The University of Saint Mary of the Lake (USML) is a

private Private or privates may refer to: Music * " In Private", by Dusty Springfield from the 1990 album ''Reputation'' * Private (band), a Denmark-based band * "Private" (Ryōko Hirosue song), from the 1999 album ''Private'', written and also recorde ...

Roman Catholic Roman or Romans most often 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 *'' Epistle to the Romans'', shortened to ''Romans'', a let ...

seminary A seminary, school of theology, theological seminary, or divinity school is an educational institution for educating students (sometimes called ''seminarians'') in scripture, theology, generally to prepare them for ordination to serve as clergy ...

Mundelein, Illinois Mundelein is a village in Lake County, Illinois, United States and a northern suburb of Chicago. Per the 2020 census, the population was 31,560. It is approximately thirty-five miles northwest of Chicago. History The community now known as ...

. It is the principal

and

school of theology A seminary, school of theology, theological seminary, or divinity school is an educational institution for educating students (sometimes called ''seminarians'') in scripture, theology, generally to prepare them for ordination to serve as clergy, ...

for the formation of

priest A priest is a religious leader authorized to perform the sacred rituals of a religion, especially as a mediatory agent between humans and one or more deities. They also have the authority or power to administer religious rites; in partic ...

s in the Archdiocese of Chicago in Illinois. It was chartered by the

Illinois General Assembly The Illinois General Assembly is the legislature of the U.S. state of Illinois. It has two chambers, the Illinois House of Representatives and the Illinois Senate. The General Assembly was created by the first state constitution adopted in 181 ...

in 1844. USML is often referred to by the name of its graduate program, Mundelein Seminary. Its compound name is University of Saint Mary of the Lake/Mundelein Seminary. In addition to the seminary, USML offers the Lay Formation Program, Instituto de Liderazgo Pastoral, Diaconate Formation Program, and the Liturgical Institute. ''Chicago Studies'', an

academic journal An academic journal or scholarly journal is a periodical publication in which scholarship relating to a particular academic discipline is published. Academic journals serve as permanent and transparent forums for the presentation, scrutiny, and ...

for priests and others in

parish A parish is a territorial entity in many Christian denominations, constituting a division within a diocese. A parish is under the pastoral care and clerical jurisdiction of a priest, often termed a parish priest, who might be assisted by one or ...

ministry, is edited by the university and seminary faculty along with priests of the archdiocese.

History

Seminary program

William Quarter William J. Quarter (January 21, 1806 – April 10, 1848) was an Irish American prelate of the Catholic Church. He was the first Bishop of Chicago (1844–1848). Biography Early years William Quarter was born in Killurin, King's County, Irela ...

, the first bishop of Chicago, oversaw the creation in 1844 and early development of the University of Saint Mary of the Lake to ordain more priests to serve the growing

diocese In church governance, a diocese or bishopric is the ecclesiastical district under the jurisdiction of a bishop. History In the later organization of the Roman Empire, the increasingly subdivided provinces were administratively associ ...

. However, due to financial problems, the seminary was forced to close in 1866. In 1921, Archbishop George Mundelein reopened the facility as Saint Mary Of the Lake Seminary to deal with another priest shortage. He also wanted to create an American clergy to unite all the different Catholic ethnic groups. In 1926, Saint Mary opened a new campus church, designed by Chicago architect

Joseph W. McCarthy Joseph William McCarthy, AIA, was an architect in the early 20th century most famous for his work on buildings for the Roman Catholic Church. He was born in Jersey City, New Jersey, on June 22, 1884, and attended Holy Innocents School in New York ...

. In 1926, Saint Mary hosted the 28th International Eucharistic Congress.

Pontifical theological faculty

In September 1929, the Sacred Congregation for Seminaries and Universities in Rome granted a charter to Saint Mary, allowing it to grant pontifical academic degrees. In 1934, this authority became permanent. Saint Mary became the first

pontifical university A pontifical university is an ecclesiastical university established or approved directly by the Holy See, composed of three main ecclesiastical faculties (Theology, Philosophy and Canon Law) and at least one other faculty. These academic institute ...

in the United States. Monsignor Reynold Henry Hillenbrand served as rector of St. Mary from 1936 to 1944.

