These are days of preparation, joy, and hope for you as you open your life to service of the Lord in discernment and faith.   May this book Guidelines for Seminarians help you, and may Christ the High Priest be with you as you draw closer to Him each day.  You are remembered each day at my celebration of the Mass. Please remember me as your new bishop as well.

    Sincerely yours in Christ,

    Most Reverend Robert J. Baker
    Bishop of Charleston

1. To assist prospective candidates in the discernment process.
2. To aid seminarians in their formation for priesthood.
3. To direct and guide seminarians in their journey of   personal development and maturation.

1. A practicing Catholic for two years.
2. A strong commitment to prayer.
3. A balanced personality.
4. Good health.
5. Ability to complete required courses.
6. A sincere desire to serve the Church and Jesus Christ as a priest.
7. A sincere love of God and the Church.
8. An openness and respect for the gifts of all the faithful.
9. The willingness to collaborate with others for the purpose of building up the Church and the    Kingdom of God.
10. A willingness to be at the service of others.
11. A willingness to seek out and receive spiritual direction.
12. A general understanding of the Catholic priesthood.
13. A commitment to the process of discerning a priestly vocation.
14. A respect for and commitment to the traditions of the Church regarding priesthood, including celibacy.
15. A willingness to submit to the authority of the Bishop.
16. Active in a parish.
17.  Two year chaste lifestyle before entry into seminary

III.  Application Procedures

1. Your pastor’s roll is an important part of this process.
2. Schedule an interview with the Vocations Director.
3. Request and submit a completed application packet to the Vocations Office. Application packet includes the Diocese of  Charleston Application, Physical Examination Form, Confidential Release Form and Guidelines for Seminarians Booklet.
4. Undergo a medical examination by a physician.
5. Undergo the required psychological evaluation.
6. Submit a financial disclosure statement.
7. The Diocese will have a criminal background investigation conducted on each applicant.  It may also obtain a credit report on the applicant.
8. Be interviewed by the Diocesan Vocations Board.
9. Be interviewed by the Diocesan Bishop.
10. Following the above mentioned procedures, the Bishop will inform the Vocations Director of his decision and the Vocations Director will inform the candidate.
11. Once a candidate has been accepted by the diocese he will be given a list of five seminary choices from which to make his top three selections. This may include visits to the seminaries, telephone calls and other seminarians’ input. A letter to the Bishop will be then written explaining reasons for the top three choices. The Bishop and Vocations Director will make the final choice.
12. Provide recommendations through the applicaton process.

1. The Diocese of Charleston is rooted in the Gospel of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and the rich tradition of the Roman Catholic Church.  The intention of the Diocese is to impart this spirit to those preparing for priestly service in the Church and in particular the Church of Charleston.
2. The Diocese of Charleston endeavors to form its seminarians according to the wealth of the Church’s liturgical  prayer, theology, hospitality, charity and community.
3. The Diocese of Charleston is committed to address the whole person in regard to a student’s priestly vocation. To this resolve, a seminarian’s training will include spiritual formation, personal growth and development, sound theology and pastoral preparation.

The goal of priestly formation is to offer candidates the opportunity to pursue a comprehensive theological education and program of priestly formation at the seminary which grounds itself in The Program of Priestly Formation (the Bishops’ of the United States guidelines for seminary formation), and offers the Master of Divinity and Master of Arts degrees.

1. To facilitate, enrich, strengthen and direct the seminarian’s priestly vocation;
2. To encourage the candidate to pursue personal awareness and discovery of himself through continued spiritual growth, development and reflection;
3. To give the student, through seminary training, the necessary academic, pastoral, and professional foundations for effective ministry in the Church;
4. To assist the seminarian in getting to know the clergy, the people of God and the churches in the diocese; to this end he will be given the opportunity to work in a parish during each summer, if  the assignment is available.
5. To provide a forum in which the students will have the opportunity to know one another and the diocesan clergy, a seminarian gathering will be held each summer.

A. Overview

1. A seminary’s program for priestly formation is designed to facilitate, enrich, strengthen, and direct the seminarian’s development of his priestly vocation.
2. The seminary walks this journey with the student in an attempt to enable the man to come to a greater awareness of himself.
3. The formation program strives to bring the candidate to a  clear understanding of his vocational commitment, and supports him in his resolve.
4. All formation is from the Program of Priestly Formation,  Presbyterorum Ordinis and Pastores Dabo Vobis. 

The formation program will enable the seminarian to:

1. Work toward a level of emotional and psychological maturity;
2. Grow in the discovery of the reality of one’s self through an appreciation of personal strengths and weaknesses;
3. Accept constructive criticism as a means of coming to a fuller knowledge of one’s self;
4. Acquire a calm, even, healthy and balanced life;
5. Keep an open mind and heart with regard to attitudes, ideas, and perceptions of others.

