Mission Statement † Accreditations † History † Areas of Priestly Formation † Campus and Facilities
Student Life and Activities † Administrative Matters † Academic Program
The fundamental mission of St. Gregory the Great Seminary is the formation of Catholic men for service of God and God’s people as priests of Jesus Christ in the Roman Catholic Church. To this end, seminarians attending St. Gregory the Great Seminary will receive their undergraduate college education and preparation for entry into theological studies. This formation will be provided on behalf of the Catholic Bishop of Lincoln to train priests for service in the Diocese of Lincoln as well as other archdioceses, dioceses, and religious communities. St. Gregory the Great Seminary seeks to develop the natural gifts of the seminarians as men of faith committed to Jesus Christ and His Church through an integrated program of human, spiritual, intellectual, and pastoral formation in accordance with the teaching and discipline of the Catholic Church. Offering its resources to the larger Church community, St. Gregory the Great Seminary also provides opportunities for ongoing theological, spiritual, and pastoral formation for the people of the Diocese of Lincoln, as this need is discerned in collaboration with the Catholic Bishop of Lincoln.
St. Gregory the Great Seminary is an approved institution of higher education in the State of Nebraska by the Coordinating Commission for Post-Secondary Education. It is also a member of the National Association of College Seminaries.
Since the establishment of the Diocese of Lincoln in 1887, the men preparing for the priesthood have been educated in various seminaries throughout the United States and abroad. As the Church developed in Southern Nebraska, the advantages of a local seminary became increasingly evident.
The insights of the Second Vatican Council as well as changing social and economic conditions strengthened the Church’s awareness that her mission of training men for the priesthood must be both doctrinal and pastoral. This idea is developed in the first chapter of the Decree on Priestly Formation of the Second Vatican Council. This dual aspect is emphasized with the statement that priestly formation should “always answer the pastoral needs for the area in which the ministry is to be exercised.”
The dream of having a diocesan seminary began to be realized when Bishop Glennon P. Flavin authorized a two-year college program that began operation in September of 1984. The men enrolled in that program lived at Good Counsel Retreat House in Waverly, Nebraska. They registered at the University of Nebraska for the secular subjects in their curriculum, while the ecclesiastical subjects and spiritual formation were provided at the seminary.
The desire for a free-standing diocesan seminary persisted. In 1996, Bishop Fabian W. Bruskewitz appointed a task force to study the possibilities of such a project and then to find a suitable site. Various locations in the diocese were examined, but none was found to be both adequate and affordable.
The site that finally seemed to fulfill most of the requisites for a seminary was the former Rivendell Hospital located south of Seward. Its proximity to Lincoln offered the advantages of a municipality, while the spacious campus provided a quiet and serene atmosphere conducive to intellectual and spiritual growth. The sturdy building with its kitchen, dining area, private rooms, gymnasium, and courtyard added to its advantages. After careful reflection and consultation, Bishop Bruskewitz submitted a bid for the property. This bid of 1.35 million dollars was accepted in April 1997.
The seminary was named in honor of Saint Gregory the Great, who was born in Rome about 540 and died on March 12, 604. During the thirteen years that he served the Church as Pope Gregory I, he summarized the teachings of the earlier Fathers of the Church into one harmonious whole, and he worked diligently to form the clergy of his time for service to Christ and His Church. He also emphasized the fact that the See of Peter is the one supreme and decisive authority in the Catholic Church. Not without reason did the Church bestow on him the seldom-granted title of “the Great.” The epitaph on his tomb in Saint Peter’s in Rome expresses it well: “After having conformed all his actions to his doctrines, the great consul of God went to enjoy eternal triumphs.”
On June 16, 1997, the Very Reverend John C. Rooney was appointed Pro-Rector of Saint Gregory the Great Seminary, which was to be opened in August 1998. On June 18, 1997, Father Rooney offered the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass for the first time in the temporary chapel of the recently acquired building. With the assistance of a planning committee, Father Rooney immediately began to assemble a faculty and staff, developed the formation programs, and commenced a plan of building renovation and expansion.
After a year of intense preparation, Father Rooney obtained approval from the State of Nebraska for the Seminary to operate as a degree-granting institution of higher education. Bishop Bruskewitz formally blessed and dedicated Saint Gregory the Great Seminary on August 23, 1998 with a crowd of two thousand people in attendance. Twenty-three students for the Diocese of Lincoln enrolled in the college and pre-theology programs, constituting the first student body of Saint Gregory the Great Seminary. At the end of that inaugural year, the first graduating class of the Seminary received their diplomas on May 8, 1999.
On June 16, 1999, Bishop Bruskewitz appointed the Very Reverend John T. Folda as Rector, and in that same month, a planned expansion project was launched. Construction began on a new chapel, library, classrooms, and offices, and continued through the Jubilee Year 2000. Finally, on November 19, 2000, in the presence of over a thousand visitors, Archbishop Gabriel Montalvo, the Apostolic Nuncio to the United States, dedicated and blessed the new Immaculate Conception Chapel, Our Lady Seat of Wisdom Library, and the new classrooms and offices.
April 23, 2002 saw the groundbreaking for construction of a bell tower, sponsored by and dedicated to the Knights of Columbus. The Knights of Columbus Bell Tower was dedicated and blessed by Bishop Bruskewitz on May 3, 2003, and it has become a landmark in the local community and in the Diocese of Lincoln.
Since opening its doors in 1998, the fruitfulness of Saint Gregory the Great Seminary has become evident. The Seminary began to serve the Church outside of the Diocese of Lincoln by welcoming students from several dioceses and religious orders. Sean Timmerman and Joseph Bernardo, members of the first graduating class of Saint Gregory the Great Seminary, were ordained to the priesthood on May 24, 2003. Echoing the words of the Second Vatican Council, Bishop Bruskewitz has referred to Saint Gregory the Great Seminary as the “heart of the Diocese”, where men will be formed for priestly service in the Diocese of Lincoln and beyond.
The opening of Saint Gregory the Great Seminary demonstrates that the present time is a time of hope, not only for the Diocese of Lincoln, but also for the Universal Church. It is the first free-standing diocesan seminary to be opened in the United States for many decades. Founded during the pontificate of Pope John Paul II, the apostolic exhortation on priestly ormation, Pastores Dabo Vobis. And his successor, Pope Benedict XVI, declared in his inaugural homily, “The Church is alive. The Church is young!” Saint Gregory the Great Seminary is but one sign of the youthfulness and vitality of the Church, which is ever ancient and ever new.
Through human, spiritual, intellectual, and pastoral formation, Saint Gregory the Great Seminary seeks to “protect and develop the seeds of a priestly vocation, so that the students may more easily recognize it and be in a better position to respond to it” (John Paul II, Pastores Dabo Vobis, 63). As they discern the authenticity of God’s call to the priesthood in their lives, the seminarians are prepared by the Seminary program of formation to pursue theological studies in preparation for ordination to the sacred ministry.
HUMAN FORMATION
Human formation is the “necessary foundation” of priestly formation. (PDV.43). Through regular conferences, the guided experience of community life, and the study of the liberal arts with its ability to integrate the student’s understanding of the human experience, the students are assisted in their growth as human persons and as followers of Jesus Christ. They are helped to understand their humanity, their strengths, and their need for growth as they progress in personal and spiritual maturity. They are aided in discerning the reality of God’s call to the priesthood, and their willingness and ability to answer this call. Seminarians are challenged to explore the demands of priestly life and ministry and to develop those natural and supernatural virtues that will be required.