Niles College

In 1961, Archbishop Albert Meyer opened the Niles College campus in

Niles, Illinois Niles is a village in Cook County, Illinois, United States, located in the townships of Maine and Niles, directly neighboring the City of Chicago's far northwest border. Per the 2020 census, the population was 30,912. The current mayor of Niles ...

as a site for the two-year

liberal arts Liberal arts education (from Latin Latin (, or , ) is a classical language belonging to the Italic languages, Italic branch of the Indo-European languages. Latin was originally a dialect spoken in the lower Tiber area (then known as La ...

program. The Mundelein campus now hosted second and third year college classes in philosophy, followed by a four-year theology curriculum. Under Cardinal John Cody, the undergraduate program was transferred to

Loyola University of Chicago Loyola University Chicago (Loyola or LUC) is a private Jesuit research university in Chicago, Illinois. Founded in 1870 by the Society of Jesus, Loyola is one of the largest Catholic universities in the United States. Its namesake is Saint ...

as the Niles College of Loyola University. Saint Mary now became a graduate school of theology only. In 1971, Saint Mary affiliated with the Association of Theological Schools. Cardinal Cody, appointed the Reverend Thomas J. Murphy as the fifth rector of Saint Mary on September 15, 1973. In 1976, Saint Mary inaugurated a Doctor of Ministry degree and celebrated the 50th anniversary of its first ordinations. Archbishop Joseph Bernardin revised the graduate program at Saint Mary to bring it in compliance with the ''Program of Priestly Formation'', written by the US Conference of Catholic Bishops. In 1986, Bernardin opened the Center for Development in Ministry at St. Mary. The new center provided continuing education for clergy, religious and laity.

University of Saint Mary of the Lake

In 1986, Saint Mary of the Lake Seminary returned to its original name of the University of Saint Mary of the Lake (USML). The archdiocese renamed the graduate school as Mundelein Seminary. In 1996, Mundelein Seminary was visited by members of the Bishops' Committee on Seminaries. After meeting with faculty and students, the committee gave a strong recommendation to the seminary program.

Mundelein Seminary

Cardinal Francis George in February 2000 transferred the three archdiocesan programs of ministry formation to Mundelein Seminary: * Lay Ministry Formation Program * Diaconate Formation Program * Instituto de Liderazgo Pastoral (Pastoral Leadership Institute) The archdiocese transferred the Center for Development in Ministry to the archdiocesan Pastoral Center. Mundelein Seminary now became the center for the formation of priests, deacons and lay people. The USML board of advisors decided to adopt a formal name, the University of Saint Mary of the Lake / Mundelein Seminary. This follows the style of most pontifical universities, which have a formal name and a common name. Also in 2000, Cardinal George established the Liturgical Institute at USML In 2007, USML published ''The Mundelein Psalter.'' It is the first complete one-volume edition containing the approved English-language texts of the

Liturgy of the Hours The Liturgy of the Hours (Latin: ''Liturgia Horarum'') or Divine Office (Latin: ''Officium Divinum'') or ''Opus Dei'' ("Work of God") are a set of Catholic prayers comprising the canonical hours, often also referred to as the breviary, of the ...

, with

psalms The Book of Psalms ( or ; he, תְּהִלִּים, , lit. "praises"), also known as the Psalms, or the Psalter, is the first book of the ("Writings"), the third section of the Tanakh, and a book of the Old Testament. The title is derived ...

that are pointed for the chanting of the Divine Office. On September 22, 2012, Sister Sara Butler, a USML professor and a member of the International Theological Commission, became a papally-appointed expert at the 13th Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops on the New

Evangelization In Christianity, evangelism (or witnessing) is the act of preaching the gospel with the intention of sharing the message and teachings of Jesus Christ. Christians who specialize in evangelism are often known as evangelists, whether they are ...

Monsignor Monsignor (; it, monsignore ) is an honorific form of address or title for certain male clergy members, usually members of the Roman Catholic Church. Monsignor is the apocopic form of the Italian ''monsignore'', meaning "my lord". "Monsignor" ...

Dennis J. Lyle was the outgoing rector and president of the seminary and university; he was succeeded on July 1, 2012, by the Reverend Father Robert Barron. Father Thomas A. Baima is the Vice-Rector for Academic Affairs, coordinating the schools and institutes of the university. On December 3, 2012, Elizabeth Nagel was named to succeed Father John G. Lodge as president of the (mostly lay and postgraduate) Pontifical Faculty of Theology. In 2021, USML celebrated its centennial. Approximately 116 seminarians from 24 dioceses were enrolled that year, despite the

COVID-19 pandemic The COVID-19 pandemic, also known as the coronavirus pandemic, is an ongoing global pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The novel virus was first identi ...

