Frequently Asked Questions & Answers About
St. Vincent de Paul Regional Seminary

Questions

1. When was St. Vincent de Paul founded and built?
2. How long does it take to become a Catholic priest?
3. What does the motto “Priestly Formation for the 21st Century” mean?
4. What does it cost to educate a seminarian?
5. Who can take theology classes at SVDP?
6. What are the requirements for seminarian admission to SVDP?
7. I thought St. John Vianney Seminary in Miami was the seminary for Florida priests?
8. Who owns and runs the seminary?
9. Is SVDP an accredited educational institution?
10. Where do the seminarians come from?
11. Is St. Vincent de Paul the place where people go to donate and buy used clothing and furniture?
12. How many credit hours does it take to graduate?
13. What are the credentials of SVDP’s faculty?
14. What can I do personally to help and support the SVDP?
15. How can my Catholic support organization (Serra Club, KC Council, Council of Catholic Women, etc.) get involved or help the seminary?
16. What is the make up of the current student body?

Answers

1. The seminary began with the Mother Diocese of Florida, when Archbishop Joseph Hurley, 6th Bishop of the Diocese of St. Augustine, purchased 80 acres of land west of Boynton Beach in 1955. The chapel, dorm rooms, classrooms, refectory, auditorium, and faculty offices were all built in 1963, some 44 years ago. A lake is located on the north side of the property in front of the library. The administration building which was built in 1995 is our only modern facility.

2. Four years of undergraduate work and four years at a major seminary. Those who successfully complete four years of theology work, and one year pastoral work receive a Masters of Divinity degree and are eligible for priestly ordination.

3. “Priestly Formation for the 21st Century” means striving to fulfill the goals and objectives of the PPF by holistically integrating the four core areas of formation, i.e., human, academic, spiritual, and pastoral, and meeting the challenges of a complex, multicultural Church that reflects a diverse and rapidly changing society. Candidates for the priesthood should have an open and flexible approach to growing in their faith and commitment to making a lasting impact on the Church and the broader society of the 21st century. Furthermore, because SVDP is bilingual and multicultural, we are prepared now to meet the needs of parishes and parishioners alike with the skills to communicate in a second language.

Priests as disciples-servants in the footstep of Christ, happy in their life, committed to honor their vows, gentle and caring, centered in Christ, knowledgeable of their social and world situations, open to be led by the Spirit and willing to make changes.

4. The expense of a full time student $29,492 per year. This covers tuition, room, board, books, supplies, and miscellaneous expenses. The actual cost to educate a seminarian is almost $66,000 per year. Some seminarians are eligible and seek financial aid, similar to any student at an institution of higher education.

5. Applicants must have a four year degree from an accredited college or university for admission to SVDP. Currently, our student body includes seminarians, religious (both Catholic and non-Catholic) and lay persons.

6. For most every applicant, four years of undergraduate school and a degree, recommendations from one parish priest, bishop, personal background, criminal and credit checks are preformed, and psychological testing at the minimum. Finally, a panel of SVDP faculty and staff must interview and approve all applicants. This review process continues throughout a seminarian’s course of study and period of formation at SVDP.

7. St. John Vianney in Miami is a college seminary that provides undergraduate education for students whose stated objective is to serve the Catholic Church as priests. SVDP is a graduate school and major seminary. The majority of graduates of St. John Vianney pursue advanced degrees and further their studies to enter the priesthood at St. Vincent de Paul. Within the Catholic Community in Florida, there is one program and two campuses to enter the priesthood.

8. The seven Dioceses and Bishops of the Province of Florida own SVDP. A very large percentage of the budget to operate and maintain SVDP is shared by each Diocese. The Rector/President, appointed the Bishops, serves as its chief executive and Rector Msgr. Keith R. Brennan was appointed in 2004.

9. The seminary is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools to award Masters degrees. The Association of Theological Schools of the United States and Canada also fully accredits the seminary.

10. Virtually all of seminarians are from one of the seven Dioceses of Florida, sent here at the recommendation and request of their respective Bishop. Currently 64 seminarians are enrolled. However, we have students from the Caribbean, Africa, Asia, Europe and other Dioceses in the country.

11. The Society of St. Vincent de Paul (also known as St. Vincent de Paul Society) is a social services non-profit agency that has operations all across the US serving people of all faiths and backgrounds. They are independently run, and have no connection to SVDP Regional Seminary other than sharing the name of the beloved patron St. Vincent.

12. In the Ordination Program, 106 core credit hours, and Masters of Divinity program 90 credit hours. It includes five fields of study; scripture, systematic theology, moral theology, church history and pastoral theology.

13. SVDP is both proud and honored to have a 30 member faculty;10 resident faculty, 10 non resident and 10 adjunct with over 180 years of teaching experience, possessing a total of 67 degrees of higher education. Twenty-three faculty members are priests and eight hold a doctorate.

14. Catholics, friends and supporters of SVDP can be an advocate for vocations, and they understand and help promote that Florida has an outstanding major seminary that produces what many call “the lifeblood of the Catholic Church” right here in beautiful Boynton Beach. One may also volunteer to help within your Diocese by hosting events that promote the seminary.

Secondly, moral and financial support is always needed, and there are a number of ways to contribute are available. One can consider becoming a member of the Rector’s Guild, contribute to the Annual or Christmas Funds, and remember SVDP in your will or estate plans. Other attractive Named & Memorial gift opportunities are available to honor or remember loved ones, event sponsorships and support advertising in Dialogue are other options.

15. How can my Catholic support organization (Serra Club, KC Council, Council of Catholic Women, etc.) get involved or help the seminary?

As time and schedules permit, group visits can be arranged for tours and visitor orientation programs. During the school year Mass is offered at 12:15 on Wednesday followed by lunch for visitors. Groups may also volunteer to host speakers from the seminary and conduct special events or fund raisers to support seminarians. (See question 14.)

16. For the 2007-08 academic year student demographics are as follows: 3 are Asian, 4 are African, 7 are Caribbean or South American, 8 are Hispanic, 4 are black and 39 are white, making up a truly multi-cultural student body.   SVDP has a total of 109 students; 64 are seminarians, 28 are in the Deacon certification program and another 17 are non-resident students. (For a complete list of seminarians by Diocese and Parish, see Seminarians 2007-08 Academic Year or the latest issue of Dialogue, our quarterly magazine.