Saint Paul Seminary (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania)
Encyclopedia
Saint Paul Seminary is the diocesan minor seminary
for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh
. It is located in East Carnegie, a neighborhood of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
. The seminary is not a degree-granting institution; seminarians in their collegiate or pre-theological studies attend classes at Duquesne University
.
founded Pittsburgh's first diocesan seminary in 1844, the first year of his episcopate. St. Michael Seminary was located in Pittsburgh's Birmingham
neighborhood. It was briefly discontinued for four years (1851–1856), operated for a year in Cambria County
, and was finally reestablished in the Pittsburgh neighborhood of Glenwood. The seminary definitively closed in 1876 with the tumultuous creation of the Diocese of Allegheny
out of the Diocese of Pittsburgh. After 1876, Pittsburgh's diocesan seminarians received instruction at Saint Vincent Seminary
in Latrobe
.
Seminarians during the episcopacy of Hugh C. Boyle
, from 1926 to 1945, were allowed to commute to Duquesne University
from home. Bishop John F. Dearden, however, ended that practice. Until the creation of Saint Paul's, Pittsburgh seminarians would attend classes at other minor seminaries in Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, and Kentucky.
. In September 1965, Bishop John Wright founded St. Paul Seminary as a minor
, or "transitional," seminary on the same site.
Pittsburgh bishop David Zubik sold the diocesan bishop's mansion in Oakland
in favor of a simpler apartment on the seminary's campus in 2007. Auxiliary bishop
emeritus William J. Winter
is also in residence.
The current rector is the Very Rev. Joseph M. Mele.
Seminary
A seminary, theological college, or divinity school is an institution of secondary or post-secondary education for educating students in theology, generally to prepare them for ordination as clergy or for other ministry...
for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh
Roman Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh is a Roman Catholic diocese. It was established in Western Pennsylvania on August 11, 1843. The diocese includes 211 parishes in the counties of Allegheny, Beaver, Butler, Greene, Lawrence, and Washington, an area of with a Catholic population of 719,801...
. It is located in East Carnegie, a neighborhood of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
. The seminary is not a degree-granting institution; seminarians in their collegiate or pre-theological studies attend classes at Duquesne University
Duquesne University
Duquesne University of the Holy Spirit is a private Catholic university in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States. Founded by members of the Congregation of the Holy Spirit, Duquesne first opened its doors as the Pittsburgh Catholic College of the Holy Ghost in October 1878 with an enrollment of...
.
Previous diocesan seminaries
Bishop Michael O'ConnorMichael O'Connor (bishop)
Michael O'Connor, S.J. was an Irish-born clergyman of Roman Catholic Church. He served as Bishop of Pittsburgh and Bishop of Erie .-Early life and education:...
founded Pittsburgh's first diocesan seminary in 1844, the first year of his episcopate. St. Michael Seminary was located in Pittsburgh's Birmingham
South Side (Pittsburgh)
South Side is an area in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA, located along the Monongahela River across from Downtown Pittsburgh. The South Side is officially divided into two neighborhoods, South Side Flats and South Side Slopes. Both the Flats and the Slopes are represented on Pittsburgh City...
neighborhood. It was briefly discontinued for four years (1851–1856), operated for a year in Cambria County
Cambria County, Pennsylvania
Cambria County is a county located in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. It comprises the Johnstown, Pennsylvania, Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of 2010, the population was 143,679....
, and was finally reestablished in the Pittsburgh neighborhood of Glenwood. The seminary definitively closed in 1876 with the tumultuous creation of the Diocese of Allegheny
Allegheny (titular see)
The Diocese of Allegheny is a titular see in the Roman Catholic Church. The first titular bishop was appointed to this see on 29 October 1971. In Latin, the see is known as Dioecesis Alleghenensis. The see was created from the Diocese of Pittsburgh on 11 January 1876, and Bishop Michael Domenec...
out of the Diocese of Pittsburgh. After 1876, Pittsburgh's diocesan seminarians received instruction at Saint Vincent Seminary
Saint Vincent Seminary
Saint Vincent Seminary is the fourth oldest Roman Catholic seminary in the United States and is located in Latrobe, Pennsylvania, forty miles southeast of Pittsburgh....
in Latrobe
Latrobe, Pennsylvania
Latrobe is a city in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania in the United States, approximately southeast of Pittsburgh.The city population was 7,634 as of the 2000 census . It is located near the Pennsylvania's scenic Chestnut Ridge. Latrobe was incorporated as a borough in 1854, and as a city in 1999...
.
Seminarians during the episcopacy of Hugh C. Boyle
Hugh Charles Boyle
Hugh Charles Boyle was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Bishop of Pittsburgh from 1921 until his death in 1950.-Biography:...
, from 1926 to 1945, were allowed to commute to Duquesne University
Duquesne University
Duquesne University of the Holy Spirit is a private Catholic university in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States. Founded by members of the Congregation of the Holy Spirit, Duquesne first opened its doors as the Pittsburgh Catholic College of the Holy Ghost in October 1878 with an enrollment of...
from home. Bishop John F. Dearden, however, ended that practice. Until the creation of Saint Paul's, Pittsburgh seminarians would attend classes at other minor seminaries in Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, and Kentucky.
Establishment of Saint Paul's
Saint Paul's Seminary occupies the grounds and buildings of the former Saint Paul's Orphanage. The 17 acres (6.9 ha) campus began its connection with the Pittsburgh diocese with the establishment of the orphanage there on May 27, 1900, on "a plateau at Idlewood between Crafton and Carnegie." The orphanage operated until August 1965, when its operations were combined with those of Holy Family Institute in EmsworthEmsworth, Pennsylvania
Emsworth is a borough in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, along the Ohio River. The population was 2,449 at the 2010 census.-Geography:Emsworth is located at ....
. In September 1965, Bishop John Wright founded St. Paul Seminary as a minor
Minor seminary
A minor seminary is a secondary boarding school created for the specific purpose of enrolling teenage boys who have expressed interest in becoming priests. They are generally Roman Catholic institutions, and designed to prepare boys both academically and spiritually for vocations to the priesthood...
, or "transitional," seminary on the same site.
Pittsburgh bishop David Zubik sold the diocesan bishop's mansion in Oakland
Oakland (Pittsburgh)
Oakland is the academic, cultural, and healthcare center of Pittsburgh and is Pennsylvania's third largest "Downtown". Only Center City Philadelphia and Downtown Pittsburgh can claim more economic and social activity than Oakland...
in favor of a simpler apartment on the seminary's campus in 2007. Auxiliary bishop
Auxiliary bishop
An auxiliary bishop, in the Roman Catholic Church, is an additional bishop assigned to a diocese because the diocesan bishop is unable to perform his functions, the diocese is so extensive that it requires more than one bishop to administer, or the diocese is attached to a royal or imperial office...
emeritus William J. Winter
William J. Winter
William Joseph Winter is the auxiliary bishop emeritus of the Roman Catholic diocese of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and the titular bishop of Uthina.-Life:...
is also in residence.
The current rector is the Very Rev. Joseph M. Mele.