Guidance by formation advisors in individual meetings and collectively in the annual review will help provide insights and recommendations to assist the seminarians in their growth.
SPIRITUAL FORMATION
Seminarians at Saint Gregory the Great Seminary are assisted in a process of ordered growth in their relationship with God, whom they aspire to serve as priests. Spiritual formation is centered in the Word of God and the sacramental life of the Church. The celebration of the Eucharist is the high point of each day in which the seminarians encounter the Lord in Word and Sacrament. The daily praying of portions of the Liturgy of the Hours establishes a rhythm of the community at prayer. The regular celebration of the Sacrament of Reconciliation assists the continual call to conversion of life by personal repentance and ready recourse to the mercy of God. Devotional and private prayer in the rich heritage of the Catholic Church is provided and encouraged in order to foster in the seminarian a deep personal attachment to the Lord and His Church. Such devotions include Eucharistic Adoration, meditation on the Word of God, and devotion to Mary and the saints. Spiritual conferences and personal spiritual direction provide the seminarian with guidance and necessary information as he enters more deeply into a relationship with God.
INTELLECTUAL FORMATION
Saint Gregory the Great Seminary provides an academic program of study for undergraduate students. Through a liberal arts curriculum, the students are challenged with a breadth of understanding of past and present deeds, words, and ideas, and their interpretation within the heritage of the Catholic Church. Philosophy is the major field of study for all students. In conformity with the directives of the Second Vatican Council and the practice of the Church, the students study philosophy in light of the moderate realism of St. Thomas Aquinas. In this way, they are prepared appropriately for the study of theology at the graduate level. The study of history, literature, theology, modern and ancient languages, as well as courses in science, mathematics, education, and fine arts, join with philosophy to provide a well-rounded undergraduate program of study which culminates in the awarding of a bachelor of arts degree in philosophy.
Saint Gregory the Great Seminary also provides an integrated and focused program of study for those who have already earned an undergraduate degree from a non-seminary college. The core of this pre-theology program will be the study of philosophy with emphasis on the philosophy of St. Thomas Aquinas. Also included are other areas of study necessary or beneficial for graduate theological study.
PASTORAL FORMATION
Students aspiring to the Catholic priesthood are preparing for the time when they will enter the pastoral ministry. Saint Gregory the Great Seminary provides for practical preparation for the ministry through a suitable pastoral apprenticeship. Through assignments in pastoral work appropriate to their level of formation, seminarians are given opportunities to exercise the corporal and spiritual works of mercy, to give of their time and energy in service, and to grow in their understanding of the role of the priest in service to the People of God. The program of pastoral formation provides a plan of apostolate assignments, appropriate supervision, evaluation, and theological reflection to facilitate the connection of their pastoral experience with their studies, formation, and discernment of a priestly vocation.
COMMUNITY LIFE
The essential work of the seminary takes place in the context of community. At St. Gregory the Great Seminary, the seminarians live, pray, study, recreate, and work together to be formed for the priesthood. During their seminary years, seminarians prepare themselves to be qualified and ordained heralds of the Good News of salvation and ministers of the Christian mysteries. This high purpose separates St. Gregory the Great Seminary from other educational institutions and makes unique demands of self-education on the seminarians themselves.
The rules and directives of the Seminary are related to the program goals of the institution: the development of seminarians into educated, mature persons in genuine relationship of communion with Christ and His Church. Within the Seminary community, the Administration and Faculty are committed to the necessary work of priestly formation. The Seminary has clear structures of discipline that must be squarely faced by potential candidates for the Roman Catholic priesthood. A mature response to the structures entails authentic free choice, personally motivated and prompted from within. While recognizing that freedom is crucial in the personal development of the individual seminarian, the Seminary is cognizant of the fact that community accountability is also a component in each seminarian’s vocational maturity. Considerations for accountability are heightened when the ultimate goal of St. Gregory the Great Seminary is understood: the preparation of men as priests dedicated to the service of God and His Church.
PROGRAM GOALS
The overall goals of the Seminary program may be summarized in this way:
1. To assist and guide the seminarian’s discernment of a vocation to the Catholic priesthood, and to foster a mature commitment to that vocation.
2. To provide a liberal arts education with a solid philosophical foundation, leading to a Bachelor of Arts degree, and to ensure readiness for graduate study in theology.
3. To foster personal spiritual growth in the Christian life, within the tradition of the Church’s spirituality and theology.
4. To foster personal growth and balance in virtue, self-knowledge, leadership, and the natural human qualities that will enable one to be a man of faith and to serve as a Catholic priest.
5. To develop a spirit of apostolic service in the mind and heart of the seminarian by fostering an understanding of the pastoral work of the Church.
6. To integrate the human, spiritual, intellectual, and pastoral dimensions of priestly formation in the experience of each seminarian.
LOCATION
The campus of St. Gregory the Great Seminary, distinctively marked by its Chapel and Bell Tower, is located three miles south of Seward, Nebraska along Highway 15 and approximately twenty miles west of the city of Lincoln. Interstate 80 passes three miles south of the Seminary and offers easy access. The city of Lincoln and the community of Seward offer many cultural and social attractions, including concerts, museums, and athletic events.
Surrounded by Nebraska farmland, the brick and stone structure is set on a 60- acre site with lawns, wooded prairies, and a pond. Built in the Romanesque style, the Immaculate Conception Chapel and Knights of Columbus Bell Tower are prominent landmarks and make the Seminary visible for miles around. The single integrated building includes classrooms, student residence halls, library, chapel, dining facilities, gymnasium, recreational areas, guest accommodations, and administrative offices.
LIBRARY
Our Lady Seat of Wisdom Library is an integral part of St. Gregory the Great Seminary’s educational programs. Since its inception in 1998, the Library has grown to over 33,000 catalogued volumes, numerous periodical subscriptions, and a significant audiovisual collection. The Library’s collection emphasizes the fields of philosophy, theology, sacred scripture, spirituality, history, and literature, and supports the liberal arts curriculum of the Seminary’s academic program.
The Library is open every day of the week to the Seminary students and staff for study and research. Other patrons may gain access to the Library by request. Study carrels, comfortable seating and lighting, computer access, and its ample and growing collection make the Library an inviting place for study and research.
Students also have access to Concordia University Library in Seward, five minutes from the Seminary. Convenient access to more extensive resources is provided by the OCLC Network.
RECREATIONAL FACILITIES
The Seminary features a gymnasium and exercise room for group and individual athletic and fitness activities. Outdoor playing fields are also available for softball, football, and soccer. The Seminary grounds and surrounding countryside also offer ample space for jogging and walking.
The Community Room is a convenient place for socializing and relaxation. It offers television, pool, ping-pong, a kitchenette, and a music room for vocal and instrumental use. The St. Therese Lounge, located at the juncture of Aquinas and Gonzaga Halls, offers a quiet place for reading and study.
TECHNOLOGY
The Seminary has an institutional computer network that offers Internet access and individual desktop workstations for faculty, student and staff use. Students have access to this network primarily in the computer room in Aquinas Hall and in Our Lady Seat of Wisdom Library. Power point projectors are available for classroom and other approved uses. Seminary laptop computers are made available to each student for his personal use so that all students will have sufficient technological resources and support for their academic formation and personal needs.
