The American College of the Immaculate Conception
Encyclopedia
The American College of the Immaculate Conception, or the American College at Louvain, was a Roman Catholic seminary
in Leuven
, Belgium
, which operated under the auspices of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
. Founded in 1857, the American College closed in June 2011.
of Louisville
and Bishop Peter Paul Lefevere
of Detroit
. Its founding purpose was twofold: to train young European men to serve as missionary
priests in North America and to give American seminarians the opportunity to study at the Katholieke Universiteit Leuven
.
The college grew rapidly in its early years, most notably under the lengthy rectorship of John De Neve, the college's second rector. It is estimated that approximately eight hundred priests trained at the American College served in the American missions during the second half of the nineteenth century. They served in dioceses and vicariates
all across the United States, and had a huge impact on the young American Church. Many served as bishops of newly-formed dioceses, including the "Apostle of Alaska" Charles John Seghers
; the second archbishop of San Francisco
, Patrick Riordan
; and the founding bishops of Boise
and Helena
, Alphonse Glorieux and John Baptist Brondel.
The college continued to train young men for service to the Church in the United States into the twentieth century under the rectorship of Jules De Becker. The seminary remained open even through the First World War, preserving some of the books and treasures of Leuven, including the famous medieval statue of the Sedes Sapientiae
, through the conflict and the widely-decried burning of Louvain
by German troops. During the war, the college took on the roles of emergency hospital and dispensary of food and clothing, at times helping as many as fifteen hundred people per day. The seminary survived the war and continued to operate until 1939, when it was forced to close just before the Second World War.
After its 1952 re-opening under the rectorship of Thomas Francis Maloney
, the college educated and formed hundreds of priests for the Church in the United States. In addition to its primary mission of seminary formation, the American College expanded to accommodate priests and religious seeking higher education degrees at the university and offered a variety of sabbatical opportunities for priests, religious, and lay ecclesial ministers from around the world.
On November 22, 2010, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops released a statement, reading in part, "Due to the small number of seminarians and available priest faculty, the American College of the Immaculate Conception in Leuven, Belgium, has announced its closure in June 2011." After 154 years, the college closed its green doors for the last time, leaving the Pontifical North American College in Rome as the only European seminary governed directly by the United States Catholic Conference of Bishops.
The college's signature song was a Marian hymn, O Sodales
, which dates to 1862.
, along the Naamsestraat (Dutch
: Namur
Street). Leuven lies within the Archdiocese of Mechelen-Brussel, and the Archbishop
of Mechelen
-Brussel
, André-Joseph Leonard, is the Ordinary
.
The college always had a close relationship with Katholieke Universiteit Leuven
, particularly its faculty of theology
. KUL's Maria Teresa College, which hosts the faculties of theology and canon law
, was a five minute walk away from the American College.
was sponsored and overseen by the Catholic bishops of the United States
. It was one of only two "national" seminaries for the United States in the sense of sponsorship by the conference of bishops as a whole, the other being the North American College
in Rome
. The American College was actually the older of the two institutions, founded two years before the "younger sister" in Rome.
The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
oversaw the college by way of the Committee for the American College, which functioned as a board of directors
. Fourteen U.S. bishops sat on that committee, and the committee chair was the Most Reverend David Laurin Ricken
of the Diocese of Green Bay
. The college also had an advisory board, made up of both lay and clerical supporters of the college.
At the close of the 2010-2011 academic year, there were nineteen seminarians in formation with the college. Their sponsoring dioceses were: Boise
, Cheyenne
, Congregation of Holy Cross
, Green Bay
, Lublin, Madison
, Milwaukee
, Orange
, Portland (Oregon)
, Rochester
, Salford, and Spokane
.
. Up until its closing in 2011, the College continued to form and educate young men for the priesthood, primarily for dioceses in the United States
. In addition to the classes offered by the Katholieke Universiteit Leuven
, the College seminary provided a comprehensive program of human, spiritual, intellectual, and pastoral formation for seminarians.
The college also hosted graduate students pursuing higher studies in theology or canon law, sent by their dioceses or religious congregations. For many years, the American College also ran a semester-long sabbatical program for priests, religious, or laity sent by their dioceses or religious congregations. Both the graduate students and sabbaticals took classes through the Katholieke Universiteit Leuven while living at and participating in opportunities provided by the college.
The agreement provides that the building in which the seminary functioned has been entrusted to the K.U. Leuven. This University will thoroughly renovate and update the building, as was done with other historical and University patrimony in the past. Besides serving as a residence for university students, the building will also house a significant new cooperative project, established jointly by the USCCB and K.U. Leuven, in close consultation with the bishops' conference of Belgium and the francophone sister University in Louvain-la-Neuve (UCL). Through this project, students and researchers will be recruited from the worldwide Catholic community, especially from the United States. Its working language will be English. The students and scholars will be priests, deacons, members of religious institutes and new Catholic movements, and lay persons. The students and scholars will participate in research and/or educational activities at the K.U. Leuven and/or UCL. In particular, the project will promote work at the faculties with programs in theology, canon law and philosophy. The "Peter Kindekens Fund," named after the first rector of The American College, has been created in the name of the USCCB. The general goal of the Fund is to support educational and research activities which preserve and further the spiritual heritage of the ACL or ensure that the window to the worldwide Catholic community in general and to the Catholic Church in the USA in particular, as it used to be provided by the ACL, be maintained. This Fund can also grant scholarships in fulfillment of the goals of the project and will administer existing scholarship funds already associated with the ACL in order to continue to fulfill their intent to support the training of students and priests for service to the Church in the United States.
