Mission and History | Pope St. John XXIII National Seminary
Source: http://www.psjs.edu/mission-and-history
Archived: 2026-04-23 17:12
Mission and History | Pope St. John XXIII National Seminary
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Pope St. John XXIII National Seminary
Mission and History
Mission
Pope St. John XXIII National Seminary is a Roman Catholic professional and graduate theological institution dedicated uniquely to the preparation of seminarians 30 years of age and older responding to a call to priestly ministry.
Our program fosters the human, spiritual, intellectual, and pastoral formation of its seminarians. We especially respect and utilize the life experiences and accomplishments of our mature seminarians, as we prepare them for priestly ministry.
The Seminary program is based on the
Ratio Fundamentalis
of the Holy See, the
Program of Priestly Formation Sixth Edition
of the National Conference of Catholic Bishops and the Post-Synodal Exhortation of Pope John Paul II,
Pastores Dabo Vobis
.
History
Sixty years ago Richard Cardinal Cushing saw the need for a Catholic seminary such as ours.
In 1964, with the encouragement and the explicit blessing of Pope Paul VI, Pope St. John XXIII National Seminary became the first seminary in North America established for the formation of men answering the call to priesthood at a later time in their lives.
In 1972 the Seminary was chartered by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts to grant the Master of Divinity degree.
In 1983 the Seminary became an accredited member of the Association of Theological Schools.
In the 2007 Fall Semester, our Seminary introduced a new optional Pre-Theology Program. This program is for candidates whose Bishops or religious superiors deem it appropriate.
To date, candidates have come to the Seminary from more than 150 dioceses and 25 religious communities. Over 750 alumni serve in dioceses and religious communities throughout the world.
Home
About Us
Welcome from the Rector
Mission Statement and History
Our Seminarians
Our Campus
Dioceses Served
Employment
Governance and Finance
CARES ACT-HEERF
Financial Statements and Management Summaries
Seminary by the Numbers
Chapel Livestream
Newsletters
Vocations
Message from the Director of the Seminary Vocation Team
Admissions
FAQ
First Friday Discernment Visits
Never Too Late - Podcast
Reflection: The Ministry of Presence to Our People
Request More Information
Formation
Human
Overview: The Seminarian Experience
Spiritual
Intellectual
Goals and Objectives
Indult
Course Listing
Formation Catalog
Academic Requirements/Grading
Learning Center
Academic Calendar
Pastoral
Our Faculty
Accreditation
Statement of Effectiveness
Alumni
Class Photos
Alumni News
Alumni - Submit News
Alumni Days
Directory
Events
Contact Us
Support Us
Fundraising Events
Donate Online
The Importance of Support
Ways to Give
Skip to main content
Menu
Pope St. John XXIII National Seminary
Mission and History
Mission
Pope St. John XXIII National Seminary is a Roman Catholic professional and graduate theological institution dedicated uniquely to the preparation of seminarians 30 years of age and older responding to a call to priestly ministry.
Our program fosters the human, spiritual, intellectual, and pastoral formation of its seminarians. We especially respect and utilize the life experiences and accomplishments of our mature seminarians, as we prepare them for priestly ministry.
The Seminary program is based on the
Ratio Fundamentalis
of the Holy See, the
Program of Priestly Formation Sixth Edition
of the National Conference of Catholic Bishops and the Post-Synodal Exhortation of Pope John Paul II,
Pastores Dabo Vobis
.
History
Sixty years ago Richard Cardinal Cushing saw the need for a Catholic seminary such as ours.
In 1964, with the encouragement and the explicit blessing of Pope Paul VI, Pope St. John XXIII National Seminary became the first seminary in North America established for the formation of men answering the call to priesthood at a later time in their lives.
In 1972 the Seminary was chartered by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts to grant the Master of Divinity degree.
In 1983 the Seminary became an accredited member of the Association of Theological Schools.
In the 2007 Fall Semester, our Seminary introduced a new optional Pre-Theology Program. This program is for candidates whose Bishops or religious superiors deem it appropriate.
To date, candidates have come to the Seminary from more than 150 dioceses and 25 religious communities. Over 750 alumni serve in dioceses and religious communities throughout the world.
Home
About Us
Welcome from the Rector
Mission Statement and History
Our Seminarians
Our Campus
Dioceses Served
Employment
Governance and Finance
CARES ACT-HEERF
Financial Statements and Management Summaries
Seminary by the Numbers
Chapel Livestream
Newsletters
Vocations
Message from the Director of the Seminary Vocation Team
Admissions
FAQ
First Friday Discernment Visits
Never Too Late - Podcast
Reflection: The Ministry of Presence to Our People
Request More Information
Formation
Human
Overview: The Seminarian Experience
Spiritual
Intellectual
Goals and Objectives
Indult
Course Listing
Formation Catalog
Academic Requirements/Grading
Learning Center
Academic Calendar
Pastoral
Our Faculty
Accreditation
Statement of Effectiveness
Alumni
Class Photos
Alumni News
Alumni - Submit News
Alumni Days
Directory
Events
Contact Us
Support Us
Fundraising Events
Donate Online
The Importance of Support
Ways to Give