1. Spiritual formation is an on-going process. A solid grounding  begins in the formative years as one prepares for priestly service. Each seminarian should work toward acquiring a solid spiritual life.
2. The student should make every effort to put faith in Christ and His Gospel at the center of his life.
3. The seminarian is expected to enter fully into the spiritual formation program of the seminary.
4. It is the responsibility of each candidate to grow in his own personal holiness.  Thus a man should strive to:
•  attend daily Mass and receive the Eucharist, which is the source of our spiritual strength
•  avail himself of the Sacrament of Penance, which is the source of our personal healing and forgiveness
•  regularly attend spiritual direction
•  develop a love, understanding, appreciation and devotion for Sacred Scripture
•  pray, most especially The Liturgy of the Hours;
•  make time for spiritual reading;
•  pray and share his spiritual life with others.
•  devotion to Mary
5. Through this effort one should come to know the inherent   goodness of God and creation and be a model of this to those whom he touches.
6. As the student grows in his faith life, he must always identify himself with Jesus in whom there is the fullness of life, thus fulfilling his priestly  ministry in the Christian manner in which Jesus served.

1. The seminarian will follow the prescribed course of study at the seminary he is assigned to, both at the college and theology level.  His efforts will lead toward receiving an academic and/or professional degree.
2. A pre-theology program has been created by seminaries for students who have an undergraduate degree (B.A. or B.S.)    but do not have the philosophical and religious background required by the Program of Priestly Formation for entrance into a school of theology.
3. The Master of Divinity Program prepares the seminarian  with sufficient academic background for parish ministry. This is a professional degree. The areas of study are: pastoral studies, history, scripture, and theology.
4. The Master of Arts program prepares the student to receive an academic degree in theology.  This program is developed to give the seminarian the foundation for concrete and abstract processing as well as advanced study in the area of theology.  With the consultation of the Bishop and Vocations Director, the student may pursue this degree along with the Master of Divinity degree.
5. A solid academic formation program is essential to pastoral ministry.  The studies which the student will undertake cannot be divorced from his spiritual formation — they are complementary to one another, thus forming the whole person.
6. A seminarian studying for the Diocese of Charleston will be required to study Spanish and Hispanic Culture. This will include course work at the seminary and may include a summer immersion experience.

1. Pastoral formation is essential to a seminarian’s development.  If he is to involve himself in effective pastoral care for those entrusted to him, he must be well grounded in the skills of  pastoral ministry.
2. In the seminary the student will have a variety of parish and institutional assignments in which his pastoral skills will develop.  While in training, the seminarian will work closely with a supervisor in the ministry assignment so as to gain greater competency in his ministerial skills.
3. During the summer months, the seminarian will have the opportunity to work in a parish in  the Diocese of Charleston. This pastoral ministry summer program will assist the student  in continuing to develop his skills in pastoral ministry.  The seminarian and the pastor he is assigned to will work together in a combined effort toward the student’s growth and formation for the ministerial priesthood.
4. Normally, after his second year of theological studies, the seminarian will participate in a summer Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) Program at a hospital, or other CPE accredited institution, normally within South Carolina, unless a seminary CPE program is available. It is expected that the seminarian will reside in a parish rectory to which he has been assigned by the Bishop of Charleston.

Celibacy is required as a seminarian, deacon and priest.  Celibacy is a lifestyle in which one is responding to the call from God to live as Jesus lived. Refer to Qualities of Applicants - Section II, page 2.

A seminarian is expected to appropriate an attitude of obedience to his seminary rector and the Bishop of Charleston. In this way he will be prepared to make a commitment to obedience at his ordination.

The spirituality of the seminarian will deepen as he lives out his commitment to daily prayer.  Prayer is the essential foundation upon which a vocation is built and sustained.  The seminarian’s prayer will be centered in the Eucharist and the Liturgy of the Hours.

The student will follow the directives of his respective seminary in regard to clerical garb while in school. 

During summer parish assignments the seminarian will dress appropriately, keeping in mind that he is a professional representing the Church. 
Clerical garb for a deacon is black pants, a black clerical shirt and collar.

While functioning as a minister in liturgical celebrations, the seminarian will wear a cassock and surplice.

A. College

A student who has been accepted by the diocese, but has not yet completed an undergraduate course of studies, will be sent to a college seminary to study for a Bachelor Degree and to fulfill the requirements to enter a school of theology.

A student who has a college degree but is lacking 24 hours in philosophy and 12 hours in theology will participate in a one to two years pre-theology program to fulfill the requirements to enter a school of theology.

A seminarian who has satisfied the requirements for entering a school of theology will pursue a course of studies that leads to a graduate level degree:  Master of Divinity or Master of Arts.  If the seminarian studies at a Pontifical university he will obtain the Bachelor of Sacred Theology, and may have the opportunity for continuing studies to obtain the Licentiate of Sacred Theology.