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...
in Leuven
Leuven
Leuven is the capital of the province of Flemish Brabant in the Flemish Region, Belgium...
, Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
, which operated under the auspices of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops is the episcopal conference of the Catholic Church in the United States. Founded in 1966 as the joint National Conference of Catholic Bishops and United States Catholic Conference, it is composed of all active and retired members of the Catholic...
. Founded in 1857, the American College closed in June 2011.
History
The College was founded in 1857 by the bishops of the United States, under the leadership of Bishop Martin J. SpaldingMartin John Spalding
Martin John Spalding was an American clergyman of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Bishop of Louisville and Archbishop of Baltimore .-Early life and education:...
of Louisville
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Louisville
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Louisville consists of twenty-four counties in Central Kentucky, USA, covering . It is the seat of the Metropolitan Province of Louisville, which comprises the states of Kentucky and Tennessee...
and Bishop Peter Paul Lefevere
Peter Paul Lefevere
Peter Paul Lefevere, or Lefebre, born as Pierre-Paul Lefevere , was a 19th century Belgian born bishop of the Catholic Church in the United States...
of Detroit
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Detroit
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Detroit is an archdiocese of the Latin Rite of the Catholic Church covering the Michigan counties of Lapeer, Macomb, Monroe, Oakland, St. Clair, and Wayne...
. Its founding purpose was twofold: to train young European men to serve as missionary
Missionary
A missionary is a member of a religious group sent into an area to do evangelism or ministries of service, such as education, literacy, social justice, health care and economic development. The word "mission" originates from 1598 when the Jesuits sent members abroad, derived from the Latin...
priests in North America and to give American seminarians the opportunity to study at the Katholieke Universiteit Leuven
Katholieke Universiteit Leuven
The Katholieke Universiteit Leuven is a Dutch-speaking university in Flanders, Belgium.It is located at the centre of the historic town of Leuven, and is a prominent part of the city, home to the university since 1425...
.
The college grew rapidly in its early years, most notably under the lengthy rectorship of John De Neve, the college's second rector. It is estimated that approximately eight hundred priests trained at the American College served in the American missions during the second half of the nineteenth century. They served in dioceses and vicariates
Apostolic vicariate
An apostolic vicariate is a form of territorial jurisdiction of the Roman Catholic Church established in missionary regions and countries that do not have a diocese. It is essentially provisional, though it may last for a century or more...
all across the United States, and had a huge impact on the young American Church. Many served as bishops of newly-formed dioceses, including the "Apostle of Alaska" Charles John Seghers
Charles John Seghers
Charles John Seghers was a Belgian clergyman and missionary bishop. He is considered to be the founder of the Alaska Mission.-Early years and formation:...
; the second archbishop 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...
, Patrick 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:...
; and the founding bishops of Boise
Roman Catholic Diocese of Boise
The Diocese of Boise is an ecclesiastical territory of the Catholic Church in the northwestern U.S., encompassing the entire state of Idaho. It is led by a bishop who serves as pastor of the cathedral, the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist in Boise...
and Helena
Roman Catholic Diocese of Helena
The Diocese of Helena is the Catholic diocese for western Montana. It was erected from the year-old Vicarate of Montana on March 7, 1884, while Montana was still a territory. The diocese is a suffragan of the Archdiocese of Portland, which encompasses Oregon, Idaho, and Montana.For its first...
, Alphonse Glorieux and John Baptist Brondel.
The college continued to train young men for service to the Church in the United States into the twentieth century under the rectorship of Jules De Becker. The seminary remained open even through the First World War, preserving some of the books and treasures of Leuven, including the famous medieval statue of the Sedes Sapientiae
Sedes Sapientiae
The Sedes Sapientiae , also known as Our Lady of Louvain, is a medieval wooden statue of the Virgin Mary. Nicolaas De Bruyne carved the statue in 1442, copying and enlarging an earlier and smaller statue from the 13th century. It is located in the church of Saint Peter in heart of the city of...
, through the conflict and the widely-decried burning of Louvain
Leuven
Leuven is the capital of the province of Flemish Brabant in the Flemish Region, Belgium...
by German troops. During the war, the college took on the roles of emergency hospital and dispensary of food and clothing, at times helping as many as fifteen hundred people per day. The seminary survived the war and continued to operate until 1939, when it was forced to close just before the Second World War.
After its 1952 re-opening under the rectorship of Thomas Francis Maloney
Thomas Francis Maloney
Most Reverend Thomas Francis Maloney was a Roman Catholic priest and subsequently bishop who served as the sixth rector of the American College of the Immaculate Conception in Louvain, Belgium, and later as an auxiliary bishop of the diocese of Providence.-Early years and education:Maloney was...
