A minor seminary or high school seminary is a secondary day or boarding school created for the specific purpose of enrolling teenage boys who have expressed interest in becoming

Catholic priests The priesthood is one of the three holy orders of the Catholic Church The Catholic Church, often referred to as the Roman Catholic Church, is the List of Christian denominations by number of members, largest Christian church, with approxim ...

. They are generally

Catholic The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the largest Christian church, with 1.3 billion baptised Baptism (from the Greek language, Greek noun βάπτισμα ''báptisma'') is a Christians, Christian r ...

institutions, and designed to prepare boys both academically and spiritually for vocations to the priesthood and

religious Religion is a - of designated and practices, , s, s, , , , , or , that relates humanity to , , and elements; however, there is no scholarly consensus over what precisely constitutes a religion. Different religions may or may not contain v ...

life. They emerged in cultures and societies where literacy was not universal, and the minor seminary was seen as a means to prepare younger boys in literacy for later entry into the major

seminary A seminary, school of theology, theological seminary, or divinity school is an educational institution for educating students (sometimes called ''seminarians'') in scripture Religious texts, also known as scripture, scriptures, holy writ, or ...

. The minor seminary is no longer very familiar in the developed world. The

1917 Code of Canon Law The 1917 Code of Canon Law (abbreviated 1917 CIC, from its Latin title ''Codex Iuris Canonici''), also referred to as the Pio-Benedictine Code,Dr. Edward Peters accessed June-9-2013 was the first official comprehensive codification Codification m ...

described the purpose of minor seminaries as: "to take care especially to protect from the contagion of the world, to train in piety, to imbue with the rudiments of literary studies, and to foster in them the seed of a divine vocation". Suitable boys were encouraged to graduate to a major seminary, where they would continue their tertiary studies for the priesthood. The program of priestly formation of the

USCCB The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) is the episcopal conference of the Catholic Church in the United States. Founded in 1966 as the joint National Conference of Catholic Bishops (NCCB) and United States Catholic Conference ( ...

refers to them as "high school seminaries" rather than minor seminaries. Today, college seminaries, where

philosophy Philosophy (from , ) is the study of general and fundamental questions, such as those about Metaphysics, existence, reason, Epistemology, knowledge, Ethics, values, Philosophy of mind, mind, and Philosophy of language, language. Such questio ...

is studied, are often called minor seminaries even though they are for those who have completed

high school A secondary school describes an institution that provides secondary education Secondary education covers two phases on the International Standard Classification of Education The International Standard Classification of Education (ISCED) is a ...

Currently Operating Minor Seminaries

Canada

Seminary of Christ the King
(

Mission Mission may refer to: Religion *Mission (station) A religious mission or mission station is a location for missionary work, in particular Christian missions. History Historically, missions have been religious communities used to spread ...

British Columbia ( en, Splendour without diminishment) , image_map = British Columbia in Canada 2.svg , Label_map = yes , coordinates = , official_lang = None , Slogan = Beautiful British C ...

)

East Timor

Seminary of Our Lady of Fatima The Minor Seminary of Our Lady of Fatima is a Roman Catholic Roman or Romans usually refers to: *Rome, the capital city of Italy *Ancient Rome, Roman civilization from 8th century BC to 5th century AD *Roman people, the people of ancient Rome *' ...

– minor seminary, located in Dare * Seminary of SS Peter and Paul – major seminary, located in Fatumeta * Good Shepherd Minor Seminary, Pala, India * St Paul's Minor Seminary, Akalpur, Jammu

Ghana

* St Teresa's Minor Seminary

India

* St.Joseph Minor Seminary, Kalamassery – Minor Seminary for the Archdiocese of Verapoly, Kerala. * St. Aloysius Seminary, Trivandrum – minor seminary for the Syro-Malankara Archeparchy of Trivandrum * St. Agnes Minor Seminary, Cuddalore, Tamil Nadu

Indonesia

* Minor seminary of Saint Paul Palembang * Peter Canisius Minor Seminary Mertoyudan * Wacana Bhakti Minor Seminary

Pakistan

* St. Mary's Minor Seminary, Lahore * Our Lady of Lourdes Minor Seminary, Islamabad–Rawalpindi, founded in 1995 * St. Pius X Minor Seminary – Karachi, founded in 1958 * St. Thomas the Apostle Minor Seminary, Faisalabad, founded in 1981

Philippines

* St. Augustine Minor Seminary-Minor Seminary of Iba, Zambales, Luzon covering Olongapo City and Zambales Province * San Jacinto Seminary ( Penablanca,

Cagayan Cagayan ( ) ( ilo, Probinsia ti Cagayan; ibg, Provinsiya na Cagayan; itv, Provinsiya ya Cagayan; tl, Lalawigan ng Cagayan) is a province A province is almost always an administrative division Administrative division, administrative ...