. In 2022, the University received a grant from the Lilly Endowment to help fund development of a project to integrate new pedagogical methods into formation programs for seminarians, priests and lay leaders.

Campus

Located in the village of Mundelein on Saint Mary's Lake, the USML campus occupies over . USML has a capacity for about 400 students. Its buildings are distinctive for their neo-

Georgian architecture Georgian architecture is the name given in most English-speaking countries to the set of architectural styles current between 1714 and 1830. It is named after the first four British monarchs of the House of Hanover— George I, George II, Ge ...

, laid out symmetrically. They are centered upon the chapel, dedicated to

Mary, mother of Jesus Mary; arc, ܡܪܝܡ, translit=Mariam; ar, مريم, translit=Maryam; grc, Μαρία, translit=María; la, Maria; cop, Ⲙⲁⲣⲓⲁ, translit=Maria was a first-century Jews, Jewish woman of Nazareth, the wife of Saint Joseph, Jose ...

, under the title of her Immaculate Conception — the patroness of the seminary. Other important buildings on the extensive campus - unique among Catholic seminaries - are separate seminarian and faculty residences, a classroom building, the refectory, the Feehan Memorial Library/McEssy Theological Resource Center, the administration building, a convent, gymnasium, conference and guest facilities, the Cardinal Stritch Retreat House, and a Villa for the Archbishop of Chicago. The George Cardinal Mundelein Auditorium at USML is home to the historic Gottfried-Wurlitzer theatre

pipe organ The pipe organ is a musical instrument that produces sound by driving pressurized air (called ''wind'') through the organ pipes selected from a keyboard. Because each pipe produces a single pitch, the pipes are provided in sets called ''ranks' ...

. The organ was built in 1929 for Chicago radio organist Al Carney. Cardinal Mundelein acquired the organ in 1935 had it installed in the auditorium by the Kilgen Organ Company. The 1921

Wurlitzer The Rudolph Wurlitzer Company, usually referred to as simply Wurlitzer, is an American company started in Cincinnati in 1853 by German immigrant (Franz) Rudolph Wurlitzer. The company initially imported stringed, woodwind and brass instruments ...

console is original to the Chicago Theatre and was played by organist Jesse Crawford. The organ has been maintained by the Chicago Area Theatre Organ Enthusiasts (CATOE) since 1973. Archbishop Blase J. Cupich is the chancellor of USML. The USML sports teams of the university are known as the Lakers. The Liturgical Institute has its own faculty and is dedicated to training, research and publication in the fields of

sacramental theology A sacrament is a Christian rite that is recognized as being particularly important and significant. There are various views on the existence and meaning of such rites. Many Christians consider the sacraments to be a visible symbol of the re ...

and liturgy. The institute offers a professional Master of Arts in liturgy, an academic Master of Arts (liturgical studies), and a Licentiate in Sacred Theology. All degrees are awarded by USML.

Notable alumni

Alfred Leo Abramowicz Alfred Leo Abramowicz (January 27, 1919 – September 12, 1999) was an American prelate in the Roman Catholic Church. He served as an auxiliary bishop for the Archdiocese of Chicago in Illinois from 1968 to 1995. Abramowicz was a strong ad ...

* Robert Barron * Romeo Roy Blanchette *

Edward Braxton Edward Kenneth Braxton (born June 28, 1944) is an American prelate of the Catholic Church who served as bishop (Catholic Church), bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Belleville, Diocese of Belleville in Illinois, from 2005 to 2020. Braxton ...

Maurice Francis Burke Maurice Francis Burke (May 5, 1845 – March 17, 1923) was an Irish-born prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as bishop of the Diocese of Cheyenne in Wyoming (1887–1893) and as bishop of the Diocese of Saint Joseph in Missouri (1 ...

* Edwin R. Chess * George Clements *

Daniel Coughlin Daniel P. Coughlin, (born November 8, 1934) served as the 59th Chaplain of the United States House of Representatives from March 23, 2000, to April 14, 2011. He was the first Roman Catholic priest to serve in th ...

William Edward Cousins William Edward Cousins (August 20, 1902 – September 14, 1988) was an American prelate of the Catholic Church. He served as an auxiliary bishop of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Chicago, Archdiocese of Chicago in Illinois (1948 - 1952), as bi ...

* Edward Egan * Dawn Eden Goldstein * Dominic Grassi * Andrew Greeley * Wilton Daniel Gregory * Ronald Aldon Hicks * Reynold Henry Hillenbrand *

Gerald Frederick Kicanas Gerald Frederick Kicanas (born August 18, 1941) is an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as bishop of the Diocese of Tucson in Arizona from 2002 to 2017. He served as the apostolic administrator of the Diocese of Las Cr ...