, the college educated and formed hundreds of priests for the Church in the United States. In addition to its primary mission of seminary formation, the American College expanded to accommodate priests and religious seeking higher education degrees at the university and offered a variety of sabbatical opportunities for priests, religious, and lay ecclesial ministers from around the world.
On November 22, 2010, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops released a statement, reading in part, "Due to the small number of seminarians and available priest faculty, the American College of the Immaculate Conception in Leuven, Belgium, has announced its closure in June 2011." After 154 years, the college closed its green doors for the last time, leaving the Pontifical North American College in Rome as the only European seminary governed directly by the United States Catholic Conference of Bishops.
The college's signature song was a Marian hymn, O Sodales
O Sodales
O Sodales is a Roman Catholic hymn to the Blessed Virgin Mary. It is also the signature song of the American College of the Immaculate Conception, the American seminary located in Leuven, Belgium, which has maintained the hymn over the past century and a half....
, which dates to 1862.
Location
The American College is located within the city of LeuvenLeuven
Leuven is the capital of the province of Flemish Brabant in the Flemish Region, Belgium...
, along the Naamsestraat (Dutch
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
: Namur
Namur (city)
Namur is a city and municipality in Wallonia, in southern Belgium. It is both the capital of the province of Namur and of Wallonia....
Street). Leuven lies within the Archdiocese of Mechelen-Brussel, and the Archbishop
Archbishop
An archbishop is a bishop of higher rank, but not of higher sacramental order above that of the three orders of deacon, priest , and bishop...
of Mechelen
Mechelen
Mechelen Footnote: Mechelen became known in English as 'Mechlin' from which the adjective 'Mechlinian' is derived...
-Brussel
Brussels
Brussels , officially the Brussels Region or Brussels-Capital Region , is the capital of Belgium and the de facto capital of the European Union...
, André-Joseph Leonard, is the Ordinary
Ordinary
In those hierarchically organised churches of Western Christianity which have an ecclesiastical law system, an ordinary is an officer of the church who by reason of office has ordinary power to execute the church's laws...
.
The college always had a close relationship with Katholieke Universiteit Leuven
Katholieke Universiteit Leuven
The Katholieke Universiteit Leuven is a Dutch-speaking university in Flanders, Belgium.It is located at the centre of the historic town of Leuven, and is a prominent part of the city, home to the university since 1425...
, particularly its faculty of theology
Theology
Theology is the systematic and rational study of religion and its influences and of the nature of religious truths, or the learned profession acquired by completing specialized training in religious studies, usually at a university or school of divinity or seminary.-Definition:Augustine of Hippo...
. KUL's Maria Teresa College, which hosts the faculties of theology and canon law
Canon law
Canon law is the body of laws & regulations made or adopted by ecclesiastical authority, for the government of the Christian organization and its members. It is the internal ecclesiastical law governing the Catholic Church , the Eastern and Oriental Orthodox churches, and the Anglican Communion of...
, was a five minute walk away from the American College.
Sponsorship and governorship
The seminarySeminary
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...
was sponsored and overseen by the Catholic bishops of the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. It was one of only two "national" seminaries for the United States in the sense of sponsorship by the conference of bishops as a whole, the other being the North American College
Pontifical North American College
The Pontifical North American College is a Roman Catholic educational institution in Rome, Italy educating seminarians for the dioceses in the United States and providing a residence for American priests studying in Rome. It was founded in 1859 by Blessed Pope Pius IX and was granted pontifical...
in Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
. The American College was actually the older of the two institutions, founded two years before the "younger sister" in Rome.
The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops is the episcopal conference of the Catholic Church in the United States. Founded in 1966 as the joint National Conference of Catholic Bishops and United States Catholic Conference, it is composed of all active and retired members of the Catholic...
oversaw the college by way of the Committee for the American College, which functioned as a board of directors
Board of directors
A board of directors is a body of elected or appointed members who jointly oversee the activities of a company or organization. Other names include board of governors, board of managers, board of regents, board of trustees, and board of visitors...
. Fourteen U.S. bishops sat on that committee, and the committee chair was the Most Reverend David Laurin Ricken
David Laurin Ricken
David Laurin Ricken is an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He currently serves as the twelfth Bishop of Green Bay, having previously served as Bishop of Cheyenne.-Early life:...
of the Diocese of Green Bay
Roman Catholic Diocese of Green Bay
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Green Bay was established on March 3, 1868 by Pope Pius IX. It covers the city of Green Bay as well as Brown, Calumet, Door, Florence, Forest, Kewaunee, Langlade, Manitowoc, Marinette, Menominee, Oconto, Outagamie, Shawano, Waupaca, Waushara, and Winnebago counties,...
. The college also had an advisory board, made up of both lay and clerical supporters of the college.
At the close of the 2010-2011 academic year, there were nineteen seminarians in formation with the college. Their sponsoring dioceses were: Boise
Roman Catholic Diocese of Boise
The Diocese of Boise is an ecclesiastical territory of the Catholic Church in the northwestern U.S., encompassing the entire state of Idaho. It is led by a bishop who serves as pastor of the cathedral, the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist in Boise...