SPIRITUAL LIFE
The Sacred Liturgy is at the core of the seminarian’s day. All seminarians participate in daily Mass and the Liturgy of the Hours, namely, Morning, Evening, and Night Prayer. Seminarians also participate in a variety of other liturgical services and devotions such as Benediction, individual and communal Reconciliation, and the Rosary. Personal prayer and meditation are essential components of spiritual growth, and these will be regular features of the seminarian’s daily life.
Seminarians share responsibility for planning and organizing the community spiritual exercises. The Seminary schola cantorum and individual cantors plan and practice weekly for the music that is so important to the celebration of the Liturgy.
SEMINARIAN COUNCIL
The Seminarian Council consists of elected student members from each class who meet regularly with the Dean of Men. These representatives serve as liaisons between their classes and the Administration. The Seminarian Council will often assist in the planning and organization of major events at the Seminary, and they offer input to the Administration on ordinary and extraordinary issues of Seminary life.
SOCIAL AND CULTURAL ACTIVITIES
The Seminary community regularly attends and participates in parish-based or local community events. Both on- and off-campus opportunities are offered for attendance at concerts, theater productions, movies, and sporting events. Lectures and other educational events are also made available. Students take a lead role in organizing these activities.
Seminarians also regularly participate in student-organized athletic events, e.g. basketball, soccer, football, and softball. Individual exercise and use of the Seminary recreational facilities is strongly encouraged.
BOOKSTORE
Students of St. Gregory the Great Seminary purchase books and supplies for their courses through the Seminary Bookstore. Other available items include stationery, personal supplies, and Seminary apparel. Purchases are on a cash basis, or billing can be arranged through the administrative office.
MONEY SERVICE
A non-profit seminarian-operated money service provides check-cashing and the sale of stamps for seminarians.
LAUNDRY
Washing machines and dryers are available for seminarian use in the laundry room located in the residence area. These are coin operated and students are responsible for their own laundry supplies.
HEALTH CARE
The Seminary maintains a supply of non-prescription medical supplies for those suffering from minor illness. For more serious health needs, the Seward Family Clinic and Memorial Hospital are within five minutes of the Seminary. A student infirmarian is designated to assist members of the community with ordinary needs in case of illness. Individual medical expenses are to be met by the seminarian or his family; thus every student is required to enroll in a program of health insurance, either a family or diocesan plan.
STUDENT INVOLVEMENT
Every student is assigned a particular task that is his responsibility for the duration of the school year, e.g. master of ceremonies, sacristan, music director, kitchen prefect, etc. Each student has an important part to play in the ordinary daily life of the Seminary. Students also assist weekly with the upkeep and maintenance of the Seminary grounds and living quarters.
Outline of administrative Matters:
Tuition and Fees
Refund Policy
Admissions
Application Process
Credit Transfer Policy
Cost per seminarian for academic year 2007-2008 (Fall and Spring Semesters combined) is:
Tuition, Room, and Board: $12,000
Each diocese or religious community is responsible for full payment each semester for its seminarians. Statements for each semester will be sent out in August and January.
The fees stated above are for the 2007-2008 academic year and are subject to change for subsequent academic years.
Each diocese and religious community has its own policy regarding the seminarian's obligations to pay for his seminary training. This information should be available from the vocation director for that diocese or religious community.
It is the obligation of each seminarian to pay for his own books and supplies. Seminarians may apply to join in the health care plan of the Diocese of Lincoln at the time the plan permits. Membership in this or some similar hospitalization plan is recommended. Medical care expenses must be met by the seminarian or his family.
Federal Guaranteed Student Loans are not available at the present time. This will be considered in the future. The seminarian may apply for forbearance from repayment of money obtained through Stafford Student Loans while he remains in a formal academic program.
Refunds for tuition, room, and board are made when a seminarian withdraws from all courses or applies for a leave of absence within the first five weeks of a semester. Refunds must be requested in writing. The total amount refunded is determined by the following schedule, starting from the first day of class:
Amount Refunded
Up to two weeks 80%
Between two and three weeks 60%
Between three and four weeks 40%
Between four and five weeks 20%
Over five weeks None
In the case of a seminarian's withdrawal or leave of absence, written notification of the effective date of withdrawal will be issued by the Seminary upon request.
Catholic men who are seriously considering preparation for the Roman Catholic priesthood and priestly service within a particular diocese or religious community are eligible to seek admission to Saint Gregory the Great Seminary. Saint Gregory the Great Seminary does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, or national origin, and complies with all applicable non-discrimination laws not contrary to the religious mission of the Seminary.
APPLICANTS FOR THE DIOCESE OF LINCOLN
Any man who discerns that he is called to priestly service in the Diocese of Lincoln should contact or be referred to:
Vocation Director
St. Thomas Aquinas Church
320 North 16th Street
Lincoln, NE 68508
The vocation office will arrange for interviews with the applicant and will provide the applicant with an application packet to start the admission process. The requirements of the year-round diocesan formation program will be outlined for the applicant. All applications and required documents must be in the vocation director's office by July 15 for admission to Saint Gregory the Great Seminary for the fall semester.
APPLICANTS FOR OTHER (ARCH) DIOCESES AND RELIGIOUS COMMUNITIES
Candidates for admission to Saint Gregory the Great Seminary are usually admitted only if sponsored by an archdiocese, diocese, or religious community. Any man who wishes to study at Saint Gregory the Great Seminary for service in another archdiocese, diocese, or religious community must contact the proper vocation director.
With the approval of the Bishop of Lincoln, applicants for other dioceses and religious communities are welcome to make application by writing to the Saint Gregory the Great Seminary admissions office for information and application forms. All applications and required documents must be submitted to Saint Gregory the Great Seminary admissions office by July 15 for admission to the Seminary for the fall semester.
ALL APPLICANTS
All applicants, whether for the Diocese of Lincoln, another diocese or religious community, must be at least high school graduates and must give clear evidence that they have the ability to meet scholastic requirements. Applicants are required to have taken the Scholastic Aptitude Test of the College Entrance Examination Board or an equivalent. (SAT or ACT)
College courses already successfully completed are evaluated by the Academic Dean in the light of the curriculum of Saint Gregory the Great Seminary and, wherever possible, credits already earned are transferred into the Seminary's college program, in keeping with policies stated later in this catalog.
Saint Gregory the Great Seminary is interested in determining that an applicant be of high moral character and imbued with the right intention of studying for the priesthood. Saint Gregory the Great Seminary admissions office relies heavily on the judgment of the respective vocation director and bishop concerning the suitability of applicants. Serious attention is given to recommendations attesting to the exemplary standing of each applicant within his parish community. Similarly, careful consideration is given to factors indicative of a developed sense of responsibility within the personal life of each applicant.
The Admissions Committee of Saint Gregory the Great Seminary will review each completed application promptly and will inform the applicant of acceptance or non-acceptance as soon as possible.
Saint Gregory the Great Seminary
Admissions Office
800 Fletcher Road
Seward, NE 68434-8145
VETERANS
Veterans initially enrolling at Saint Gregory the Great Seminary must bring a copy of VA Form 4107 with their Certificate of Eligibility VA Form 22-2557. All veterans are required to complete the Veteran’s Application form to receive Educational Benefits.