* Jerome Edward Listecki * Douglas Martis *

John L. May John Lawrence May (March 31, 1922 – March 24, 1994) was an American clergyman of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Bishop of Mobile (1969–1980) and Archbishop of St. Louis (1980–1992). Early life and education John May was born in ...

* Thomas Joseph Murphy * Joe Paprocki ( D.Min.) *

Thomas J. Paprocki Thomas John Joseph Paprocki (born August 5, 1952) is an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church who has been serving as bishop (Catholic Church), bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Springfield in Illinois, Diocese of Springfield in ...

* Michael Pfleger *

George J. Rassas George James Rassas (born May 26, 1942) is an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as an auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Chicago in Illinois from 2005 to 2018. Biography Early life and education The oldest of six ...

* Patrick William Riordan * Alberto Rojas *

Edward James Slattery Edward James Slattery (born August 11, 1940) is an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church who served as bishop of the Diocese of Tulsa in Oklahoma from 1993 to 2016. Biography Early life The second of seven children, Edward Slatter ...

* John George Vlazny * James S. Wall (Liturgical Institute)

Cemetery and Burials

The cemetery is located across from the Faculty Residence and resting place for 17 sites. Amongst the graves are those of two former Archbishops of Chicago: *

Albert Gregory Meyer Albert Gregory Meyer (March 9, 1903 – April 9, 1965) was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as archbishop of the Archdiocese of Chicago in Illinois from 1958 until his death in 1965, and was appointed a cardinal in 195 ...

* George Mundelein

Dioceses served

In addition to the archdiocese of Chicago, the seminary was used by the following dioceses as of the 2020–2021 academic year: United States * Diocese of Albany *

Archdiocese of Atlanta In church governance, a diocese or bishopric is the ecclesiastical district under the jurisdiction of a bishop. History In the later organization of the Roman Empire, the increasingly subdivided provinces were administratively associate ...

* Diocese of Cheyenne * Diocese of Davenport *

Archdiocese of Dubuque The Archdiocese of Dubuque ( la, Archidiœcesis Dubuquensis) is a Latin Church ecclesiastical territory or archdiocese of the Catholic Church in the northeastern quarter of the state of Iowa in the United States. It includes all the Iowa co ...

* Diocese of El Paso * Diocese of Fairbanks * Diocese of Gaylord * Diocese of Grand Rapids * Diocese of Jefferson City * Diocese of Joliet * Diocese of Lafayette * Diocese of Las Cruces * Diocese of Las Vegas * Diocese of Lubbock * Diocese of Rockford * Diocese of Saginaw * Diocese of San Jose *

Archdiocese of Seattle ''Formerly known as Diocese of Nesqually, 1850-1907.'' The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Seattle is an ecclesiastical territory or archdiocese of the Catholic Church ( particularly the Roman Catholic or Latin Church) located in the U.S. state of ...

* Diocese of Springfield-Cape Girardeau *

Diocese of Tucson The Roman Catholic Diocese of Tucson ( la, Dioecesis Tucsonensis, es, Diócesis de Tucson) is an ecclesiastical territory or diocese of the Roman Catholic Church in the southwestern region of the United States. It is a suffragan see of the Me ...

* Diocese of Wichita *

Diocese of Yakima The Diocese of Yakima is a Latin Church ecclesiastical territory or diocese of the Catholic Church in the central region of the U.S. state of Washington. Headquartered in Yakima, the diocese comprises Benton, Chelan, Douglas, Grant, Kittitas, ...

* Syro-Malabar Catholic Eparchy of St. Thomas of Chicago Uganda *

Archdiocese of Kampala The Archdiocese of Kampala is the Metropolitan See for the Roman Catholic Ecclesiastical province of Kampala in Uganda. History The present Kampala Archdiocese is the result of territorial changes: * Victoria Nyanza Vicariate (1883). It was ...

* Diocese of Kiyinda-Mityana India * Syro-Malabar Catholic Archeparchy of Kottayam

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Mary Of The Lake, University Of Saint 1921 establishments in Illinois Buildings and structures in Lake County, Illinois Catholic seminaries in the United States Catholic universities and colleges in Illinois Education in Lake County, Illinois Educational institutions established in 1921 Libertyville, Illinois Mundelein, Illinois Pontifical universities Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Chicago Universities and colleges in Chicago