, Cheyenne
Roman Catholic Diocese of Cheyenne
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Cheyenne is a Roman Catholic diocese covering the state of Wyoming. It was founded on August 2, 1887 by Pope Leo XIII...
, Congregation of Holy Cross
Congregation of Holy Cross
The Congregation of Holy Cross or Congregatio a Sancta Cruce is a Catholic congregation of priests and brothers founded in 1837 by Blessed Father Basil Anthony-Marie Moreau, CSC, in Le Mans, France....
, Green Bay
Roman Catholic Diocese of Green Bay
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Green Bay was established on March 3, 1868 by Pope Pius IX. It covers the city of Green Bay as well as Brown, Calumet, Door, Florence, Forest, Kewaunee, Langlade, Manitowoc, Marinette, Menominee, Oconto, Outagamie, Shawano, Waupaca, Waushara, and Winnebago counties,...
, Lublin, Madison
Roman Catholic Diocese of Madison
The Diocese of Madison, Wisconsin, is the Roman Catholic Diocese for the southwest corner of Wisconsin. It comprises Columbia, Dane, Grant, Green, Green Lake, Iowa, Jefferson, LaFayette, Marquette, Rock and Sauk counties. The area of the diocese is approximately...
, Milwaukee
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Milwaukee
The Archdiocese of Milwaukee is a Roman Catholic archdiocese headquartered in Milwaukee, Wisconsin in the United States. It encompasses the City of Milwaukee, as well as the counties of Dodge, Fond du Lac, Kenosha, Milwaukee, Ozaukee, Racine, Sheboygan, Walworth, Washington and Waukesha, all...
, Orange
Roman Catholic Diocese of Orange
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Orange is a particular church of the Latin Rite of the Roman Catholic Church whose territory comprises the whole of Orange County, California, in the United States...
, Portland (Oregon)
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Portland
The Archdiocese of Portland in Oregon is an archdiocese of the Roman Catholic Church in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It encompasses the western part of the state of Oregon, from the summit of the Cascades to the Pacific Ocean...
, Rochester
Roman Catholic Diocese of Rochester
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Rochester is a diocese of the Catholic Church in the Greater Rochester region of New York State in the United States. The region that the Diocese comprises extends from its northern border on the south shore of Lake Ontario through the Finger Lakes region to its...
, Salford, and Spokane
Roman Catholic Diocese of Spokane
The Diocese of Spokane is a diocese of the Roman Catholic Church in the U.S. state of Washington. Headquartered in Spokane, the diocese encompasses Okanogan, Ferry, Stevens, Pend Oreille, Lincoln, Spokane, Adams, Whitman, Franklin, Walla Walla, Columbia, Garfield and Asotin Counties...
.
Mission
The primary mission of the American College was the formation of priests with a missionary spirit. In the years since its founding, the College's alumni have gone forth to serve as many of the priests, professors, and missionaries of the Catholic Church in North AmericaNorth America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
. Up until its closing in 2011, the College continued to form and educate young men for the priesthood, primarily for dioceses in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. In addition to the classes offered by the Katholieke Universiteit Leuven
Katholieke Universiteit Leuven
The Katholieke Universiteit Leuven is a Dutch-speaking university in Flanders, Belgium.It is located at the centre of the historic town of Leuven, and is a prominent part of the city, home to the university since 1425...
, the College seminary provided a comprehensive program of human, spiritual, intellectual, and pastoral formation for seminarians.
The college also hosted graduate students pursuing higher studies in theology or canon law, sent by their dioceses or religious congregations. For many years, the American College also ran a semester-long sabbatical program for priests, religious, or laity sent by their dioceses or religious congregations. Both the graduate students and sabbaticals took classes through the Katholieke Universiteit Leuven while living at and participating in opportunities provided by the college.
Heritage
On August 19, 2011, representatives of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) and the Board of Directors of the American College of the Immaculate Conception, Catholic University of Louvain signed an agreement providing for the future use of the property of the American College and for the renewal of the long standing cooperation among the USCCB, the Katholieke Universiteit Leuven (K.U. Leuven) and the Université catholique de Louvain (UCL).The agreement provides that the building in which the seminary functioned has been entrusted to the K.U. Leuven. This University will thoroughly renovate and update the building, as was done with other historical and University patrimony in the past. Besides serving as a residence for university students, the building will also house a significant new cooperative project, established jointly by the USCCB and K.U. Leuven, in close consultation with the bishops' conference of Belgium and the francophone sister University in Louvain-la-Neuve (UCL). Through this project, students and researchers will be recruited from the worldwide Catholic community, especially from the United States. Its working language will be English. The students and scholars will be priests, deacons, members of religious institutes and new Catholic movements, and lay persons. The students and scholars will participate in research and/or educational activities at the K.U. Leuven and/or UCL. In particular, the project will promote work at the faculties with programs in theology, canon law and philosophy. The "Peter Kindekens Fund," named after the first rector of The American College, has been created in the name of the USCCB. The general goal of the Fund is to support educational and research activities which preserve and further the spiritual heritage of the ACL or ensure that the window to the worldwide Catholic community in general and to the Catholic Church in the USA in particular, as it used to be provided by the ACL, be maintained. This Fund can also grant scholarships in fulfillment of the goals of the project and will administer existing scholarship funds already associated with the ACL in order to continue to fulfill their intent to support the training of students and priests for service to the Church in the United States.
