Saint Patrick Seminary, Menlo Park
Encyclopedia
Saint Patrick's Seminary and University in Menlo Park, California
is a Roman Catholic post-graduate seminary
whose primary mission is the formation of clergy
for Western and Pacific Rim
diocese
s, orders, religious congregations and secular institutes. Since its founding, on September 20, 1898, during the episcopate of Patrick William Riordan
, Archbishop of San Francisco, with a faculty from the Sulpician order
and thirty-four young men, the seminary and university has grown considerably. In over 100-years, it has prepared more than 2,000 priests who have served the various dioceses, orders, religious congregations and secular institutes of the western United States
and the Pacific Rim
. This school is governed by the Archdiocese of San Francisco
in association with its other sponsoring western and Pacific Rim dioceses. The Archbishop of San Francisco serves as the President and Chancellor of the Seminary and University. The seminary and university is fully accredited as a graduate educational institution by the Association of Theological Schools in the United States and Canada
, the Western Association of Schools and Colleges
, and the Congregation for Catholic Education
in Rome.
, the first Archbishop of San Francisco, Archbishop Patrick William Riordan
succeeded in establishing a new seminary in Menlo Park. The plurality of generous Irish laity as well as clergy led Riordan to name the seminary in honor of Saint Patrick of Armagh
, the Apostle of Ireland. By this time, the Sulpician order had committed five priests to staff the seminary, three Frenchmen and two Americans. The first rector was Rev. Father Jean-Baptiste Vuibert, S.S. On August 24, 1898, the seminary was solemnly dedicated by Riordan, joined by Bishops George Montgomery
of Los Angeles and Thomas Grace
of Sacramento, along with more than 100 clergy. On September 20, 1898 the seminary received 31 high school students and 3 college-level students. The first annual commencement exercises took place on May 31, 1899 and were presided over by Riordan. As the seminary continued to develop, a Department of Philosophy was established with six students. In 1903, the Little Sisters of the Holy Family arrived from Sherbrooke, Quebec
, Canada
, to take care of the domestic services such as cooking, laundry and cleaning.
or religious superior and only after intensive psychological testing
and rigorous interviews. The program consists of four years of spiritual, academic and pastoral formation in residence. Following the second year of studies, a candidate undergoes a year of intensively supervised pastoral experience. Normally, a candidate is called to the diaconate by his bishop in the fall semester of his last year, for the purpose of functioning in local parishes for the remainder of that year before being called to the presbyterate.
All candidates undergo formation in a Sulpician tradition, part of which includes daily participation in the Liturgy of the Hours
and the Eucharist
, as well as spiritual exercises
and special devotions
. For continued studies at Saint Patrick's, all candidates must conform to the standards of moral
and academic fitness required by the seminary in accordance with its directives and prescriptions for its program of priestly formation. Candidates deemed unsuitable for seminary life or for the priesthood are either put on probation or dismissed outright from the seminary community.
, it was reported that one of the top priorities for Father Gerald L. Brown, rector
of Saint Patrick Seminary, includes forming priests who will respond to Pope John Paul II's
call for a new evangelization and share the Pope's enthusiasm to engage the world in dialogue. Brown noted that seminary leaders must learn new ways of finding and reaching out to men who may have vocations to the priesthood.
Menlo Park, California
Menlo Park, California is a city at the eastern edge of San Mateo County, in the San Francisco Bay Area of California, in the United States. It is bordered by San Francisco Bay on the north and east; East Palo Alto, Palo Alto, and Stanford to the south; Atherton, North Fair Oaks, and Redwood City...
is a Roman Catholic post-graduate seminary
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...
whose primary mission is the formation of clergy
Priest
A priest is a person authorized to perform the sacred rites of a religion, especially as a mediatory agent between humans and deities. They also have the authority or power to administer religious rites; in particular, rites of sacrifice to, and propitiation of, a deity or deities...
for Western and Pacific Rim
Pacific Rim
The Pacific Rim refers to places around the edge of the Pacific Ocean. The term "Pacific Basin" includes the Pacific Rim and islands in the Pacific Ocean...
diocese
Diocese
A diocese is the district or see under the supervision of a bishop. It is divided into parishes.An archdiocese is more significant than a diocese. An archdiocese is presided over by an archbishop whose see may have or had importance due to size or historical significance...
s, orders, religious congregations and secular institutes. Since its founding, on September 20, 1898, during the episcopate of Patrick William Riordan
Patrick William Riordan
Patrick William Riordan was a Canadian-born clergyman of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Archbishop of San Francisco from 1884 until his death in 1914.-Early life and education:...