APPLICATION AND INTERVIEW PROCESS
A man who wishes to be considered for admission as a seminarian at Saint Gregory the Great Seminary must supply each of the following items sent directly to the Rector at the Seminary.
• Completed application for admission form
• Letter of sponsorship from a diocese or religious community, if not a student for the Diocese of Lincoln
• Church Documents: (All church documents should include the name and seal of the church where the sacrament was received.)
1. Baptismal certificate issued within the last six months
2. Confirmation certificate
3. Certificate of parents' marriage
• Academic Data:
1.
Official academic transcripts from each secondary school and college previously attended
2. Results of standardized tests, either ACT or SAT
• Letters of Recommendation from:
1. Principal or guidance counselor from the last school attended
2. Applicant's pastor
3. Rector of seminary previously attended (if applicable)
4. Director of vocations or bishop, if not a student for the Diocese of Lincoln
• Doctor's physical examination recorded on the Saint Gregory the Great Seminary form, including all immunization data
• Results of psychological testing
When the above documentation is complete, an admissions interview may be scheduled with the seminary Admissions Committee.
It is the responsibility of the student entering Saint Gregory the Great Seminary to authorize and request academic records and transcripts to be sent to the Seminary. The Academic Dean in light of the curriculum of the Seminary, evaluates college courses already successfully completed. All transfer credits:
Enrolled students who wish to pursue work at other institutions and to have the credit transferred into their degree program at Saint Gregory the Great Seminary must obtain prior approval from the Academic Dean. This approval is required to all credits transferred by correspondence work, summer school work, and work through the mass media.
STUDENTS APPLYING TO SAINT GREGORY THE GREAT SEMINARY WHO HAVE BEEN HOME-SCHOOLED
Saint Gregory the Great Seminary encourages men who have been home-schooled to make application. These students typically do not have a traditional high school diploma or transcript; therefore, the application process will vary. Several documents must be sent to Saint Gregory the Great Seminary:
• Submit a completed Saint Gregory the Great Seminary application form.
• Submit a test score from the ACT or SAT.
• Submit a certificate of completion of an approved home school academic program. In the absence of such a certificate the primary teacher or administrator of the home school must provide:
1. A typed transcript (semester format) of the courses the student completed in the home school environment. Grades or averages earned in each course must be included on the transcript.
2. Textbook information listed by course (including titles and authors) along with a brief description of each of the courses.
• Students who completed courses in a school other than their home school (traditional high school or college) must submit an official copy of their academic transcript from that school.
• Home school students are strongly encouraged to submit passing test scores on the GED (General Equivalency Diploma.) Exam results should be sent to the Rector at St. Gregory the Great Seminary directly from the GED testing center.
PLACEMENT TESTING
To help assure success of students in the academic program, testing may be employed to determine proficiency and skills needed for college work. An English Essay Writing test may be given to help determine proficiency and skill.
Outline for Academic Program:
General Policies
Bachelor of Arts Program
Pre-Theology Program
Course Descriptons
Officers and Board Members
Faculty
THE ACADEMIC YEAR
The scholastic year is divided into two semesters of approximately 15 weeks each. The fall semester starts in August and ends in December. The spring semester starts in January and ends in May. All courses are taught on a semester basis. Credits are earned in terms of semester hours.
STUDENT LOAD
The normal load permitted during a semester is 12 to 18 semester hours. Special permission must be obtained from the Academic Dean for additional work. Such permission is usually granted only if the student's cumulative grade-point average is 3.0 or over. The minimum load is 12 semester hours; however, in isolated instances, at the discretion of the Academic Dean and for a limited number of semesters, a student may be permitted to carry a course load of fewer than 12 hours.
CLASS ATTENDANCE
Saint Gregory the Great Seminary requires attendance at all classes and laboratories at the assigned times. When a student's absences, even though justifiable, exceed one-third of the class periods in a course, the student cannot ordinarily receive a passing grade in that course. Multiple unexcused absences may result in a docking of the grade or a loss of academic credit. When credit is lost a student will need to repeat the course, or, in repeated cases, may make one liable to dismissal.
ACADEMIC ASSISTANCE
For those students who are deficient in certain skills required for doing college work, arrangements can be made in individual cases for assistance.
STUDENT ASSESSMENTS
Assessments are given at mid-semester and at the end of each semester. The stipulation concerning mid-semester assessment is met if the instructor has given at least one major examination or other project assessment at some point during the first seven weeks of the course.
Final examinations in all courses are held on the dates and in the places designated on the final examination schedule. No seminarian is excused from an examination unless an exception is granted by the Academic Dean. A seminarian who, for illness or another serious reason, is or will be absent from a final examination may request permission from the Academic Dean to reschedule the examination. The seminarian is responsible for making the necessary arrangements with the appropriate professor. If an examination has not been taken within two weeks, a failing grade (F) will be given for the course. Extensions can be granted only by the Academic Dean.
GRADING POLICY
Letter grades are used to indicate the quality of a seminarian's performance in a course. Professors assign grades as the result of class participation, written work, reports, research papers, examinations, or a combination of the above.
GRADING SYSTEM
The following grading system is used for all courses.
| Letter | Percentage | Description | Grade Point |
A+ |
99-100 | 4.000 | |
A |
95-98 | Excellent | 4.000 |
A- |
93-94 | 3.667 | |
B+ |
91-92 | 3.333 | |
B |
87-90 | Very Good | 3.000 |
B- |
85-86 | 2.667 | |
C+ |
83-84 | 2.333 | |
C |
79-82 | Satisfactory | 2.000 |
C- |
77-78 | 1.667 | |
D+ |
75-76 | 1.333 | |
D |
72-74 | Passing | 1.000 |
D- |
70-71 | .667 | |
F |
Below 70 | Failed | 0.000 |
I |
Incomplete | 0.000 | |
W |
Withdrawal | 0.000 |
GRADE POINT AVERAGE (GPA)
The student's grade point average is determined by dividing the total number of points earned by the total number of semester hours attempted. Grade points apply only to semester grades. Grade points are not granted for Pass/Fail Courses, nor do these courses affect the semester or cumulative averages.
REPORT OF GRADES
A formal report of the student's academic achievement is made at the end of each semester. Copies of the report are mailed to the student, to his respective bishop, and to his respective vocation director. At the request of the student, a copy may be mailed to his parents.
AUDIT OF COURSES
Courses may be audited by students in classes that are not required as part of their program. A student must either meet all prerequisites or receive special permission from the instructor as well as from the Academic Dean. Instructors will require attendance, stipulate reading, and establish standards of performance from an auditing student. The transcript will show an “AU” for an audited class. No credit or grades will be awarded for a course that is audited.
WITHDRAWALS
Students may withdraw from courses during the first three weeks without academic penalty with the permission of the Academic Dean. After the first three weeks of the course, withdrawal may be permitted only for serious reasons and with the Academic Dean's permission in consultation with the instructor. If after the three week period and before the end of the semester, a student believes that he must withdraw from a course and should not receive a failing grade, he must submit a written petition to the Academic Dean stating the special circumstances that warrant withdrawal from the course without penalty. The Academic Dean will seek the recommendation of the instructor and the Rector before granting or denying the petition.
INCOMPLETE
Any student receiving an Incomplete in any course has four weeks following the end of the academic semester to complete the work. After four weeks, the student will receive a grade of F in the course, which is computed into his GPA. The Academic Dean in consultation with the instructor may grant an extension.