During the application process, the candidate will be asked to complete a financial disclosure statement, listing his assets, debts and plan for repaying those debts.  Copies of income tax records for the last full year should accompany the form.  The Diocese does not make personal loans.

A seminarian at the college level who has been accepted by the diocese is asked to pay for his own tuition, room and board, health insurance and other student fees and related expenses for all four years of college. The student is responsible for his own personal expenses and transportation. The Diocese of Charleston will reimburse the student up to $500.00 per year for required textbook expenses and $600.00 per year in travel expenses to and from seminary.

The seminary Financial Aid Office and the Vocations Office will encourage the student to seek out loans, grants, scholarships, and work/study programs which are available to assist him with college costs.  All of these must have the final approval of the Bishop and the Vocations Director.  The loans will be taken out in the seminarian’s name.  Upon ordination the Diocese of Charleston will repay 50% of all approved educational loans up to $40,000.00.  If the student is not ordained a priest, the student will be responsible for any and all loans.  The college student will receive a $150.00 stipend each month of the school year (September - May). In the event the college student is not eligible to remain on his parents family health insurance plan the diocese shall provide the college student with basic health insurance through a university plan determined by the Diocese of Charleston.  The seminarian is responsible for the usual deductible and co-payments.

A seminarian at the theology or pre-theology level who has been accepted by the diocese will have his room and board, tuition, and the school of theology’s student fees paid for by the diocese.  The student is responsible for his book fees, personal expenses and car.  The theology and pre-theology student will receive a $150.00 stipend each month of the school year (September - May).  The transitional deacon will receive a $250.00 stipend each month of the school year.
The diocese shall provide the pre-theology and theology student with basic health insurance through a university plan determined by the Diocese of Charleston.  The seminarian is responsible for the usual deductible and co-payments.

The Diocese of Charleston will reimburse the seminarian up to $500.00 per year for required textbook expenses and $600.00 per year in travel expenses to and from seminary.

When a seminarian is ordained to the transitional diaconate, the Diocese of Charleston shall provide comprehensive health benefits through the diocese’s lay employee benefit program.  This plan shall be determined by the diocese.  The deacon is responsible for the usual deductible and co-payments.

The diocese will pay up to $250 for the required pre-diaconate ordination retreat and up to $250 for the required pre-priesthood ordination retreat.

A seminarian participating in a summer parish assignment will receive a $150.00 stipend each week from the parish.  The parish also provides room and board and normal car expenses for parish business miles.

Good health care is important to the development of a whole person.  Therefore, each student is to take proper care of his body, personal appearance, hygiene, nutrition, diet, and weight.  The seminarian is to inform the Vocations Director of any serious illness, admission to the hospital or permanent use of medication.

Seminarians must petition the Bishop in writing in order to receive the ministries of reader and acolyte.  The student will receive these ministries in his seminary at the time the school decides.  All petitions must be sent to the Bishop with a recommendation from the rector and seminary formation board.

Seminarians must petition the Bishop in writing in order to receive candidacy.  The petition must be sent to the Bishop with a recommendation from the rector and seminary formation board.  The student will receive candidacy for the priesthood in the Diocese of Charleston at the time the Bishop decides. 

Following the completion of all necessary academic studies and pastoral formation requirements, a seminarian may petition the Bishop in writing for ordination to the transitional diaconate and ordination to the priesthood.  Each of the petitions must be sent to the Bishop along with a letter of recommendation from the rector of the seminary and the seminary formation board.  A seminarian is not guaranteed ordination.  To be ordained, a seminarian must be called by the Bishop to the orders of diaconate and presbyter.  The Bishop will decide the time and place of both ordinations.

A leave of absence is a period of time that the seminarian may take to review his call to the priesthood. This may be decided as a possibility during the student’s formation by himself or the diocese.  The Bishop of Charleston may request that a seminarian take a leave of absence to review his call and readiness for priesthood.  During this time away from the seminary and the diocese, frequent, honest and open communications are a must for all persons involved in the seminarian’s formation.  Prior to a leave of absence, the student is to consult with both the Bishop and the Vocations Director.  A student must request a leave of absence in writing to the Bishop and send a copy to the Vocations Director for the student’s file.  The request can be approved only by the Bishop.  It should be for a specified length of time.  To extend the leave of absence beyond the specified length of time requires written permission from the Bishop.

Should a seminarian decide not to continue his preparation for the priesthood, he is to: 1) explain his intentions to the Vocations Director and the Bishop; 2) state his decision formally in writing to the Bishop and send a copy to the Vocations Director for the student’s file.  After these two procedures have been completed, the Vocations Director will inform the student’s seminary of his decision.  The Bishop, while meeting with the student, will speak about the use of any ministries he may have received.  The diocese may also suggest that a seminarian not continue his preparation for priesthood.