, Archbishop of San Francisco, with a faculty from the Sulpician order
Society of Saint-Sulpice
The Society of Saint-Sulpice is a Catholic Society of Apostolic Life named for Eglise Saint-Sulpice, Paris, in turn named for St. Sulpitius the Pious. Typically, priests become members of the Society of St. Sulpice only after ordination and some years of pastoral work. Uniquely, Sulpicians retain...
and thirty-four young men, the seminary and university has grown considerably. In over 100-years, it has prepared more than 2,000 priests who have served the various dioceses, orders, religious congregations and secular institutes of the western United States
Western United States
.The Western United States, commonly referred to as the American West or simply "the West," traditionally refers to the region comprising the westernmost states of the United States. Because the U.S. expanded westward after its founding, the meaning of the West has evolved over time...
and the Pacific Rim
Pacific Rim
The Pacific Rim refers to places around the edge of the Pacific Ocean. The term "Pacific Basin" includes the Pacific Rim and islands in the Pacific Ocean...
. This school is governed by the Archdiocese of San Francisco
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of San Francisco
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of San Francisco is an ecclesiastical territory or diocese of the Catholic Church in the northern California region of the United States. It covers the City and County of San Francisco and the Counties of Marin and San Mateo...
in association with its other sponsoring western and Pacific Rim dioceses. The Archbishop of San Francisco serves as the President and Chancellor of the Seminary and University. The seminary and university is fully accredited as a graduate educational institution by the Association of Theological Schools in the United States and Canada
Association of Theological Schools in the United States and Canada
The Association of Theological Schools in the United States and Canada is an organization of seminaries and other graduate schools of theology. ATS has its headquarters in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and has more than 250 member institutions...
, the Western Association of Schools and Colleges
Western Association of Schools and Colleges
The Western Association of Schools and Colleges is one of six official academic bodies responsible for the accreditation of public and private universities, colleges, secondary and elementary schools in the United States and foreign institutions of American origin. The Western Association of...
, and the Congregation for Catholic Education
Congregation for Catholic Education
The Congregation for Catholic Education is the Pontifical congregation of the Roman Curia responsible for: seminaries and houses of formation of...
in Rome.
History
After several failed attempts to establish a seminary under the title of Saint Thomas Aquinas during the episcopate of Joseph Sadoc Alemany y ConillJoseph Sadoc Alemany
Joseph Sadoc Alemany y Conill, O.P. was a Catalan American Roman Catholic archbishop and missionary. He served as the first Bishop of Monterey from 1850 until 1853, and as the first Archbishop of San Francisco from 1853 until 1884.-Background:Born in Vic, 60 km north of Barcelona, Spain , Alemany...
, the first Archbishop of San Francisco, Archbishop Patrick William Riordan
Patrick William Riordan
Patrick William Riordan was a Canadian-born clergyman of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Archbishop of San Francisco from 1884 until his death in 1914.-Early life and education:...
succeeded in establishing a new seminary in Menlo Park. The plurality of generous Irish laity as well as clergy led Riordan to name the seminary in honor of Saint Patrick of Armagh
Saint Patrick
Saint Patrick was a Romano-Briton and Christian missionary, who is the most generally recognized patron saint of Ireland or the Apostle of Ireland, although Brigid of Kildare and Colmcille are also formally patron saints....
, the Apostle of Ireland. By this time, the Sulpician order had committed five priests to staff the seminary, three Frenchmen and two Americans. The first rector was Rev. Father Jean-Baptiste Vuibert, S.S. On August 24, 1898, the seminary was solemnly dedicated by Riordan, joined by Bishops George Montgomery
George Thomas Montgomery
George Thomas Montgomery was the first American-born Bishop of the Diocese of Monterey-Los Angeles , serving in that capacity from 1896-1902....
of Los Angeles and Thomas Grace
Thomas Grace (California)
Thomas Grace was the second Roman Catholic bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Sacramento, in Sacramento, California.-Early life:...
of Sacramento, along with more than 100 clergy. On September 20, 1898 the seminary received 31 high school students and 3 college-level students. The first annual commencement exercises took place on May 31, 1899 and were presided over by Riordan. As the seminary continued to develop, a Department of Philosophy was established with six students. In 1903, the Little Sisters of the Holy Family arrived from Sherbrooke, Quebec
Quebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, to take care of the domestic services such as cooking, laundry and cleaning.
