St. Charles Borromeo Seminary
| St. Charles Borromeo Seminary | |
|---|---|
| Short name | St. Charles Borromeo |
| Type | Major Seminary, Theological Seminary |
| Status | Active |
| Rite | Latin |
| Affiliation | Diocesan |
| Sponsoring diocese(s) | Archdiocese of Philadelphia |
| Partner dioceses | Diocese of Allentown, Diocese of Arlington, Diocese of Bridgeport, Diocese of Columbus, Diocese of Greensburg, Diocese of Harrisburg, Diocese of Trenton |
| Religious communities | Congregation of the Mission, Philadelphia Oratory |
| City | Ambler |
| State / province | Pennsylvania |
| Country | United States |
| Address | 1400 Evans Road, Ambler, PA 19002 |
| Founded | 1832 |
| Website | Official site |
| Levels of formation | College, Pre-Theology, Theology |
| Degrees | BA, MDiv, MA |
| Enrollment | 141 |
| Pontifical status | No |
| Interdiocesan | Yes |
St. Charles Borromeo Seminary (also known as Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary) is a Roman Catholic major seminary and theological seminary under the jurisdiction of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. It is the oldest Catholic institution of higher learning in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Named for Saint Charles Borromeo, the Italian cardinal and Counter-Reformation reformer who strongly promoted seminary education, it forms candidates for the priesthood, permanent diaconate, and lay ministry.
History
The seminary was founded on June 26, 1832, by Francis Patrick Kenrick, third Bishop of Philadelphia, initially in his residence on Fifth Street in Old City, Philadelphia. It received a charter from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania on April 18, 1838, authorizing it to grant academic degrees. Early locations included buildings near St. Mary’s Church (Philadelphia’s first cathedral) and a move in 1839 to 18th and Race Streets. From 1841 to 1852 it was administered by the Congregation of the Mission (Vincentians). St. John Neumann established a preparatory (minor) seminary program at Glen Riddle, Delaware County, operating from 1859 to 1871.
In 1863, Bishop (later Archbishop) James F. Wood began purchasing land in the Overbrook section of Lower Merion Township (later associated with Wynnewood) for a rural campus, seeking a healthier setting after tuberculosis outbreaks among seminarians. The Overbrook campus opened on September 16, 1871, with 128 students. The Chapel of the Immaculate Conception was dedicated in 1875. A major college division building with St. Martin’s Chapel was completed and dedicated in 1928. The seminary remained at the expansive Wynnewood/Overbrook campus for 153 years.
Notable papal connections include visits or stays by future Popes Pius XII, Paul VI, and Benedict XVI as cardinals; a large outdoor Mass by Pope St. John Paul II in 1979 (with a commemorative cross later relocated); and Pope Francis residing at the seminary during his 2015 visit to Philadelphia for the World Meeting of Families.
In 2019 the Archdiocese sold the Wynnewood property to Main Line Health. The seminary relocated in August 2024 to a newly constructed campus at 1400 Evans Road in Lower Gwynedd Township (mailing address Ambler, Pennsylvania), adjacent to Gwynedd Mercy University. The new facilities opened for the 193rd academic year with modern chapels (including a new Chapel of the Immaculate Conception), residence halls, library, classrooms, and student life center. Archbishop Nelson J. Pérez dedicated the chapel on September 8, 2024, and the full campus was blessed on October 12, 2024.
Current Campus and Leadership
The present campus is located at 1400 Evans Road, Ambler, PA 19002 (Lower Gwynedd Township, Montgomery County). It features updated technology and facilities designed for the Program of Priestly Formation (6th edition).
The rector is Reverend T. Christopher Redcay (Class of 1989), appointed effective July 1, 2025, succeeding Auxiliary Bishop Keith J. Chylinski (rector 2022–2025), who oversaw the move to the new campus.
Formation Programs and Degrees
Saint Charles offers a unified program of priestly formation encompassing the College Seminary, Pre-Theology, and Theology divisions, following the four dimensions of formation (human, spiritual, intellectual, and pastoral). It also operates:
- The School of Diaconal Formation (for permanent deacons of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia and others).
- The School of Theological Studies (open to priests, religious, and laity), offering graduate theological education.
Degrees include the Bachelor of Arts (typically in philosophy), Master of Divinity (M.Div.), and Master of Arts (M.A. in theology or related fields). It is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education and is a member of the Association of Theological Schools.
Enrollment and Scope
As of the start of the 2025–2026 academic year, the seminary enrolled 141 seminarians from the Archdiocese of Philadelphia and multiple partner dioceses and religious communities (including Allentown, Arlington, Bridgeport, Columbus, Greensburg, Harrisburg, Trenton, and others, as well as religious orders such as the Vincentians and the Philadelphia Oratory). It has historically served as an interdiocesan seminary while remaining under the sponsorship of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. Peak historical enrollment exceeded 500 in the mid-20th century.
The seminary continues its mission of forming “shepherds after the heart of Jesus Christ” and supporting the broader Church through theological education for the faithful. Its motto is Exiit qui seminat (“The sower went forth to sow”).