) –Minor Seminary of the

Archdiocese of Tuguegarao

* Diocesan Seminary of the Heart of Jesus ( San Fernando La Union) –minor seminary * Immaculate Conception Minor Seminary ( Vigan, Ilocos Sur) * St. Mary's Seminary ( Laoag, Ilocos Norte) - minor seminary * Immaculate Conception Minor Seminary (

Guiguinto, Bulacan , officially the ( tgl, Bayan ng ), is a in the province A province is almost always an administrative division Administrative division, administrative unitArticle 3(1). , country subdivision, administrative region, subnational enti ...

) – Minor seminary of the Diocese of

Malolos , officially the ( tl, Lungsod ng ), is a and capital of the province A province is almost always an administrative division Administrative division, administrative unitArticle 3(1). , country subdivision, administrative region, subna ...

John Paul II Minor Seminary John Paul II Minor Seminary (abbreviated "JPIIMS") is the high school seminary of the Diocese of Antipolo located along Maguey Road, Barangay San Luis, Antipolo, Rizal, Philippines. The seminary was established in 2007, with a pioneer of forty-eig ...

(

Antipolo , officially the ( tl, Lungsod ng ), is a and capital of the province A province is almost always an administrative division Administrative division, administrative unitArticle 3(1). , country subdivision, administrative region, subna ...

, Rizal) – high school seminary of the

Diocese of Antipolo The Roman Catholic Diocese of Antipolo (Lat: ''Dioecesis Antipolensis''; Filipino language, Filipino: ''Diyosesis ng Antipolo'') is a diocese of the Latin Church, Latin Rite of the Catholic Church in the Philippines that comprises the Rizal, Provi ...

* Oblates of St. Joseph Minor Seminary (

San Jose, Batangas , officially the ( tgl, Bayan ng ), is a in the province A province is almost always an administrative division Administrative division, administrative unitArticle 3(1). , country subdivision, administrative region, subnational ent ...

) – high school seminary * Our Lady of Guadalupe Minor Seminary (

Makati ( ), officially the ( tl, Lungsod ng ), is a Cities of the Philippines#Legal classification, in the of the . Makati is the financial center of the Philippines; it has the highest concentration of multinational and local corporations in t ...

) – high school seminary of the

Archdiocese of Manila In church governance, a diocese or bishopric is the ecclesiastical district under the jurisdiction of a bishop A bishop is an ordained, consecrated, or appointed member of the Clergy#Christianity, Christian clergy who is generally entrusted ...

* Our Lady of Mount Carmel Seminary (

Sariaya, Quezon , officially the ( tgl, Bayan ng ), is a of the Philippines, in the Philippine Province, province of , . According to the , it has a population of people. As the only Mount Banahaw town in both Quezon and Laguna Provinces that has a sea co ...

) - Minor Seminary, Diocese of Lucena * Pope John XXIII Seminary (Cebu City), Minor Seminary of the Archdiocese of Cebu * Pope Paul VI Minor Seminary (

Maasin City

Southern Leyte Southern Leyte ( ceb, Habagatang Leyte; tl, Timog Leyte) is a province A province is almost always an administrative division Administrative division, administrative unitArticle 3(1). , country subdivision, administrative region, subnati ...

) * Saint Francis de Sales Minor Seminary (

Lipa City , officially the ( tl, Lungsod ng ; ), is a in the province A province is almost always an administrative division Administrative division, administrative unitArticle 3(1). , country subdivision, administrative region, subnational ...

, Batangas) - Minor(High School) Seminary of the

Archdiocese of Lipa The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Lipa is an archdiocese in the Philippines comprising the civil province of Batangas and with its Cathedral of Lipa, cathedral located in the city of Lipa, Batangas, Lipa. First created in 1910 from the Roman Catholi ...

* Holy Rosary Minor Seminary (

Naga City, Camarines Sur , officially the (Central Bikol Central Bikol commonly called Bikol Naga, also known simply as Bikol, is an Austronesian language The Austronesian languages (, , , ) are a language family A language is a structured system of communic ...

)

Archdiocese of Caceres In church governance, a diocese or bishopric is the ecclesiastical district under the jurisdiction of a bishop A bishop is an ordained, consecrated, or appointed member of the Clergy#Christianity, Christian clergy who is generally entrusted ...

* St. Gregory the Great Seminary (Panal, Tabaco City); Celebrating 50 years in Panal 2–3 September 2010. Minor Seminary for the Diocese of Legazpi * Our Lady of Peñafrancia Seminary

Sorsogon City , officially the (Southern Sorsogon language, Waray Sorsogon: ''Syudad san Sorsogon''; bcl, Syudad nin Sorsogon; tl, Lungsod ng Sorsogon), is a Cities of the Philippines#Legal classification, and capital of the Provinces of the Philippines, ...

