Will you answer God's call?
St. Paul Seminary
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All seminarians begin their formation at St. Paul Seminary.
Learn more about the campus and seminary life!
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The Seminary
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St. Paul Seminary, a 17-acre campus in Crafton, has served as the central hub of priestly formation for the Diocese of Pittsburgh for more than fifty years. St. Paul Orphanage was built on that land in 1900 and housed more than 1,000 boys and girls at one point. It merged with Holy Family Institute in Emsworth in 1965 and then-Bishop John Wright founded the Seminary that year. Students took classes at Duquesne University and on the Seminary campus. A 1977 fire devastated three connected buildings on the campus that included a three-story structure that was used as a warehouse, a convent and a chapel.
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Seminary Chapel
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A new chapel replaced the one ravaged by the fire. This chapel was renovated extensively in 2014 and now serves as the prayer space for the St. Paul Seminarians as well as the entire seminary community. Since Bishop Zubik became the diocesan bishop in 2007, he often prays with the seminary community in this space, allowing him to come to know the seminarians.
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Seminary Life
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The pre-theologate program at St. Paul Seminary adheres to the four pillars of priestly formation: academic, pastoral, human and spiritual. Rector Father Tom Sparacino oversees formation at St. Paul Seminary. He walks with men discerning by asking them the questions that draw them deeper into their relationships with God and others, and modeling for them the example of priesthood as a life lived in Christ. Father Sparacino sees a deeply rooted relationship with Jesus as integral to the life of a priest. He nurtures a life of prayer and holiness lived in Christ at the seminary, through daily Mass, holy hours and praying the Liturgy of the Hours.
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Father Sparacino also holds rector’s conferences on various topics and meets with each seminarian, helping the men cultivate sacrificial lives of obedience, celibacy and deep prayer. He sees heroism in sacrificing, despite one’s personal desires. His hope is for the seminarians to not only to have a relationship with Jesus Christ, but to know that they are loved by God so that they can share that love with others.
Seminary spiritual director Father Steve Neff echoes the desire for the men to know God’s love for them. He meets privately with the seminarians for spiritual talks, gives conferences and organizes retreats. He said the relationship between a spiritual director and seminarian is a privileged, confidential one that allows the Holy Spirit to be the primary director of the man’s heart. It also helps the men to understand their identity as beloved sons of the Father.In addition to helping the men understand the priesthood, the faculty prayers the Scriptures with them. They believe that if a man is called to the diocesan priesthood, God will allow Scripture passages to resonate deeply in his heart and confirm that call.
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The Academic Curriculum
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Saint Paul Seminary Community 2023-2024
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If new seminarians have not yet earned their bachelor’s degree, they pursue a philosophy degree at Franciscan University. Seminarians who already have a bachelor’s degree also study philosophy at Franciscan, since their degree is usually in an unrelated field. After completing their college-level studies at St. Paul Seminary, the men must receive approval from Bishop Zubik to pursue graduate-level theological studies.
The Diocese of Pittsburgh sends them to one of four schools: Theological College in Washington DC; Saint Vincent Seminary in Latrobe; St. Mary Seminary in Baltimore, Maryland; or the Pontifical North American College in Rome.
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Seminarians approach their studies with a keen sense of duty. They know they are studying not merely for their own benefit, but for the benefit of the faithful they will one day serve as priests.
In their classes at both Franciscan University and on the St. Paul Seminary campus, the St. Paul seminarians learn basic church teaching, Latin and philosophy. These intellectual pursuits steep them in philosophy, the study of thought, and sharpen their thinking skills.
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