UNIT OF CREDIT
The unit of credit is the semester hour; one semester hour is normally earned by one 50-minute period of classroom instruction or by one two-hour laboratory period per week for one semester. Units of credit are awarded for courses in which the student's achievement is graded above failing.
DEAN'S LIST
At the end of each semester, the names of those students who have achieved a grade-point average for the semester of 3.50 or above and have no grade lower than a C will be posted on the Dean's List.
ACADEMIC PROBATION
A seminarian ordinarily will be placed on academic probation by the Academic Dean if his cumulative average or his individual GPA for a semester falls below 2.00. The Academic Dean may also place a seminarian on academic probation if, in the opinion of the instructors teaching him, he is not working to his ability. If probationary academic status is not removed by the end of the succeeding semester, the decision to allow for continued matriculation for the ensuing semester (as well as for any subsequent semesters) will be made by the Academic Dean and the Rector of Saint Gregory the Great Seminary. New students who have been admitted conditionally (because they have not met the academic requirements for unconditional acceptance) will be reviewed at the end of their first semester. Conditional students will be subject to the same policies regarding continued matriculation as students on academic probation.
REPETITION
A student may repeat any course taken at Saint Gregory the Great Seminary by receiving permission from the Academic Dean and registering for the course. The previous grade will be replaced by the letter NC (no credit) on the transcript; then the more recent grade will be counted as credit earned toward graduation requirements and in the cumulative grade-point average.
DUE PROCESS
If a seminarian believes that the grading by an instructor is unfair, he may offer an appeal in writing to the Academic Dean. If the seminarian disagrees with the decision of the Academic Dean, he may appeal to the Rector of Saint Gregory the Great Seminary within 30 days of the Dean's decision; the appeal must be presented in writing, and the Dean must present the rationale for the appealed decision in writing to the Rector. The decision of the Rector will be final.
CLASSIFICATION OF STUDENTS
Class Standing Program Semester Hours
Freshman 0-31
Sophomore 32-67
Junior 68-97
Senior 98 and above
TRANSCRIPTS
Transcript requests must be submitted in writing to the Seminary. One copy of a transcript is furnished free of charge. Additional transcripts are issued upon payment of a fee of $5 per transcript, payable in advance. No transcript is issued until all outstanding financial obligations have been met.
CREDIT BY EXAMINATION
Degree credit by examination is granted to seminarians through:
• College Level Examination Program (CLEP)
• College Board Advanced Placement Examinations (AP Examination)
• Institution Examination (IE)
The Academic Dean, in consultation with the Rector, will determine the courses for which CLEP, AP, or IE will be awarded. The seminarian must meet the score requirements set by the examining agency.
These credits will be treated as upgraded transfer credits and are not considered in calculating the student’s cumulative average. A seminarian may earn a maximum of 30 semester hours of such credit to fulfill degree requirements at Saint Gregory the Great Seminary.
SPECIFIC REGULATIONS FOR CREDIT BY EXAMINATION
• No student may attempt credit by examination for an introductory course in any area in which the student has earned college credit for more advanced courses.
• No student is permitted to postpone a required course in the Seminary curriculum on the supposition that the requirement will be absolved by examination at a later time. For example, entering freshmen who do not have credit by examination for English 101 are expected to enroll in English 101.
• All possible exceptions to and variations from the foregoing policies will be decided by the Academic Dean in consultation with the Rector.
SENIOR COMPREHENSIVE EXAMINATION
As part of the graduation requirements, each senior will take a comprehensive examination. The examination will be conducted by the faculty in the Philosophy Department at Saint Gregory the Great Seminary. The examination seeks to demonstrate the senior seminarian’s ability to synthesize and apply the philosophical knowledge he has acquired in his studies at Saint Gregory the Great Seminary.
POLICY ON ACADEMIC HONESTY
An important sign of one's sincerity in committing his life to the service of the Lord and of the Church is the seminarian's observance of total honesty in the pursuit of his formal studies. No instance of cheating, including plagiarism or falsification of course work, examinations, or academic records will be tolerated.
Cheating refers here to any type of dishonesty in one’s academics for a fraudulent gain. This can take the form of: inappropriately giving to or receiving from another answers to a test, assignment, or other course work; fraudulently fabricating or altering one’s academic work or records; submitting the same work in separate courses without the permission of the professors involved; assisting other students in cheating; other actions that would compromise the integrity of academic work submitted.
Plagiarism is a type of cheating in which one takes someone else’s work and passes it off as his own. This may be seen in such actions as: lifting portions of or entire articles from another source and failing to cite the source; using other students’ work as one’s own without the permission of the student and/or the professor; paraphrasing another’s ideas in such a way as to make them sound as one’s own without giving proper credit to the original source.
The academic records of a student are private information and should be treated as such. No seminarian should illicitly try to acquire or alter another student’s work or records.
Accusations of academic dishonesty will be dealt with according to the seriousness of the matter. Consequences of being found guilty of such dishonesty may include: downgrading or failing of the assignment or test involved; assigning an incomplete or a failure in the course; or, in the most serious cases, dismissal from the Seminary.
A due process will be employed in dealing with accusations and consequences of academic dishonesty. The student and professor involved in a charge of academic misconduct should first try to resolve the situation. An appeal of the resolution may be made to the Academic Dean, who may decide to convene a committee to look into the matter. If appropriate, the decision of the Dean and/or the committee may be appealed to the Rector. In the most serious cases where dismissal in involved, appeal may even be made to the Seminary Board where decisions will be final.
REQUIREMENTS FOR THE BACHELOR OF ARTS PROGRAM
GENERAL EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS
The general education requirements for the Bachelor of Arts degree in philosophy includes a broad range of coursework to develop the seminarian as a well-educated man. The major in philosophy provides a thorough background in the subject with a particular emphasis on the philosophy of Saint Thomas Aquinas. This major provides the most suitable preparation for theological study in formation for the Catholic priesthood.
General Education |
|
| Courses | Semester Hours |
| English | 15 |
| History | 12 |
| Mathematics | 6 |
| Sciences | 6 |
| Latin | 14 |
| Greek | 6 |
| Spanish | 12 |
| Education | 6 |
| Theology | 12 |
| Electives | 9 |
Philosophy Major |
|
| Courses | Semester Hours |
| Thomistic Core Course: | |
| Logic | 3 |
| Epistemology | 3 |
| Metaphysics I & II | 6 |
| Philosophy of Man | 3 |
| Ethics | 3 |
| History of Philosophy | 12 |
To be eligible for graduation, the student must complete a minimum of 128 semester hours of academic work leading to a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy Degree. Academic courses completed at a college other than Saint Gregory the Great Seminary and graded C or higher may, at the discretion of the Academic Dean, be counted toward meeting this requirement. At least 30 (including at least six in philosophy) of the 128 credit hours must be taken at Saint Gregory the Great Seminary.
LEARNING OUTCOMES
After successful completion of the Bachelor of Arts degree in Philosophy, a graduate will be able to:
1. Read and interpret philosophical text critically.
2. Comprehend and articulate the role philosophy has played in the development of Christian theology and culture.
3. Identify historical, social, and cultural influences on philosophical systems, interpretations, and expressions.
4. Engage in graduate theological studies based on sound philosophical foundations.
5. Analyze and respond to contemporary issues and situations with a philosophical and a Catholic perspective.
6. Cultivate a desire for lifelong learning in philosophy, theology, and the liberal arts.
CREDIT REVIEW
A credit review (analysis of credit requirements the seminarian has met) is performed by the Academic Dean during the Fall Semester of the Senior year and the Second year for a Pre-Theology seminarian. Each seminarian will meet with the Academic Dean for the credit review.