Rectors
- Peter Kindekens, Archdiocese of DetroitRoman Catholic Archdiocese of DetroitThe Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Detroit is an archdiocese of the Latin Rite of the Catholic Church covering the Michigan counties of Lapeer, Macomb, Monroe, Oakland, St. Clair, and Wayne...
, 1857-1860 - John De Neve, Archdiocese of DetroitRoman Catholic Archdiocese of DetroitThe Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Detroit is an archdiocese of the Latin Rite of the Catholic Church covering the Michigan counties of Lapeer, Macomb, Monroe, Oakland, St. Clair, and Wayne...
, 1860-1891 - John Willemsen, Archdiocese of Mechelen, 1891-1898
- Jules De Becker, Archdiocese of Mechelen, 1898-1931
- Pierre de Strycker, Archdiocese of Mechelen, 1931-1939
- Thomas Francis MaloneyThomas Francis MaloneyMost Reverend Thomas Francis Maloney was a Roman Catholic priest and subsequently bishop who served as the sixth rector of the American College of the Immaculate Conception in Louvain, Belgium, and later as an auxiliary bishop of the diocese of Providence.-Early years and education:Maloney was...
, Diocese of ProvidenceRoman Catholic Diocese of ProvidenceThe Roman Catholic Diocese of Providence is a diocese of the Roman Catholic Church in the United States. The diocese was erected by Pope Pius IX on February 17, 1872 and originally comprised the entire state of Rhode Island and the counties of Bristol, Barnstable, Dukes and Nantucket in the state...
, 1952-1960 - Paul D. Riedl, Diocese of SpringfieldRoman Catholic Diocese of SpringfieldThe Roman Catholic Diocese of Springfield is part of the official name of three dioceses of the Roman Catholic Church in the United States:*Roman Catholic Diocese of Springfield in Illinois*Roman Catholic Diocese of Springfield in Massachusetts...
, 1960-1970 - Clement E. Pribil, Archdiocese of Oklahoma CityRoman Catholic Archdiocese of Oklahoma CityThe Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Oklahoma City is a particular church of the Latin Rite of the Roman Catholic Church in the midwestern region of the United States. Its ecclesiastical territory includes 46 counties in western Oklahoma. The Most Reverend Paul Stagg Coakley is the current archbishop...
, 1970-1971 - Raymond Francis CollinsRaymond CollinsRaymond Francis Collins is a Roman Catholic priest of the Diocese of Providence, and an exegete of the New Testament. Recently retired, he has taught as a professor at a variety of institutions of higher education, including most prominently Katholieke Universiteit Leuven and Catholic University of...
, Diocese of ProvidenceRoman Catholic Diocese of ProvidenceThe Roman Catholic Diocese of Providence is a diocese of the Roman Catholic Church in the United States. The diocese was erected by Pope Pius IX on February 17, 1872 and originally comprised the entire state of Rhode Island and the counties of Bristol, Barnstable, Dukes and Nantucket in the state...
, 1971-1978 - William J. Greytak, Diocese of HelenaRoman Catholic Diocese of HelenaThe Diocese of Helena is the Catholic diocese for western Montana. It was erected from the year-old Vicarate of Montana on March 7, 1884, while Montana was still a territory. The diocese is a suffragan of the Archdiocese of Portland, which encompasses Oregon, Idaho, and Montana.For its first...
, 1978-1983 - John J. Costanzo, Diocese of PuebloRoman Catholic Diocese of PuebloThe Roman Catholic Diocese of Pueblo is a Roman Catholic diocese in Colorado. The diocese was founded on November 15, 1941. It encompasses the southern half of Colorado, from Utah to the west, to Kansas in the east....
, 1983-1988 - Thomas P. Ivory, Archdiocese of NewarkRoman Catholic Archdiocese of NewarkThe Archdiocese of Newark is an archdiocese of the Catholic Church in northern New Jersey, United States. Its ecclesiastic territory includes all of the Catholic parishes and schools in the New Jersey counties of Bergen, Union, Hudson and Essex .-History:Originally established as the Diocese of...
, 1988-1992 - Melvin T. Long, Diocese of SalinaRoman Catholic Diocese of SalinaThe Roman Catholic Diocese of Salina is a Roman Catholic diocese covering thirty-one counties in Kansas. The episcopal see is in Salina, Kansas...
, 1992-1993 - David E. Windsor, Congregation of the Mission, 1993-2001
- Kevin A. Codd, Diocese of SpokaneRoman Catholic Diocese of SpokaneThe Diocese of Spokane is a diocese of the Roman Catholic Church in the U.S. state of Washington. Headquartered in Spokane, the diocese encompasses Okanogan, Ferry, Stevens, Pend Oreille, Lincoln, Spokane, Adams, Whitman, Franklin, Walla Walla, Columbia, Garfield and Asotin Counties...
