The Saint Meinrad Seminary and School of Theology is a Catholic seminary and school of theology in Saint Meinrad, Indiana, United States. It is affiliated with the Saint Meinrad Archabbey. The institution was named after Meinrad of Einsiedeln, a ninth-century hermit living in what is today Switzerland.
History
In 1857, several Benedictine monks travelled from Einsiedeln Abbey in Einsiedeln, Switzerland, to southern Indiana to establish Saint Meinrad Seminary. At its beginning, Saint Meinrad was a high school program. By 1861, the monks had added courses in philosophy, business, theology and classical literature. A fire in 1887 destroyed the seminary buildings.
When Saint Meinrad reopened after the 1887 fire, it focused only on preparing seminarians for priesthood. It had two divisions:
A minor seminary with four years of high school and the first two years of college A major seminary with two years of college courses in philosophy and theology
In 1959, Saint Meinrad reorganized into three divisions:
A traditional four year high school, which closed in 1968. A four-year college, which closed in 1998. A theologate, or graduate school of theology
In 1996, the seminary was censured by the American Association of University Professors for the firing of a tenured theology professor, Mercy Sr. Carmel McEnroy, allegedly without due process.
In February 2019, after an internal investigation, Saint Meinrad added two priests to the Diocese of Evansville list of clergy with credible accusations of sexual abuse. The first was Warren Heitz who was accused of misconduct dating from the 1970s to 1999. Removed from public ministry in 2002, he spent ten years living in a supervised residence for offenders at Saint Meinrad. In addition, Robert Woerdeman had faced one accusation of misconduct. He was defrocked as a priest in 1975. Academics
Saint Meinrad offers the following advanced degrees:
Master of Divinity Master of Theological Studies Master of Arts in Catholic Philosophical Studies Master of Arts (Theology) Master of Arts (Pastoral Theology)
Saint Meinrad offers programs in:
Priesthood formation Theological formation for permanent deacon candidates Lay degrees in theology Continuing adult education Youth leadership
History at a glance Saint Meinrad Abbey's school Established 1857 Type secondary school Saint Meinrad College Opened 1861 Type liberal arts college Closed 1887 due to fire Transferred to Jasper Academy Saint Meinrad Seminary Opened 1887 Type major seminary, minor seminary Saint Meinrad High School, Seminary, and College Reorganized 1959 Type major seminary, minor seminary, liberal arts college, secondary school Saint Meinrad College Closed 1998
Saint Meinrad is accredited by the Association of Theological Schools. It has also been accredited by the Higher Learning Commission or its predecessor, the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, continuously since 1979.
Alumni Ordinaries Ralph S. Pfau, author
Deceased alumni cardinals
Joseph Cardinal Ritter, O'1917; Archdiocese of St. Louis
Living alumni bishops
Paul J. Bradley, DD, O'1971; Diocese of Kalamazoo J. Douglas Deshotel, DD, O`1978; Diocese of Dallas - Auxiliary Gerald A. Gettelfinger, DD, O'1961; Diocese of Evansville (retired) James Vann Johnston, DD, T'1990; Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph Peter A. Libasci, DD, O'1977; Diocese of Manchester William F. Medley, DD, O'1982; Diocese of Owensboro Patrick Pinder, DD, O'1979; Archdiocese of Nassau David L. Ricken, DD, O'1980; Diocese of Green Bay James Peter Sartain, DD, O'1978; Archdiocese of Seattle Joseph M. Siegel, STL, O'1988; Diocese of Evansville David P. Talley T`1989; Diocese of Memphis Anthony B. Taylor, DD, O'1980; Diocese of Little Rock Charles C. Thompson, DD, T'1987; Archdiocese of Indianapolis
Deceased alumni bishops
Herman J. Alerding, O'1868; Diocese of Fort Wayne John G. Bennett, O'1914; Diocese of Lafayette-in-Indiana Daniel M. Buechlein, Archdiocese of Indianapolis William D. Borders, DD, O'1940; Archdiocese of Baltimore Joseph Chartrand, O'1892; Diocese of Indianapolis Francis R. Cotton, O'1920 Diocese of Owensboro Joseph R. Crowley, O'1953; Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend (Auxiliary Emeritus) Robert W. Donnelly, DD, O'1957; Diocese of Toledo - Auxiliary Laurence J. FitzSimon, O'1921; Diocese of Amarillo James R. Hoffman, O'1958; Diocese of Toledo Thomas F. Lillis, O'1885; Diocese Kansas City, MO Denis O'Donaghue, O'1874; Diocese of Louisville (Emeritus) Theodore Revermann, O'1901; Diocese of Superior Thomas J. O'Brien, DD, O'1961; Diocese of Phoenix Carl F. Mengeling, STD, O'1957; Diocese of Lansing
Others James Peter Allen, 1968 graduate - Egyptologist and Professor at Brown University Ron Broglio, Professor at Arizona State University. Cyprian Davis, OSB, Black Catholic historian and the first African-American to join the St Meinrad monks. Joseph A. Favazza, 11th president of Saint Anselm College. Luke Timothy Johnson, Ph.D., author and professor at the Candler School of Emory University. Thomas Scecina, US Army chaplain killed during the sinking of the Japanese prison ship Arisan Maru in 1944.
References
External links