), Diocese of Sorsogon * St. Anthony High School Seminary (Kinamaligan,

Masbate City , officially the (Masbateño language, Masbateño: ''Syudad san Masbate''; hil, Dakbanwa sang Masbate; ceb, Dakbayan sa Masbate; war, Syudad han Masbate; bcl, Syudad nin Masbate; tl, Lungsod ng Masbate), is a Cities of the Philippines#Legal ...

) (Will celebrate 50 years of foundation in 2021) Under the supervision of the Diocese of Masbate * Sto. Nino Seminary (

Numancia, Aklan , officially the (Aklanon language, Aklanon: ''Banwa it Numancia''; Hiligaynon language, Hiligaynon: ''Banwa sang Numancia''; tl, Bayan ng Numancia), is a of the Philippines, in the Philippine Province, province of , . According to the , it ha ...

) - minor and college *

St. Pius X Seminary The Seminary of St. Pius X (''Latin:'' ''Seminarium Sancti Pii Decimi''), or St. Pius X Seminary (SPXS), is a Filipino Roman Catholic secondary school and seminary in the Lawaan hills, Roxas City, Capiz, in the Philippines, run by the Roman Catho ...

(Lawaan,

Roxas City , officially the (Capiznon Capiznon or Capiceño is an Austronesian language, Austronesian regional language spoken in Western Visayas in the Philippines. Capiznon is concentrated in the province of Capiz in the northeast of Panay Island. It is ...

Capiz Capiz, officially the Province of Capiz (Capiznon Capiznon or Capiceño is an Austronesian language, Austronesian regional language spoken in Western Visayas in the Philippines. Capiznon is concentrated in the province of Capiz in the northeast ...

) - minor seminary of the Archdiocese of Capiz *

Saint Vincent Ferrer Seminary The Seminario de San Vicente Ferrer (Saint Vincent Ferrer Seminary), also known as San Vicente Ferrer, Seminario or Saint Vincent, is a college-seminary of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Jaro The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Jaro is an archdi ...

- (

Jaro, Iloilo City Jaro, officially the District of Jaro (Spanish language, Spanish: ''Distrito de Jaro'' ; Hiligaynon language, Hiligaynon/Ilonggo: ''Distrito sang Haro'' ), is one and the largest of all the seven districts of Iloilo City, in the province of Iloilo, ...

) - Minor Seminary of the

Archdiocese of Jaro The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Jaro is an archdiocese of the Catholic Church headquartered in Jaro, Iloilo City, the Philippines. It is based with the Jaro Cathedral (officially the Metropolitan Cathedral of St. Elizabeth of Hungary, also the Nat ...

* Seminario de San Jose (

Puerto Princesa City , officially the ( hil, Dakbanwa sang ; Cuyonon language, Cuyonon: ''Siyudad i'ang Puerto Princesa''; tl, Lungsod ng ), is a Cities of the Philippines#Legal classification, in the region of the . According to the , it has a population of peo ...

Palawan Palawan (pronounced ), officially the Province of Palawan ( cyo, Probinsya i'ang Palawan; tl, Lalawigan ng Palawan; hil, Kapuoran sang Palawan; ceb, Lalawigan sa Palawan), is an archipelagic Provinces of the Philippines, province of the Phil ...

Palawan

) - minor and major seminary

Poland

* Minor Seminary of the Archdiocese of Częstochowa - high school seminary of the Archdiocese of Częstochowa * Minor Seminary in Miejsce Piastowe - high school seminary run by the Congregation of Saint Michael the Archangel

United States

The following minor seminaries operate in the USA today. * Blessed Jose Sanchez del Rio Minor Seminary (

Mankato Mankato ( ) is a city in Blue Earth, Nicollet, and Le Sueur County, Minnesota, Le Sueur counties in the state of Minnesota. The population was 39,309 according to the 2010 census, making it the List of cities in Minnesota, fifth largest city i ...

Minnesota Minnesota () is a state State may refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media Literature * ''State Magazine'', a monthly magazine published by the U.S. Department of State * The State (newspaper), ''The State'' (newspaper), a daily newspaper ...

), high school seminary run by the

Institute of the Incarnate Word The Institute of the Incarnate Word (IVE) ( es, Instituto del Verbo Encarnado) is a Roman Catholic Roman or Romans usually refers to: *Rome, the capital city of Italy *Ancient Rome, Roman civilization from 8th century BC to 5th century AD *Roman ...

; opened in 2008. * Sacred Heart Apostolic School ( Rolling Prairie,

Indiana Indiana () is a U.S. state in the Midwestern United States, Midwestern United States. It is the List of U.S. states and territories by area, 38th-largest by area and the List of U.S. states and territories by population, 17th-most populous o ...

