Saint Mary Seminary and Graduate School of Theology
| Saint Mary Seminary and Graduate School of Theology | |
|---|---|
| Short name | Saint Mary Seminary |
| Type | Seminary and Graduate School of Theology |
| Status | Open |
| Sponsoring diocese(s) | Diocese of Cleveland |
| Operated by | Diocese of Cleveland |
| City | Wickliffe, Ohio |
| State / province | Ohio |
| Country | United States |
| Address | Center for Pastoral Leadership, 28700 Euclid Avenue, Wickliffe, OH 44092 |
| Founded | 1848 |
| Website | Official site |
| Levels of formation | Propaedeutic Immersion Year |
| Degrees | Master of Divinity, Master of Arts (Theology), Master of Arts in Diaconal Ministry, Doctor of Ministry (DMin), Continuing Education |
Saint Mary Seminary and Graduate School of Theology is a Roman Catholic seminary of the Diocese of Cleveland, located at the Center for Pastoral Leadership in Wickliffe, Ohio. Founded in 1848, it prepares men for the priesthood while also serving as a center of advanced theological education for ministerial service.
History
Saint Mary Seminary was founded in 1848 and was incorporated in the State of Ohio on August 16, 1968. In recent years the seminary has continued to hold joint events with Borromeo Seminary, including a joint commencement ceremony on May 7, 2026, at which both seminaries honored graduating students. In December 2025, the seminary received an $8.9 million grant from the Lilly Endowment's Pathways for Tomorrow initiative to support clergy and laity formation.
Campus and Formation
The seminary operates at the Center for Pastoral Leadership, 28700 Euclid Avenue, Wickliffe, Ohio 44092, in western Lake County, about 14 miles from the center of Cleveland. Euclid Avenue (U.S. Route 20) runs along the front of the campus on the north, and Bishop Road borders it on the east; proximity to Interstates 90, 71, and 271 makes the campus easily accessible. The seminary offers a Vocations and Seminary Program of Priestly Formation, including admission of international seminarians and a Propaedeutic Immersion Year as part of the stages of seminary formation.
Academics
Through its Graduate School of Theology, the seminary offers the Master of Divinity, Master of Arts (Theology), Master of Arts in Diaconal Ministry, and Doctor of Ministry (DMin) degrees, along with continuing education programs. The seminary library holds more than 86,000 volumes, nearly 500 units of audio-visual media, and more than 18,000 bound and electronic journals, supporting graduate research in theology at the Master's and Doctor of Ministry levels.
Notable Alumni
- Miguel Feliciano Chavez, DMin — Senior Vice President of Mission and Ministry, Sisters of Charity Health System
- Catherine Zickert Ochoa — Campus Minister, TCU Newman Center, Catholic Diocese of Fort Worth
- Kyle Lorek, MA (Theology), 2022 — Music Director, SS. Robert & William Parish, Euclid
- Debra Kacsala, MA (Theology), 2022 — DRE, St. Cyprian Parish, Perry, OH
- Fr. David M. Misbrener, DMin, 2022 — Pastor, St. Jude Catholic Church, Columbiana, Ohio, and Our Lady of Lourdes Church, East Palestine, Ohio
- Deborah Nemecek, MA (Theology), 2022 — Nurse Case Manager, UH; Catholic Jail Ministry, Geauga Safety Center
- Sr. Katherine Marie McCloskey, HMSS, MA (Theology), 2019 — St. Michael the Archangel High School Campus Ministry; Assistant Vocations Director, Mercedarian Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament, Baton Rouge, LA
- Teresa Durbak Sipos, DMin, RN, MSED, LPC, 2022 — Trinity Counseling, Lancaster, OH
Current Status
As of the 2025–2026 academic year, Saint Mary Seminary and Graduate School of Theology continues to operate as a house of priestly formation for the Diocese of Cleveland and as a center for advanced theological education. Recent activity includes a May 2026 commencement held jointly with Borromeo Seminary, the December 2025 announcement of an $8.9 million Lilly Endowment grant for clergy and laity formation, and the February 2026 publication of a book on spiritual direction by faculty member Fr. Michael Stalla, DMin.