Proposal for Monastic Formation
at the Abbey of St John, Collegeville (USA)
Dom Michael Patella, OSB, Abbey of Collegeville
The great scholar, Dom Leclerq once described the intellectual life of Benedictines as one imbued with ‘the love of learning and the desire for God.’ And that is what monastic women and men find in their studies at Saint John’s.
Saint John’s School of Theology and Seminary educates monks and nuns in an environment drawing upon the Benedictine ethos that sees the glorification of God in all things. By following programs involving ministerial preparation and theological education, our graduates have returned to their home communities to take positions in formation, education, doctoral studies, and various forms of ministry, from chaplaincies to priesthood.
Priesthood studies
The seminary at the School of Theology trains Benedictines, Cistercians, and others in monastic orders for priestly ordination. With the Rule of Benedict as the foundation for theological education and spiritual development, the Master of Divinity Degree incorporates the requirements the Conference of Major Superiors of Men’s Program of Priestly Formation for Religious Orders into its curriculum. Seminarians live in the abbey, study with the other students in the School of Theology, and participate in formational training. For more information, contact the rector, Fr. Michael Patella, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Religious Cohort
The School of Theology has developed the Religious Cohort especially for students from Trappist monasteries. Weekly class sessions are conducted online for both semesters. Each summer, the students enrolled in the cohort have the opportunity to come to Saint John’s for courses of three week duration, either to complete degree requirements for an MA or simply to take courses for self-enrichment. For further information, please contact Fr. Michael Patella: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or the director of admissions, Mary Beth Banken: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Other Cohorts
Other online cohorts may be available for enrolment. Please contact the director of admissions, Mary Beth Banken: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for more information.
Holy Land Program
The Incarnation has sanctified both space and time, and the study of Sacred Scripture in the land where it was written, monasticism in the countries in which it arose, and Christianity in the places which shaped its theology is a vital component to both monastic studies and seminarian formation.
At the conclusion of the spring semester, Saint John’s sponsors instruction in biblical, archaeological, and early Christian sites in Israel, Palestine and either Turkey, Egypt, or Jordan. This program is a requirement for all seminarians and is open to all graduate students and sabbaticants.
More information on these and other programs is available through the online information request form, by e-mailing This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., or by calling 800-361-8318 | 320-363-2896.