Indiana

) run by the Legionaries of Christ, opened in 2005 * St. Lawrence High School Seminary (

Mount Calvary Calvary, or Golgotha ( grc-koi, Γολγοθᾶ �''Golgothâ ', traditionally interpreted as reflecting syr, ܓܓܘܠܬܐ ''gāgūlṯā'', as it were Hebrew ''gulgōleṯ'' "skull" (); ar, جلجثة), was, according to the canonical ...

Wisconsin Wisconsin () is a state State may refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media Literature * ''State Magazine'', a monthly magazine published by the U.S. Department of State * The State (newspaper), ''The State'' (newspaper), a daily newspaper ...

) run by the Capuchin Friars, opened in 1860 * St. Joseph Seminary ( Rathdrum,

Idaho Idaho () is a state State may refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media Literature * ''State Magazine'', a monthly magazine published by the U.S. Department of State * The State (newspaper), ''The State'' (newspaper), a daily newspaper in ...

Idaho

br>
(sedevacantist) * Servants of the Holy Family (

Colorado Springs The City of Colorado Springs is the List of cities and towns in Colorado#Home rule municipality, Home Rule Municipality that is the county seat and the List of cities and towns in Colorado, most populous municipality of El Paso County, Colorado, ...

Colorado Colorado (, other variants) is a state in the Mountain West The Mountain West Conference (MW) is one of the collegiate athletic conferences affiliated with the National Collegiate Athletic Association The National Collegiate Athletic ...

)
St. Joseph House of Formation
(Under Construction) (

Wichita Wichita ( ) may refer to: People *Wichita people, a Native American tribe *Wichita language, the language of the tribe Places in the United States * Wichita, Kansas, a city * Wichita County, Kansas, a county in western Kansas (city of Wichita is ...

Kansas Kansas () is a U.S. state, state in the Midwestern United States, Midwestern United States. Its Capital city, capital is Topeka and its largest city is Wichita, Kansas, Wichita. Kansas is a landlocked state bordered by Nebraska to the north; ...

Kansas

Wichita Diocese
ref>

Uganda

*Bukalasa Minor Seminary * Christ the King Seminary, Kisubi, St. Joseph's Seminary, Nyenga, Christ the King Seminary, Kisubi, * St. Joseph's Seminary, Nyenga - minor seminary *

Mubende Seminary Mubende is a town in the Central Region, Uganda, Central Region of Uganda. It is the main municipal, administrative, and commercial center of Mubende District and is the location of the district headquarters. Location Mubende is approximately , b ...

- in Nandele and Nyenga; minor seminary *

Nadiket seminary Nadiket Seminary, aka St. Mary's Seminary, Nadiket, located about {{convert, 3, km, mi, abbr=on on the Moroto Town, Moroto-Kitale road Uganda, is a Catholic institution where young men are trained to the priesthood. The seminary serves the diocese ...

- for the dioceses of

Kotido Kotido is a town in the Northern Region, Uganda, Northern Region of Uganda. It is the chief municipal, administrative, and commercial center of the Kotido District and the site of the district headquarters. Location Kotido is approximately , by ro ...

and Moroto *

Saint Charles seminary In religious belief, a saint is a person who is recognized as having an exceptional degree of Q-D-Š, holiness, likeness, or closeness to God. However, the use of the term "saint" depends on the context and Christian denomination, denomination. ...

- minor seminary * Saints Joseph's and Gabriel's Junior Seminary Nswanjere - located in Nswanjere, Mpigi District. * St. Pius X Seminary - Nagongera - Located in Tororo district; West Budama County; Junior and Minor Seminary * St. Paul's Seminary - Rushoroza - in Kabale for Kabale Diocese; minor seminary * Kitabi Seminary in Bushenyi for Mbarara Arch diocese; minor seminary * Sacred Heart Mission for the Brothers of Divine Mercy; Missionary preparation * Sacred Heart Seminary Lacor - Gulu archdiocese * St Peter's Seminary-Madera) - in Soroti for Soroti Diocese; minor seminary

Vietnam

* Sacred Heart Seminary of Thai Binh - Minor Seminary of the Diocese of Thái Bình * Saint Nicolas Seminary of Phan Thiet - Minor Seminary of the Diocese of Phan Thiết

External links

Code of Canon Law (1983), IntraText edition with referenced concordance, hosted by the Vatican
* Congregation of Mary Immaculate Queen (

sedevacantist Sedevacantism is the position held by some people who identify as Catholic.. that the present occupier of the Holy See The Holy See ( lat, Sancta Sedes, ; it, Santa Sede ), also called the See of Rome, is the jurisdiction of the Bishop o ...

)
Blessed Jose Sanchez del Rio Minor SeminarySacred Heart Apostolic School

References

{{reflist School types