, 2001-2007 - Ross A. Shecterle, Archdiocese of MilwaukeeRoman Catholic Archdiocese of MilwaukeeThe Archdiocese of Milwaukee is a Roman Catholic archdiocese headquartered in Milwaukee, Wisconsin in the United States. It encompasses the City of Milwaukee, as well as the counties of Dodge, Fond du Lac, Kenosha, Milwaukee, Ozaukee, Racine, Sheboygan, Walworth, Washington and Waukesha, all...
, 2007-2011
Episcopal Alumni
Over the years, a number of graduates of the American College have been appointed to the episcopacy. Bishop-alumni of the college include:- Matthew Francis BradyMatthew Francis BradyMatthew Francis Brady was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Bishop of Burlington and Bishop of Manchester .-Biography:...
, deceased bishop of BurlingtonRoman Catholic Diocese of BurlingtonThe Roman Catholic Diocese of Burlington is a diocese of the Roman Catholic Church in the New England region of the United States, comprising the entire state of Vermont...
and ManchesterRoman Catholic Diocese of ManchesterThe Roman Catholic Diocese of Manchester is a diocese of the Roman Catholic Church in the region of New England in the United States comprising the entire state of New Hampshire... - Edward Kenneth Braxton, bishop of BellevilleRoman Catholic Diocese of BellevilleThe Roman Catholic Diocese of Belleville is an ecclesiastical territory or diocese of the Roman Catholic Church in the southern Illinois region of the United States. It comprises the southern counties of the state of Illinois and is administered from the City of Belleville. The prelate is a...
- Jean-Baptiste BrondelJean-Baptiste BrondelJean-Baptiste Brondel was a Belgian-born prelate of the Catholic Church. He served in Canada as Bishop of Vancouver Island and in the United States as Bishop of Helena .-Biography:...
, deceased bishop of HelenaRoman Catholic Diocese of HelenaThe Diocese of Helena is the Catholic diocese for western Montana. It was erected from the year-old Vicarate of Montana on March 7, 1884, while Montana was still a territory. The diocese is a suffragan of the Archdiocese of Portland, which encompasses Oregon, Idaho, and Montana.For its first... - Ferdinand BrossartFerdinand BrossartFerdinand Brossart was a German American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He was born in the Diocese of Speyer, and served from 1915 to 1923 as the fourth bishop of the Diocese of Covington.-Early life:...
, deceased bishop of CovingtonRoman Catholic Diocese of CovingtonThe Roman Catholic Diocese of Covington is a Roman Catholic diocese in Northern Kentucky, covering that includes the city of Covington and the following Kentucky counties: Boone, Kenton, Campbell, Gallatin, Carroll, Grant, Owen, Pendleton, Harrison, Bracken, Robertson, Mason, Fleming, and Lewis. ... - Charles Albert BuswellCharles Albert BuswellCharles Albert Buswell was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church who served as Bishop of Pueblo from 1959 to 1979. At the time of his death, he was one of the oldest bishops in the Church.-Biography:...
, deceased bishop of PuebloRoman Catholic Diocese of PuebloThe Roman Catholic Diocese of Pueblo is a Roman Catholic diocese in Colorado. The diocese was founded on November 15, 1941. It encompasses the southern half of Colorado, from Utah to the west, to Kansas in the east.... - Alphonse Liguori Chaupa, emeritus bishop of KimbeRoman Catholic Diocese of KimbeThe Roman Catholic Diocese of Goroka is a suffragan diocese of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Rabaul. It was erected in 2003....
, Papua New GuineaPapua New GuineaPapua New Guinea , officially the Independent State of Papua New Guinea, is a country in Oceania, occupying the eastern half of the island of New Guinea and numerous offshore islands... - Francis Joseph ChristianFrancis Joseph ChristianFrancis Joseph Christian is the Auxiliary Bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Manchester in New Hampshire, and the titular bishop of Quincy. He was ordained a bishop on May 14, 1996. Pope John Paul II appointed him as the Auxiliary Bishop of Manchester. He is originally from Jaffrey, New...
, auxiliaryAuxiliary bishopAn 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...
bishop of ManchesterRoman Catholic Diocese of ManchesterThe Roman Catholic Diocese of Manchester is a diocese of the Roman Catholic Church in the region of New England in the United States comprising the entire state of New Hampshire... - Edmund Michael DunneEdmund Michael DunneEdmund Michael Dunne was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Bishop of Peoria from 1902 until his death in 1929.-Biography:...
, deceased bishop of PeoriaRoman Catholic Diocese of PeoriaThe Roman Catholic Diocese of Peoria is an ecclesiastical territory or diocese of the Roman Catholic Church in the central Illinois region of the United States.-Territory:... - Shelton Joseph Fabre, auxiliaryAuxiliary bishopAn 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...
bishop of New OrleansRoman Catholic Archdiocese of New OrleansThe Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New Orleans, officially in Latin Archidioecesis Novae Aureliae, is an ecclesiastical division of the Roman Catholic Church administered from New Orleans, Louisiana... - Joseph John FoxJoseph John FoxJoseph John Fox was an American prelate of the Catholic Church. He served as Bishop of Green Bay from 1904 to 1914.-Biography:...
