid out symmetrically. They are centered upon the chapel, dedicated to Mary (mother of Jesus), Mary, mother of Jesus, under the title of her Immaculate Conception — the patroness of the seminary. Other important buildings on the extensive campus - unique among Catholic seminaries - are separate seminarian and faculty residences, a classroom building, the refectory, the Feehan Memorial Library/McEssy Theological Resource Center, the administration building, a convent, gymnasium, conference and guest facilities, the Cardinal Stritch Retreat House, and a Villa for the Archbishop of Chicago. The George Cardinal Mundelein Auditorium at USML is home to the historic Gottfried-Wurlitzer theatre pipe organ. The organ was built in 1929 for Chicago radio organist Al Carney. Cardinal Mundelein acquired the organ in 1935 had it installed in the auditorium by the Kilgen Organ Company. The 1921 Wurlitzer console is original to the Chicago Theatre and was played by organist Jesse Crawford. The organ has been maintained by the Chicago Area Theatre Organ Enthusiasts (CATOE) since 1973. Archbishop Blase J. Cupich is the chancellor of USML. The USML sports teams of the university are known as the Lakers. The Liturgical Institute has its own faculty and is dedicated to training, research and publication in the fields of sacramental theology and liturgy. The institute offers a professional Master of Arts in liturgy, an academic Master of Arts (liturgical studies), and a Licentiate in Sacred Theology. All degrees are awarded by USML.Notable alumni
* Alfred Leo Abramowicz * Robert Barron (bishop), Robert Barron * Romeo Roy Blanchette * Edward Braxton * Maurice Francis Burke * Edwin R. Chess * George Clements * Daniel Coughlin * William Edward Cousins * Edward Egan * Dawn Eden Goldstein * Dominic Grassi * Andrew Greeley * Wilton Daniel Gregory * Ronald Aldon Hicks * Reynold Henry Hillenbrand * Gerald Frederick Kicanas * Jerome Edward Listecki * Douglas Martis * John L. May * Thomas Joseph Murphy * Joe Paprocki (Doctor of Ministry, D.Min.) * Thomas J. Paprocki * Michael Pfleger * George J. Rassas * Patrick William Riordan * Alberto Rojas * Edward James Slattery * John George Vlazny * James S. Wall (Liturgical Institute)Cemetery and Burials
The cemetery is located across from the Faculty Residence and resting place for 17 sites. Amongst the graves are those of two former Archbishops of Chicago: *Albert Gregory Meyer *George MundeleinDioceses served
In addition to the archdiocese of Chicago, the seminary was used by the following dioceses as of the 2020–2021 academic year: United States *Roman Catholic Diocese of Albany, Diocese of Albany *Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Atlanta, Archdiocese of Atlanta *Roman Catholic Diocese of Cheyenne, Diocese of Cheyenne *Roman Catholic Diocese of Davenport, Diocese of Davenport *Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Dubuque, Archdiocese of Dubuque *Roman Catholic Diocese of El Paso, Diocese of El Paso *Roman Catholic Diocese of Fairbanks, Diocese of Fairbanks *Roman Catholic Diocese of Gaylord, Diocese of Gaylord *Roman Catholic Diocese of Grand Rapids, Diocese of Grand Rapids *Roman Catholic Diocese of Jefferson City, Diocese of Jefferson City *Roman Catholic Diocese of Joliet, Diocese of Joliet *Roman Catholic Diocese of Lafayette in Indiana, Diocese of Lafayette *Roman Catholic Diocese of Las Cruces, Diocese of Las Cruces *Roman Catholic Diocese of Las Vegas, Diocese of Las Vegas *Roman Catholic Diocese of Lubbock, Diocese of Lubbock *Roman Catholic Diocese of Rockford, Diocese of Rockford *Roman Catholic Diocese of Saginaw, Diocese of Saginaw *Roman Catholic Diocese of San Jose in California, Diocese of San Jose *Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Seattle, Archdiocese of Seattle *Roman Catholic Diocese of Springfield-Cape Girardeau, Diocese of Springfield-Cape Girardeau *Roman Catholic Diocese of Tucson, Diocese of Tucson *Roman Catholic Diocese of Wichita, Diocese of Wichita *Roman Catholic Diocese of Yakima, Diocese of Yakima *Syro-Malabar Catholic Eparchy of St. Thomas of Chicago Uganda *Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Kampala, Archdiocese of Kampala *Roman Catholic Diocese of Kiyinda-Mityana, Diocese of Kiyinda-Mityana India *Syro-Malabar Catholic Archeparchy of KottayamReferences
External links
* {{DEFAULTSORT:Mary Of The Lake, University Of Saint 1921 establishments in Illinois Buildings and structures in Lake County, Illinois Catholic seminaries in the United States Catholic universities and colleges in Illinois Education in Lake County, Illinois Educational institutions established in 1921 Libertyville, Illinois Mundelein, Illinois Pontifical universities Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Chicago Universities and colleges in Chicago University of Saint Mary of the Lake,