Where would I attend seminary and how long would it take?

As a seminarian of the Archdiocese of Washington, you would attend a seminary chosen by the Archbishop. You will live in a seminary community with a discipline of prayer, academics and apostolic work. In addition, through the Office of Priest Formation, the Archbishop will give you pastoral assignments during your seminarian summers.

High school graduates attend our archdiocesan seminary, Saint John Paul II Seminary, in Washington, DC. You will earn an undergraduate degree in philosophy from The Catholic University of America before advancing to graduate level theology at Mount St. Mary’s Seminary in Emmitsburg, Maryland, Theological College in Washington, DC, or the North American College in Rome.

College graduates in their 20s and early 30s will spend two years studying philosophy, typically at Saint John Paul II Seminary and The Catholic University of America, before advancing to four years of graduate level theology at Mount St. Mary’s Seminary in Emmitsburg, Maryland, Theological College in Washington, DC, or the North American College in Rome.

College graduates in their late 30s and 40s, because of their professional and human experiences, are often qualified for a special 4-5 year program at Saint John XXIII National Seminary in Weston, Massachusetts. Please note that we normally do not accept men over the age of 50 for seminary studies.

For more information about life in the seminary, you are always welcome to visit the seminary and speak with the Vocation Director or, for a more in-depth experience, to attend the Quo Vadis “Come and See” Weekend for high schoolers or the Men's Discernment Retreat (for college age and up).  Our various discernment events are listed here.