, deceased bishop of Green BayRoman Catholic Diocese of Green BayThe Roman Catholic Diocese of Green Bay was established on March 3, 1868 by Pope Pius IX. It covers the city of Green Bay as well as Brown, Calumet, Door, Florence, Forest, Kewaunee, Langlade, Manitowoc, Marinette, Menominee, Oconto, Outagamie, Shawano, Waupaca, Waushara, and Winnebago counties,... - Alphonse Joseph GlorieuxAlphonse Joseph GlorieuxBishop Alphonse Joseph Glorieux was a Belgian missionary Roman Catholic bishop, who served as the first bishop of Boise, Idaho, United States.-Beginning in Belgium:...
, deceased bishop of BoiseRoman Catholic Diocese of BoiseThe Diocese of Boise is an ecclesiastical territory of the Catholic Church in the northwestern U.S., encompassing the entire state of Idaho. It is led by a bishop who serves as pastor of the cathedral, the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist in Boise... - Charles Pasquale GrecoCharles Pasquale GrecoCharles Pasquale Greco was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Bishop of Alexandria in Louisiana from 1946 to 1973.-Biography:...
, deceased bishop of AlexandriaRoman Catholic Diocese of Alexandria in LouisianaThe Diocese of Alexandria is the Roman Catholic diocese for central Louisiana, based in Alexandria, with its see at St. Francis Xavier Cathedral... - Francis Janssens, deceased archbishop of New OrleansRoman Catholic Archdiocese of New OrleansThe Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New Orleans, officially in Latin Archidioecesis Novae Aureliae, is an ecclesiastical division of the Roman Catholic Church administered from New Orleans, Louisiana...
- Aegididus Junger, deceased bishop of NesquallyRoman Catholic Archdiocese of SeattleThe Archdiocese of Seattle is an archdiocese of the Roman Catholic Church in the U.S. state of Washington. Headquartered in Seattle, the archdiocese encompasses all counties in the state west of the Cascade Range. Its cathedral is St. James Cathedral, and its present archbishop is J...
- Jean-Nicolas Lemmens, deceased bishop of Vancouver IslandRoman Catholic Diocese of VictoriaThe Diocese of Victoria is a diocese of the Roman Catholic Church in the Canadian province of British Columbia. Headquartered in Victoria, the diocese encompasses all of Vancouver Island and several nearby British Columbia islands. A suffragan diocese of the Archdiocese of Vancouver, the diocese's...
- Stephen Aloysius LevenStephen Aloysius LevenStephen Aloysius Leven was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Bishop of San Angelo from 1969 to 1979.-Biography:...
, deceased bishop of San AngeloRoman Catholic Diocese of San AngeloThe Roman Catholic Diocese of San Angelo is a Roman Catholic diocese covering twenty-nine counties in western and central Texas. It was founded on October 16, 1961.The Roman Catholic Diocese of San Angelo, Texas, encompasses some... - Camillus Paul MaesCamillus Paul MaesCamillus Paul Maes was the third bishop of the Diocese of Covington, Kentucky, United States. Bishop Maes was responsible for building the current cathedral.-Early Life and Priesthood:...
, deceased bishop of CovingtonRoman Catholic Diocese of CovingtonThe Roman Catholic Diocese of Covington is a Roman Catholic diocese in Northern Kentucky, covering that includes the city of Covington and the following Kentucky counties: Boone, Kenton, Campbell, Gallatin, Carroll, Grant, Owen, Pendleton, Harrison, Bracken, Robertson, Mason, Fleming, and Lewis. ... - Thomas Francis MaloneyThomas Francis MaloneyMost Reverend Thomas Francis Maloney was a Roman Catholic priest and subsequently bishop who served as the sixth rector of the American College of the Immaculate Conception in Louvain, Belgium, and later as an auxiliary bishop of the diocese of Providence.-Early years and education:Maloney was...
, deceased auxiliaryAuxiliary bishopAn 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...
bishop of ProvidenceRoman Catholic Diocese of ProvidenceThe Roman Catholic Diocese of Providence is a diocese of the Roman Catholic Church in the United States. The diocese was erected by Pope Pius IX on February 17, 1872 and originally comprised the entire state of Rhode Island and the counties of Bristol, Barnstable, Dukes and Nantucket in the state...
and sixth rector of the American College - Russell Joseph McVinneyRussell McVinneyRussell Joseph McVinney was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Bishop of Providence from 1948 until his death in 1971.-Early life and education:...
, deceased bishop of ProvidenceRoman Catholic Diocese of ProvidenceThe Roman Catholic Diocese of Providence is a diocese of the Roman Catholic Church in the United States. The diocese was erected by Pope Pius IX on February 17, 1872 and originally comprised the entire state of Rhode Island and the counties of Bristol, Barnstable, Dukes and Nantucket in the state...
, influential in reopening the college in 1952 - Theophile MeerschaertTheophile MeerschaertTheophile Meerschaert was a Belgian-born prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Bishop of Oklahoma in the United States from 1891 until his death in 1924.-Biography:...