GRADE POINT AVERAGE
The number of grade points required for graduation shall amount to no fewer than twice the number of hours undertaken at Saint Gregory the Great Seminary. The student's cumulative grade point average, therefore, must be 2.0, and this average, in the case of transfer students, is determined exclusively on the basis of courses taken at Saint Gregory the Great Seminary.
Students with no failures (grade of F), who have attained the following cumulative grade point average, and who have completed a minimum of 60 semester hours at Saint Gregory the Great Seminary, are graduated with honors:
Cum Laude 3.50
Magna cum Laude 3.70
Summa cum Laude 3.90
VARIATIONS WITHIN THE PROGRAM
DIRECTED INDEPENDENT STUDY COURSES
Directed independent study courses may be available to students with the permission of the Academic Dean and the consent of a faculty director. In all but exceptional cases, the Dean shall observe the following guidelines when allowing such courses:
• No student may register for more than one such course per semester.
• Each such course must have a syllabus, a copy of which is to be given to the registrar and the Academic Dean no later than three days after the beginning of the semester during which the course is offered. The responsibility for preparing an acceptable in-depth syllabus falls to the student, in consultation with the faculty director. The syllabus is to be signed by the student, the director, and the Academic Dean.
• These courses are not subject to the official policy pertaining to semester examinations.
PROGRAM DEVIATION
Students who wish to request a deviation in the academic requirements for graduation must present a request to the Academic Dean. The Academic Dean will make a decision on the exception after consultation with the appropriate faculty.
The pre-theology program is available to those considering a priestly vocation who have already completed at least a bachelor's degree in some other institution of higher learning but who lack the prerequisites for entry into a theologate. Participation in this program provides a background in philosophy, theology, and other appropriate areas of study to prepare students for the study of theology in preparation for becoming a Catholic priest.
The pre-theology program normally consists of a two-year course of study, which can be adapted to fit the needs of preparation for theology without needless duplication of studies already completed. This program satisfies the academic expectations of Canon Law and the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. Canon Law prescribes a two-year course of study in philosophy prior to the four-year study of theology, and the Program of Priestly Formation specifies that this must include 30 credit hours of philosophy and 12 credit hours of undergraduate theology.
The pre-theology program includes this academic preparation along with the formation that is part of the life at Saint Gregory the Great Seminary.
The typical arrangement of courses shown below may be adapted according to the courses that the student has already completed in his prior post-secondary academic work.
First Year, Fall Semester Credits
LAT 105 Introductory Latin I 4
PHL 203 Logic 3
PHL 205 History of Ancient Philosophy 3
SPA 301 Introductory Spanish I 3
THL 101 The Catholic Catechism I 3
First Year, Spring Semester
LAT 106 Introductory Latin II 4
PHL 204 Epistemology 3
PHL 206 History of Medieval Philosophy 3
SPA 302 Introductory Spanish II 3
THL 102 The Catholic Catechism II 3
Second Year, Fall Semester
GRK 401 Elementary Greek I 3
PHL 307 History of Modern Philosophy 3
PHL 301 Metaphysics I 3
PHL 401 Philosophy of Man 3
THL 401 Introduction to Sacred Scripture 3
EDU 403 History and Philosophy of 3
Education*
Second Year, Spring Semester
GRK 402 Elementary Greek II 3
PHL 302 Metaphysics II 3
PHL 402 Ethics 3
PHL 308 History of Contemporary
Philosophy 3
THL 306 Faith and Reason 3
EDU 404 Classroom Teaching* 3
* These courses may be substituted or waived by the Academic Dean in consultation with the Rector.
LEARNING OUTCOMES
Those who successfully complete the pre-theology program will be able to:
1. Read and interpret philosophical text critically.
2. Comprehend and articulate the role philosophy has played in the development of Christian theology and culture.
3. Engage in graduate theological studies based on sound philosophical foundations.
4. Analyze and respond to contemporary issues and situations with a philosophical and a Catholic perspective.
5. Cultivate a desire for lifelong learning in philosophy, and theological studies.
EDUCATION
EEDU 101
Success in College
This course is designed for seminarians who would benefit from strengthening their study skills and learning effective strategies to increase performance and success in college. Seminarians will learn how to use their learning styles to tailor their approach to learning, process information more effectively, manage time effectively, set goals, increase concentration, reduce stress and procrastination, read college textbooks and improve comprehension, take notes from textbooks and lectures, improve listening skills, use a variety of note taking systems, prepare for tests, and perform well on tests and a variety of questions formats.
Students will be introduced to the underpinnings of teaching and learning. Students will learn the philosophical and historical roots of education in the United States.
Students will be acquainted with some principles of classroom instruction. This will include lesson design and preparation, presentation styles and classroom management. This course is to assist future priests in being ready to teach in Catholic Schools.
This is an introductory writing course which will address many of the practical problems that writers face regardless of format or audience. Seminarians will experiment with different strategies for various stages of the writing process, such as brainstorming, drafting, revising, and proofreading. Seminarians will also look at common challenges such as selecting/narrowing topics, facing writer’s block, getting organized, and writing strong thesis statements.
Continuation of the study and practice of composition is the focus of this course. Assistance will be given with the selection, organizing and writing of a research paper based on the Turabian Manual for Writers.
Prerequisite: ENG 101 or equivalent
The purpose of this class is to acquaint the seminarian with classical writers of the Greek and Roman periods. The world view and aspirations of mankind in these pre-Christian times will be considered from the perspective of the Catholic faith.
Prerequisite: ENG 101 or equivalent
This course will explore the human condition from the individual’s struggle with such human ills as jealousy, pride and deceit to the human foibles found in the vast and varied social and political cross section of society during the Middle Ages that suggest the spiritual and psychological journey of life is not a solo flight but rather a communal venture.
This course surveys major European and American literature from 1600 to the present, including novels, poetry, and drama. The texts used are those in which great minds and eloquent pens ask and attempt to answer vital questions. Writers studied may include Milton, Dickens, Hawthorne, Tolstoy, Twain, Hemingway, Steinbeck, Chesterton, Cather, C.S. Lewis, Eliot, and others whose writings are counted as some of the intellectual and aesthetic treasures of Western civilization. The relationship of such writings and their respective visions of life and the world will be understood within the perspective of Catholic faith. Techniques of literary analysis of poetry, drama, and prose will be introduced.
This is a one to three hour course designed to enhance a student’s standard English usage and writing skill. Common usage problems will be addressed as well as the mechanics of the written word.
This course serves as an introduction to basic Greek grammar, with special emphasis on Koine Greek. The vocabulary and exercises are designed to provide the seminarians with the necessary grounding for reading the New Testament. The instructional method includes lecture, as well as some written and oral exercises.
Ability to read the New Testament in Greek; general intellectual values through study of Greek grammar, vocabulary and exercises including readings from the New Testament and the Septuagint.
Prerequisite: GRK 401 or equivalent
This course serves to introduce the seminarian to the Latin language. Grammatical instruction will be emphasized as well as reading and translating elementary texts. The instructional method includes lecture as well as some written and oral exercise.
