Applicants for the Archdiocese of Philadelphia

Catholic men who are seriously considering preparation for the Roman Catholic priesthood and priestly service within a particular diocese or religious community are eligible to seek admission to Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary. Saint Charles Seminary does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, or national origin, and complies with all applicable non-discrimination laws.
Any man who discerns that he is called to priestly service for the Archdiocese of Philadelphia should contact or be referred to:

Vocation Office for Diocesan Priesthood 100 East Wynnewood Road Wynnewood, PA 19096-3028 telephone: (610) 667-5778 fax: (610) 667-5936 email: frkgall@adphila.org webpage: Vocations Web Page

The Director of the Vocation Office for Diocesan Priesthood will provide the applicant with an application packet to start the admissions process. All applications and required documents must be in the Vocation Office for Diocesan Priesthood by July 15 for admission to Saint Charles Seminary for the Fall Semester.

When the Archbishop of Philadelphia accepts a man as suitable for study for priestly ministry in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia and appoints him to study at Saint Charles Seminary, the Director of the Vocation Office for Diocesan Priesthood delivers all pertinent admissions materials to the Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary Admissions Office.

Applicants from Archdioceses/Dioceses other than the Archdiocese of Philadelphia

Any man who wishes to study at Saint Charles Seminary for service in another archdiocese, diocese, or religious community must contact the proper Vocation Director for the necessary sponsorship that is necessary for admission.

With the approval of the Archbishop of Philadelphia, applicants for other dioceses and religious communities are welcome to make application to the Seminary by writing to the Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary Admissions Office for information and application forms. All applications and required documents must be in the Admissions Office by July 15 for admission to the Seminary for the Fall Ssemester.

Applicants for the College Division

All applicants whether for the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, another diocese or religious community must be at least high school graduates and must give clear evidence that they have the ability to meet scholastic requirements. Applicants are required to have taken the Scholastic Aptitude Test of the College Entrance Examination Board or an equivalent. Applicants who use English as a second language must take the TOEFL examination.

College courses already successfully completed are evaluated by the Academic Dean of the College Division in the light of the curriculum of Saint Charles Seminary and, wherever possible, credits already earned are accepted in transfer as transferred into either general education or elective requirements of the Seminary’s college program.

Through its admissions process, Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary is interested in determining that an applicant is of high moral character and manifestsimbued the right intention of studying for the priesthood. Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary’s Admissions Office relies heavily on the judgment of the respective vocation director and bishop or religious superior concerning the suitability of applicants. Serious attention is given to recommendations attesting to the exemplary standing of each applicant within his parish community.

Applicants for the Theology Division

Admission to the Theology Division is open to applicants who have completed a recognized four-year program or its equivalent in a college seminary or in another college or university, who have attained an undergraduate Baccalaureate Degree from an accredited institution (or who can demonstrate such equivalency) and who give “evidence of the commitment and qualities desired for pastoral leadership and the academic ability to engage in graduate education.”
Applicants who have not attended a college seminary are ordinarily expected to have completed a two-year pre-theology program as mandated in the Fourth Edition of The Program of Priestly Formation (1992). Specifically,The following specific requirements for admission also apply:

1. Admission to the Theology Division also requires: a) the successful completion of a minimum of (24) twenty-four semester credit hours in philosophy courses whose content includes metaphysics, anthropology, natural theology, epistemology, ethics, logic, and the history of ancient, medieval, modern, and contemporary philosophy; this course work must be substantiated by appropriate academic transcripts; b) the successful completion of a minimum of (12) twelve semester credit hours in undergraduate theology, substantiated by appropriate academic transcripts (cf., The Program of Priestly Formation, 1992, §214; Code of Canon Law, cc. 235.1, 250).

2. Applicants to the Theology Division who have not already fulfilled Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary’s minimum undergraduate prerequisites of (4) foursemester credit hours in Latin and (4) four semester credit hours in Biblical Greek may be admitted provisionally to the Theology Division, provided that such matriculants are able successfully to complete language prerequisites concurrently and in addition to the normal course of studies in the Theology Division, or provided that such matriculants will have successfully completed language prerequisites during the summer prior to their admission.

3. The two-year Pre-Theology Program is the norm for all applicants to Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary who have no previous seminary or religious formation experience. Within the two-year Pre-Theology Program, candidates earn (24) twenty-four semester credit hours in philosophy and (12) twelve semester credit hours in undergraduate theology.

Adjustments to the two-year norm for the duration of the Pre-Theology Program may be granted by Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary when an assessment of the applicant’s background demonstrates complete or partial fulfillment of the above requirements, thus enabling the applicant to complete the above minimum prerequisites for admission to the Theology Division in less than two years. This adjustment may be granted after a review of the applicant’s background and transcripts by the Academic Dean and with the approval of the Rector.