The Seminarian Directory will be published each year.  The purpose is to help students know who are studying for the diocese.  Also, addresses are given so that seminarians may make contact with one another. The Seminarian Directory is included in the Diocesan Directory and is sometimes made available to Parish Vocations Committees.

Each student receives a copy yearly.

The New Catholic Miscellany will be sent to each student during the school year.

This is a publication of the news of the diocese and will be sent to each student during the school year.

Birth of the Church
The Diocese of Charleston was established by Pope Pius VII on July 11, 1820.  Its first bishop was Bishop John England, who was born in Cork, Ireland.  At the time of his appointment to the Diocese of Charleston, he was parish priest at Brandon, a town about sixteen miles from Cork.  He was consecrated bishop in St. Finbar’s Church in Cork on Sept. 21, 1820, and arrived in Charleston Dec. 30, 1820.

When Bishop England came to Charleston, James Monroe was President of the United States, Thomas Bennett was Governor of South Carolina and Elias Horrey was Mayor of the City of Charleston.  The new diocese of 142,000 square miles was spread over three states — North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia.  There were two churches — one in Charleston and one in Augusta — only six priests were available to serve the handful of scattered Catholics.

Birth of the faith
It is believed that Masses were celebrated in the area by Spanish priests, perhaps as early as 1526, but no records exist to verify this.  We are told by a genealogist that Catholics came into various sections of South Carolina before 1750, and there is an undocumented tradition that in the upstate there was a French priest who, once a year, made a trip on horseback from Canada to New Orleans in the fall and returned in the spring.  He would stop along the way and say Mass in the Catholic homes.

Bishop England writes that “sometime about the year 1786, a vessel bound to South America put into the port of Charleston.  There was a priest on board; as well as can be recollected, he was an Italian.  The few Catholics, who now began in the city to be acquainted with each other ... invited him to celebrate Mass, which he did in the house of an Irish Catholic for a congregation of about twelve persons.”  This might be marked as the introduction of the Catholic religion to the present Diocese of Charleston.

St. Mary’s Church
St. Mary’s Church on Hasell Street in Charleston was the first Catholic Church in the Carolinas and Georgia, an area now comprising five dioceses.  It was permanently established on August 24, 1789, by the Rev. Thomas Keating.  It was incorporated by an act of the legislature of South Carolina in 1791, and was well established when the Diocese of Charleston was created by a Papal brief of July 12, 1820, and when the first Bishop of Charleston, The Rt. Rev. John England, D.D., arrived on Dec. 30, 1820.

Prior to the establishment of the Diocese of Charleston and the coming of Bishop England, the Catholic Church of the Carolinas and Georgia was under the jurisdiction of Archbishop John Carroll of the Archdiocese of Baltimore.  Because it was difficult to administer the territory from such a distance, Archbishop Carroll petitioned the Holy See to erect a separate diocese for the area.

Four other dioceses have since been made from the original territory included in the Diocese of Charleston.  The Diocese of Savannah was carved out in 1850, and in 1956 that diocese was split into two parts with the creation of the Diocese of Atlanta.  North Carolina was made into a Vicariate Apostolic in 1868 and some 56 years later became the Diocese of Raleigh.  In 1972 the Diocese of Raleigh was divided into two by the creation of the Diocese of Charlotte.  In 1858 the Diocese of Charleston assumed jurisdiction over the Bahama Islands, but this was relinquished in 1885.

The Diocese today
Today the Diocese of Charleston comprises the entire state of South Carolina with Charleston as the See city. Its present Bishop is the Most Reverend Robert J. Baker, who is the 12th bishop to preside over the diocese. He was appointed by Pope John Paul II on July 13, 1999, and was ordained and installed Sept. 29, 1999. 

From its beginnings in 1820 until the present, the diocese has developed slowly but surely under the devoted leadership of its bishops:  John England (1820-1842); Ignatius A. Reynolds (1844-1855); Patrick N. Lynch (1858-1882); Henry P. Northrop (1883-1916); William T. Russell (1917-1927); Emmet M. Walsh (1927-1949); John J. Russell (1950-1958); Paul J. Hallinan (1958-1962); Francis F. Reh (1962-1964); Ernest L. Unterkoefler (1964-1990); and David B. Thompson (1990-1999); and Robert J. Baker, its present Bishop.

The Diocese of Charleston numbers approximately 121,637 Catholics, 92 diocesan priests (only 65 active in the Diocese), 34 religious order priests, 63 permanent deacons, 28 religious brothers, 137 religious sisters, 85 parishes, 24 missions and 11 pastoral centers (statistics up to date as of January 1999).