This course is a review of basic grammar with exercises and reading based on classical and Christian themes.
Prerequisite: LAT 105 or equivalent
A continuation of the first year course, with grammatical emphasis and readings in Classical and Christian Latin, especially the Gospel according to Mark. The instructional method includes lecture, as well as some written and oral exercises.
Prerequisite: LAT 106 or equivalent
This course is a study of Latin II book by Father Henle, completing study of grammar and translating selected texts in classical and Christian literature.
Prerequisite: LAT 205 or equivalent
An introduction to the fundamental elements of the Spanish language in a cultural context. There is a focus on developing listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills in real-life situations. Seminarians will gain a basic knowledge of Hispanic pastoral ministry in a cultural context.
As a continuation of Spanish 301, seminarians will further develop their listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills in real-life situations and the Hispanic ministry.
Prerequisite: SPA 301 or equivalent
As a continuation of Spanish 302, seminarians will further develop their listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills in real-life situations and the Hispanic ministry.
Prerequisite: SPA 302 or equivalent
As a continuation of Spanish 401, seminarians will further develop their listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills in real-life situations and the Hispanic ministry.
Prerequisite: SPA 401 or equivalent
Review of algebra: set theory, real numbers, rational exponents, algebraic fractions and expressions, factoring relations and functions, graphs, and applications. Linear models: graphs, applications, systems of linear equations, matrices, inequalities, and linear programming.
Algebraic use, graphs and applications of non-linear mathematical models: quadratic equations and parabolas, study of maxima and minima; exponential and logarithmic functions; mathematics of finance and data representation.
Prerequisite: MAT 101
The goals of this course in sacred music are threefold: to study the aesthetic of the sacred in music; to trace the development of styles and techniques from the early Church to the present day through listening and discussion; and to study the influence of papal and conciliar pronouncements on the propriety of music in the liturgy. Historical study will provide the background for considerable discussion on the use of music in the liturgy of the Novus Ordo.
The Church declares that Gregorian chant is specially suited to the Roman liturgy, and music historians acknowledge it as the backbone of Western music. This course will focus on the aesthetic qualities of this music as well as its notation, rhythm, modality, and liturgical usage.
This course studies the art of defining, forming, and critiquing arguments principally in the Aristotelian tradition. Topics covered in the class include: proper definitions, categorical propositions, syllogistic arguments and informal fallacies. There will also be an introduction to symbolic logic, including the translation of arguments into symbolic language.
This course examines the nature of human knowledge with particular emphasis on the moderate realism of St. Thomas Aquinas. Topics include: the origin of knowledge, the process of knowing, the nature of truth and certitude, and knowledge as wisdom.
Prerequisite: PHL 203
This overview of the beginning of philosophical thought will cover various significant philosophical writings from the time of the ancient Greeks up to the Romano-Hellenistic period. This survey will emphasize the western tradition found in such authors as Plato, Aristotle, and Plotinus.
A study of the development of philosophical thought from the time of the early Christian writers through the faith-reason synthesis found in the High Middle Ages. This course will especially focus on philosophy’s relationship to the Christian Faith in such authors as St. Augustine, St. Anselm, St. Thomas Aquinas, and William of Ockham.
Examination of being under the themes: metaphysical vs. empirical attitude, intelligibility, substance, accidents, causality, form and matter, existence and essence, analogy, the one and the many, participation, the transcendentals, the being of the "world", and God as Pure Esse.
Prerequisite: PHL 204
Emphasis on God as the center of being under the themes: ontological vs. cosmological proofs for God's existence, the "five ways" of St. Thomas Aquinas, the nature of God, God the Creator, God's transcendence and immanence, the eternity of God, the problem of evil in the light of God's goodness, and the relation of natural theology and the theology of Revelation.
Prerequisite: PHL 301
This survey of modern thought examines the relationship between different philosophies from the time of the Late Middle Ages to the Enlightenment period. Some major movements to be covered include: Continental rationalism, British empiricism, French and German idealism.
A course studying some of the recent movements in philosophy in the last 150 years. Topics to be covered include: atheistic nihilism, phenomenology, existentialism, revivals of Scholasticism, and secular humanism.
A study of man as a rational substance. Topics will include: thought as a spiritual operation, proofs for the soul's immortality, the notion of person, embodiment and appetite, and happiness and the soul's spiritual destiny.
This is a study of Thomistic natural moral law in its principles and application. It will include a study of the source of human morality, the relationship between the activity of reason and will, the evaluation of moral actions, the function of conscience and law, and the role of natural virtues in human activity. The course will conclude with an application of these principles to contemporary problems in areas such as medical ethics, sexuality, life issues, social justice, and war.
Prerequisite: PHL 401
Beginning with a brief review of the faculties of man according to the philosophical anthropology of man, students will be exposed to the thought of several schools of psychology. Each will be evaluated in light of St. Thomas’s understanding of the human person and what constitutes health.
Prerequisite: PHL 204
This course will examine the philosophical questions underlying the scientific study of the universe. It will review the origin and development of scientific theories, the evaluation and interpretation of hypotheses and experimentation, and the applicability and ethical consequences of accepted theories.
Prerequisite: SCI 201 and SCI 202
An investigation and appreciation of the meaning of art. Among topics to be discussed: the notion of creativity, the role of inspiration, artistic purpose, classical vs. modern art, art and the sacred.
A study of the philosophical and historical background and influences of the official papal writings of Pope John Paul II. The students will be engaged in the reading, presentation, and discussion of such papal writings as: Redemptor Hominis, Laborem Exercens, Familiaris Consortio, Ex Corde Ecclesiae, and Evangelium Vitae.
Traces the philosophical origins of government from the times of the ancient world through the 20th Century. The course will cover some of the most important authors in this area, including: Aristotle, St. Augustine, Machiavelli, Marx, Camus, and the Second Vatican Council.
The study of human body in its structure and function. This course is designed to give the student a working, practical knowledge of the human body by studying each body system. This will help one to better understand pertinent medical and moral issues of the day.
This course provides a general study of physics with a focus on understanding physical principles at the conceptual level. Areas of study will include mechanics, harmonic motion, heat, electricity and magnetism, sound, light, and topics in modern physics such as relativity, nuclear physics, and quantum physics. In addition, the student will learn the method of scientific study, as well as its relevance, implications, and scope. Connections with philosophical and theological study will also be treated. The ability to use algebra will be presumed.
Prerequisite: MAT 101 and MAT 102
Traces the origins of ancient world civilizations until the time of Christ within the context of Catholic thought. Emphasis will be on development of Western political, cultural, and religious traditions. These traditions will be studied particularly through the historical emergence of Mesopotamia and Egypt, the development of Israel, the intellectual rise of Greece and the ascent of the Roman Empire.
Emphasis will be made on the relationship between Early Christianity and the Roman Empire. The Byzantine Empire will then be studied, with the events culminating in the East/West Schism. The foundations of the Western medieval church; the development of feudalism and the beginnings of capitalism will be examined next. The course concludes with an examination of the Renaissance, the Great Western Schism, and the political and religious development of pre-Reformation Europe. The interpretation of history from a Catholic perspective will be integral to the course.
