Mundelein Seminary
| Mundelein Seminary | |
|---|---|
| Short name | Mundelein Seminary |
| Type | Major Seminary, Theological Seminary |
| Status | Active |
| Rite | Latin |
| Affiliation | Diocesan |
| Sponsoring diocese(s) | Archdiocese of Chicago |
| Partner dioceses | [[Diocese of Albany, Diocese of Belleville, Diocese of Cheyenne, Diocese of Davenport, Archdiocese of Dubuque, Diocese of El Paso, Diocese of Fresno, Diocese of Grand Rapids, Diocese of Jefferson City, Diocese of Joliet, Diocese of Laredo, Archdiocese of Las Vegas, Diocese of Lubbock, Diocese of Nashville, Diocese of Pensacola-Tallahassee, Diocese of Peoria, Diocese of Rockford, Diocese of San Bernardino, Diocese of San Jose, Archdiocese of Seattle, Diocese of Tucson, Diocese of Wichita, Diocese of Winona-Rochester, Diocese of Yakima]] |
| City | Mundelein |
| State / province | Illinois |
| Country | United States |
| Address | 1000 East Maple Avenue, Mundelein, IL 60060 |
| Founded | 1844 |
| Website | Official site |
| Levels of formation | Propaedeutic, Discipleship, Configuration, Theology |
| Degrees | MDiv, MA, DMin |
| Enrollment | 191 |
| Pontifical status | Yes |
| Interdiocesan | Yes |
Mundelein Seminary (formally part of the University of Saint Mary of the Lake) is a Roman Catholic major seminary and graduate school of theology in Mundelein, Illinois. It is the major seminary of the Archdiocese of Chicago and one of the largest and most prominent interdiocesan seminaries in the United States.
History
The institution traces its origins to 1844, when the original St. Mary of the Lake Seminary was founded in Chicago. After periods of closure and relocation, Cardinal George Mundelein re-established and greatly expanded the seminary on a large lakeside campus northwest of Chicago in the 1920s. The new campus opened in 1921 and was designed as a national seminary capable of serving dioceses across the country.
The seminary has long been associated with the formation of priests for the Archdiocese of Chicago and numerous partner dioceses. It received pontifical status for its Faculty of Theology and has produced many bishops and cardinals.
Campus and Formation
Located on a 600-acre campus centered on Saint Mary’s Lake, Mundelein Seminary offers the full stages of priestly formation according to the Program of Priestly Formation. It includes a Propaedeutic Stage, Discipleship Stage, and Configuration Stage leading to the Master of Divinity.
In addition to priestly formation, the University of Saint Mary of the Lake operates the School of Parish Leadership and Evangelization and other programs for permanent deacons, lay ministers, and graduate students.
Current Status
As of the 2025–2026 academic year, Mundelein Seminary enrolls approximately 191 students (including seminarians from more than thirty dioceses). The rector and president is the Very Reverend John Kartje.