, deceased bishop of OklahomaRoman Catholic Archdiocese of Oklahoma CityThe Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Oklahoma City is a particular church of the Latin Rite of the Roman Catholic Church in the midwestern region of the United States. Its ecclesiastical territory includes 46 counties in western Oklahoma. The Most Reverend Paul Stagg Coakley is the current archbishop... - Robert Edward MulveeRobert Edward MulveeRobert Edward Mulvee is an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Bishop of Wilmington, Delaware and Bishop of Providence, Rhode Island .-Biography:...
, emeritus bishop of ProvidenceRoman Catholic Diocese of ProvidenceThe Roman Catholic Diocese of Providence is a diocese of the Roman Catholic Church in the United States. The diocese was erected by Pope Pius IX on February 17, 1872 and originally comprised the entire state of Rhode Island and the counties of Bristol, Barnstable, Dukes and Nantucket in the state... - John Joseph O'ConnorJohn Joseph O'Connor (Bishop of Newark)John Joseph O'Connor was an American prelate of the Catholic Church. He served as Bishop of Newark from 1901 until his death in 1927.-Early life and education:...
, deceased bishop of NewarkRoman Catholic Archdiocese of NewarkThe Archdiocese of Newark is an archdiocese of the Catholic Church in northern New Jersey, United States. Its ecclesiastic territory includes all of the Catholic parishes and schools in the New Jersey counties of Bergen, Union, Hudson and Essex .-History:Originally established as the Diocese of... - Bertram Orth, deceased bishop of VictoriaRoman Catholic Diocese of VictoriaThe Diocese of Victoria is a diocese of the Roman Catholic Church in the Canadian province of British Columbia. Headquartered in Victoria, the diocese encompasses all of Vancouver Island and several nearby British Columbia islands. A suffragan diocese of the Archdiocese of Vancouver, the diocese's...
- David Laurin RickenDavid Laurin RickenDavid Laurin Ricken is an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He currently serves as the twelfth Bishop of Green Bay, having previously served as Bishop of Cheyenne.-Early life:...
, bishop of Green BayRoman Catholic Diocese of Green BayThe Roman Catholic Diocese of Green Bay was established on March 3, 1868 by Pope Pius IX. It covers the city of Green Bay as well as Brown, Calumet, Door, Florence, Forest, Kewaunee, Langlade, Manitowoc, Marinette, Menominee, Oconto, Outagamie, Shawano, Waupaca, Waushara, and Winnebago counties,...
and chair of the college's board of directors - Patrick William RiordanPatrick William RiordanPatrick 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:...
, deceased archbishop of San FranciscoRoman Catholic Archdiocese of San FranciscoThe 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... - Charles-Jean Seghers, deceased archbishop of Oregon CityRoman Catholic Archdiocese of PortlandThe Archdiocese of Portland in Oregon is an archdiocese of the Roman Catholic Church in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It encompasses the western part of the state of Oregon, from the summit of the Cascades to the Pacific Ocean...
/bishop of Vancouver IslandRoman Catholic Diocese of VictoriaThe Diocese of Victoria is a diocese of the Roman Catholic Church in the Canadian province of British Columbia. Headquartered in Victoria, the diocese encompasses all of Vancouver Island and several nearby British Columbia islands. A suffragan diocese of the Archdiocese of Vancouver, the diocese's...
and Apostle of Alaska - John Lancaster Spalding, deceased bishop of PeoriaRoman Catholic Diocese of PeoriaThe Roman Catholic Diocese of Peoria is an ecclesiastical territory or diocese of the Roman Catholic Church in the central Illinois region of the United States.-Territory:...
- William StangWilliam StangWilliam Stang was a German-born prelate of the Catholic Church. He served as the first Bishop of Fall River from 1904 until his death in 1907.-Biography:...
, deceased bishop of Fall RiverRoman Catholic Diocese of Fall RiverThe Roman Catholic Diocese of Fall River is an ecclesiastical territory or diocese of the Roman Catholic Church in the New England region of the United States. It is led by the prelature of a bishop administering the diocese from the mother church St... - Augustine Van de VyverAugustine Van de VyverAugustine Van de Vyver was a Belgian-American Catholic priest, who became the sixth Bishop of Richmond, Virginia.-Life:...
, deceased bishop of RichmondRoman Catholic Diocese of RichmondThe Roman Catholic Diocese of Richmond is an ecclesiastical and episcopal see or diocese of the Roman Catholic Church in the United States. Its current territory was created by Pope Paul VI and encompasses all of central and southern Virginia, Hampton Roads, and the eastern shore... - Alexander Mieceslaus ZaleskiAlexander M. ZaleskiAlexander Mieceslaus Zaleski was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Bishop of Lansing from 1965 until his death in 1975.-Biography:...
, deceased bishop of LansingRoman Catholic Diocese of LansingThe Catholic Diocese of Lansing is located in Lansing, Michigan. It encompasses an area of 6,218 square miles including the counties of Clinton, Eaton, Genesee, Hillsdale, Ingham, Jackson, Lenawee, Livingston, Shiawassee and Washtenaw...