Prerequisite: HIS 101 or equivalent
This course begins by exploring the Protestant Reformation and the resulting Catholic Reformation. The course continues by studying the Enlightenment and the beginning of nation states in Europe. The impact of liberalism, nationalism and imperialism in the 19th century, and of democracy, fascism, and communism in the 20th century will be investigated. The effects of two World Wars and the Cold War on Europe will conclude the course. The interpretation of history from a Catholic perspective will be integral to the course.
Prerequisite: HIS 101 & HIS 102 or equivalent
This course begins with an analysis of the American Nation at the time of the Constitution. The American presidencies, the westward movement, Manifest Destiny, the impact of slavery and the Civil War are then examined. In the post-Civil War period, the Indian War of the West, the consequences of increasing world involvement, and the cultural changes in the 20th century are studied. The impact of the Great Depression and the two World Wars are next investigated. The course concludes with study of the Cold War and the 1950’s.
An overall perspective on the principles which guide Catholics in recognizing Christian truth and will provide the introduction to a discussion of the basic elements of the Catholic faith through the study of the Catechism of the Catholic Church.
A continuation of the study of the Catechism of the Catholic Church.
Prerequisite: THL 101 or equivalent
A consideration of the relationship of Faith and Reason in recent Magisterial Teaching with special emphasis on the Encyclical FIDES ET RATIO, and its application to college level apologetics.
A literary and theological examination of New Testament literature in the context of the history of Israel with an overview of the Synoptic Gospels, Pauline writings and Johannine literature, and a consideration of historical background, literary forms and theological perspectives.
A survey of the Hebrew Scriptures. This course focuses on the history, literature, and beliefs of the Israelites from the Old Testament. After a cursory introduction to the main types of literature found in the Old Testament and its divisions, the Pentateuch and Historical books will be read, explained, studied, and discussed.
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Most Rev. Fabian W. Bruskewitz, D.D., S.T.D.
Bishop of Lincoln
Chairman
Rev. Msgr. Timothy J. Thorburn, M.Div., M.A., J.C.L.
Vicar General, Diocese of Lincoln
Vice Chairman
Rev. Msgr. John T. Folda, M.Div., M.A., S.T.L.
Rector, Saint Gregory the Great Seminary
President
Rev. Msgr. Mark D. Huber, S.T.B., M.Div., J.C.L.
Chancellor, Diocese of Lincoln
Secretary - Treasurer
Rev. Msgr. David R. Hintz, M.Div., S.T.L.
Lincoln, Nebraska
Rev. Msgr. John J. Perkinton, M.Div., M.Ed.
Lincoln, Nebraska
Rev. John C. Rooney, S.T.B., M.S., M.A., M.Ed.
Shelby, Nebraska
Mr. Gregory Damman, J.D.
Seward, Nebraska
Dr. Matthew J. Hecker, Ph.D.
Lincoln, Nebraska
Mr. Allan J. Zach, B.S.
Lincoln, Nebraska
Rev. Msgr. John T. Folda
Rector; Assistant Professor: Theology
B.A., St. Charles Borromeo Seminary, Philadelphia 1985
M.Div., St. Charles Borromeo Seminary, Philadelphia, 1988
M.A., St. Charles Borromeo Seminary, Philadelphia 1989
S.T.L., Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas, Rome 1993
Mrs. Helen Banzhaf
Lecturer: Mathematics
B.A., Concordia University, Seward 1968
M.A., Concordia University, Seward 1980
M.A.T., University of Nebraska, Lincoln 1988
Rev. Maurice H. Current
Assistant Professor: Classical Languages
B.A., University of Nebraska, Lincoln 1974
M.A., University of Nebraska, Lincoln 1976
M.Div., Mount St. Mary’s Seminary, Emmitsburg 1980
J.C.L., Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas, Rome 1987
Very Rev. M. James Divis
Spiritual Director; Assistant Professor: Theology
B.A., St. Thomas Seminary College, Denver 1972
M. Div., University of Dallas, Irving 1976
M.A., University of Nebraska, Lincoln 1980
S.T.L., Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas, Rome 1982
Rev. Jeffrey R. Eickhoff
Academic Dean; Assistant Professor: Philosophy,
B.T.T., (Thomistic Thought) St. Philip’s Seminary, Toronto 1991
M. Div., St. Charles Borromeo Seminary, Philadelphia 1994
M.A., St. Charles Borromeo Seminary, Philadelphia 1995
Ph.L., Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas, Rome 2002
Ph.D. (Cand.), Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas, Rome
Mrs. Robyn Furasek
Lecturer: Spanish
B. S., University of Nebraska, Lincoln 2001
M.Ed. (Cand.), University of Nebraska, Lincoln
Rev. Raymond L. Jansen
Instructor: Philosophy
B.A., St. Charles Borromeo Seminary, Philadelphia 1995
M. Div., Mount St. Mary’s Seminary, Emmitsburg 1999
Ph.L., Catholic University of America, 2005
Ph.D. (Cand.), Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas, Rome
Rev. Brendan R. J. Kelly
Lecturer: Philosophy
B.A., Thomas Aquinas College, Santa Paula 1985
M.M.S., University of Notre Dame, South Bend 1987
Ph.D., University of Notre Dame, South Bend 1995
M.Div., B.ST., St. Charles Borromeo Seminary, Philadelphia, PA 2005
Rev. Christopher K. Kubat
Lecturer: Science
B.S., Creighton University, Omaha 1979
M.D., Creighton University, Omaha 1983
M.Div., Mount St. Mary’s Seminary, Emmitsburg 1999
M.A., Mount St. Mary’s Seminary, Emmitsburg 2004
Rev. Peter M. Mitchell
Instructor: Latin, Theology
B.A., Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary, Philadelphia 1995
M.Div. Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary, Philadelphia 1998
M.A., Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary, Philadelphia 1999
H.E.L., Pontifical Gregorian University, Rome 2005
H.E.D., (Candidate) Pontifical Gregorian University, Rome
Dr. Terrence D. Nollen
Librarian; Associate Professor: Social Sciences
B.A., Divine Word College, Epworth 1973
M.A., University of Iowa, Iowa City 1977
M.S., University of Illinois, Urbana 1981
M.S., Pittsburg State University, Pittsburg 1985
Ph.D., University of Nebraska, Lincoln 1992
Mrs. Jennifer Overkamp
Lecturer: English
B. A., Nebraska Wesleyan University, Lincoln 1996
M.A., University of Nebraska, Lincoln 2003
Ph.D., (Candidate) University of Nebraska, Lincoln
Rev. John C. Rooney
Director of Technology; Assistant Professor: Science
B.S., University of Dallas, Dallas 1982
M.S., Purdue University, West Lafayette 1984
S.T.B., Lateran University, Rome 1989
M. Div., St. Joseph Seminary, Yonkers 1989
M.A., St. Joseph Seminary, Yonkers 1989
M.Ed., University of Nebraska, Lincoln 1994
6th year Specialist Education Administration Program, University of Nebraska, Lincoln 1995
Rev. Lawrence J. Stoley
Assistant Professor: Education
B.S., University of Nebraska, Lincoln 1985
B.S.T., St. Thomas Aquinas, Rome 1990
M.Div., St. Joseph Seminary, Yonkers 1991
M.Ed., University of Nebraska, Lincoln 1998
6th year Specialist Education Administration Program, University of Nebraska, Lincoln 2002
Ph.D., University of Nebraska, Lincoln 2005
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