Sacred Heart Seminary and School of Theology
| Sacred Heart Seminary and School of Theology | |
|---|---|
| Short name | SHSST |
| Type | Seminary and School of Theology |
| Status | Active |
| Affiliation | Pontifical Gregorian University (Rome) |
| Partner dioceses | All 5 Wisconsin dioceses and approximately 20 additional dioceses across the U.S. and Canada (30 total sponsors as of 2023, including religious orders) |
| Religious communities | 4 religious orders (among 30 sponsors, as of 2023) |
| Operated by | Priests of the Sacred Heart (Dehonians) |
| Religious order | Congregation of the Priests of the Sacred Heart (Dehonians), founded by Fr. Leo John Dehon |
| City | Franklin, Wisconsin |
| State / province | Wisconsin |
| Country | United States |
| Address | 7335 S. Hwy 100, P.O. Box 429, Hales Corners, WI 53130-0429 |
| Founded | 1932 |
| Website | Official site |
| Levels of formation | Propaedeutic Stage, Pre-Theology, Theology (per the Program of Priestly Formation, 6th Edition) |
| Degrees | Master of Divinity, Master of Arts, Certificate in Priestly Formation, Pontifical Baccalaureate in Theology (in affiliation with the Pontifical Gregorian University) |
| Enrollment | Approximately 170 students |
| Faculty | Diverse faculty of priests, women religious, and laity drawn from various dioceses and religious communities; seven new full-time faculty members added in 2023 |
| Pontifical status | Awards the Pontifical Baccalaureate in Theology in affiliation with the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome |
| Interdiocesan | Yes |
Sacred Heart Seminary and School of Theology is a Roman Catholic seminary and school of theology located in Franklin, Wisconsin, near Milwaukee, operated by the Priests of the Sacred Heart (Dehonians). It provides priestly formation and academic theological education to seminarians sponsored by dioceses and religious communities across the United States and Canada, as well as programs for lay and clergy students through its Master of Arts and English & Culture Studies offerings.
History
The seminary traces its roots to the vision of Venerable Leo John Dehon, the French priest who founded the Congregation of the Priests of the Sacred Heart and who first visited the United States in 1910. The seminary program was formally established at Sacred Heart Monastery in 1932, offering philosophy and theology courses to seminarians of the religious community. In 1955, the philosophy program moved elsewhere and the school became dedicated exclusively to theological preparation for the priesthood. The current seminary building was completed in 1968, and in 1972 the school was renamed Sacred Heart School of Theology, marking the start of its expansion beyond serving only the Priests of the Sacred Heart. That year it began accepting second-career candidates from other religious communities through a program called the Center for Adult Religious Vocations (CARV), and in 1973 it received approval to accept candidates sponsored by dioceses nationwide. The school gained associate membership in the American Association of Theological Schools in 1972, full accreditation from the Association of Theological Schools' Commission on Accreditation in 1981, and accreditation from the Higher Learning Commission in 1995 (renewed in 1999). In 2014, the institution adopted its current name, Sacred Heart Seminary and School of Theology, reflecting its dual role as a seminary providing full priestly formation to resident seminarians and a school of theology serving seminarians who receive formation elsewhere in the Milwaukee area. In 2021, the seminary completed award-winning renovations of its gathering spaces, classrooms, conference areas, seminarian living quarters, and recreation rooms, and in 2023 it added seven new full-time faculty members across its Scripture, Philosophy, Library, and Formation departments.
Campus and Formation
The seminary is located on a partially wooded 80-acre campus in the western Milwaukee metropolitan area, about 15 minutes from Milwaukee General Mitchell Airport and 75 minutes from Chicago's O'Hare International Airport. The campus includes three chapels, a library, a dining room, a fitness area, and a gym. Formation follows the Program of Priestly Formation, 6th Edition, and includes a Propaedeutic Stage and pre-theology options alongside academic theological formation. The seminary is advised by a board of directors that includes bishops, religious and diocesan priests, women religious, and laity.
Academics
Sacred Heart offers the Pontifical Baccalaureate in Theology in affiliation with the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome, as well as the Master of Divinity, Master of Arts, and a Certificate in Priestly Ministry/Formation. Additional programs include English & Culture Studies, accent modification, and Hispanic Ministry Preparation, along with a cohort-based Master of Arts for laity that includes spiritual formation. As of 2023, the English & Culture Studies program had welcomed 40 students from 20 different countries.
Current Status
As of 2023, Sacred Heart served approximately 170 students and had 30 sponsors, including all five Wisconsin dioceses, roughly 20 other dioceses across the U.S. and Canada, and four religious orders. More than 10 seminarians entered the Propaedeutic Program that year, and implementation of the Program of Priestly Formation, 6th Edition, was underway.