Clerical formation
Students are admitted to Saint Patrick Seminary on the recommendation of their diocesan bishopBishop
A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight. Within the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox Churches, in the Assyrian Church of the East, in the Independent Catholic Churches, and in the...
or religious superior and only after intensive psychological testing
Psychometrics
Psychometrics is the field of study concerned with the theory and technique of psychological measurement, which includes the measurement of knowledge, abilities, attitudes, personality traits, and educational measurement...
and rigorous interviews. The program consists of four years of spiritual, academic and pastoral formation in residence. Following the second year of studies, a candidate undergoes a year of intensively supervised pastoral experience. Normally, a candidate is called to the diaconate by his bishop in the fall semester of his last year, for the purpose of functioning in local parishes for the remainder of that year before being called to the presbyterate.
All candidates undergo formation in a Sulpician tradition, part of which includes daily participation in the Liturgy of the Hours
Liturgy of the hours
The Liturgy of the Hours or Divine Office is the official set of daily prayers prescribed by the Catholic Church to be recited at the canonical hours by the clergy, religious orders, and laity. The Liturgy of the Hours consists primarily of psalms supplemented by hymns and readings...
and the Eucharist
Eucharist
The Eucharist , also called Holy Communion, the Sacrament of the Altar, the Blessed Sacrament, the Lord's Supper, and other names, is a Christian sacrament or ordinance...
, as well as spiritual exercises
Spiritual Exercises
Spiritual exercises may refer to:* Any spiritual practice dedicated towards increasing one's personal spirituality* Spiritual Exercises of Ignatius of Loyola, a book of spiritual practices of the Roman Catholic Jesuit order...
and special devotions
First Saturday Devotions
The First Saturdays Devotion is a Catholic practice which, according to the visionaries, has been requested by the Virgin Mary in several visitations, notably Our Lady of Fátima and the subsequent Pontevedra apparitions...
. For continued studies at Saint Patrick's, all candidates must conform to the standards of moral
Moral
A moral is a message conveyed or a lesson to be learned from a story or event. The moral may be left to the hearer, reader or viewer to determine for themselves, or may be explicitly encapsulated in a maxim...
and academic fitness required by the seminary in accordance with its directives and prescriptions for its program of priestly formation. Candidates deemed unsuitable for seminary life or for the priesthood are either put on probation or dismissed outright from the seminary community.
New directive
In an interview with Catholic San Francisco, the newspaper of the Archdiocese of San FranciscoRoman Catholic Archdiocese of San Francisco
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of San Francisco is an ecclesiastical territory or diocese of the Catholic Church in the northern California region of the United States. It covers the City and County of San Francisco and the Counties of Marin and San Mateo...
, it was reported that one of the top priorities for Father Gerald L. Brown, rector
Rector
The word rector has a number of different meanings; it is widely used to refer to an academic, religious or political administrator...
of Saint Patrick Seminary, includes forming priests who will respond to Pope John Paul II's
Pope John Paul II
Blessed Pope John Paul II , born Karol Józef Wojtyła , reigned as Pope of the Catholic Church and Sovereign of Vatican City from 16 October 1978 until his death on 2 April 2005, at of age. His was the second-longest documented pontificate, which lasted ; only Pope Pius IX ...
call for a new evangelization and share the Pope's enthusiasm to engage the world in dialogue. Brown noted that seminary leaders must learn new ways of finding and reaching out to men who may have vocations to the priesthood.
Notable alumni or staff
- Norman Francis McFarlandNorman Francis McFarlandNorman Francis McFarland, D.D., J.C.D., was the second Roman Catholic Bishop of the Diocese of Orange and Apostolic Administrator of the Diocese of Reno.-Early life and pastoral appointments:...
, Bishop - John C. WesterJohn Charles WesterJohn Charles Wester, is an American Roman Catholic Bishop. On 8 January 2007 Pope Benedict XVI appointed Wester as the ninth bishop to serve the Diocese of Salt Lake City.-Early life and clerical formation:...
, Bishop
Sources
- Formation at Saint Patrick Seminary
- Seminary rector wants priests who can dialogue, evangelize (February 3, 2005).
- Menlo Park priest charged in Internet sex case (March 8, 2000).
- Associate Professor of Systematic Theology Charged in Abuse of Teenager (October 11, 2002)
- Bishop apologizes for priest's abuse (May 13, 2005).