Have questions about college seminary? This page includes pictures and information from current and previous college seminarians. See what they have to say about their seminary experience.
Men accepted to seminary for the Archdiocese of Denver who have just graduated from high school will attend college seminary to one of two seminaries. For more information about these seminaries visit their websites:
After looking over these frequently asked questions about college seminary, if you have what it takes to go to College Seminary come attend one of our RAD retreats or email Fr. Jim
College Seminary changed my habits. In our culture, it’s a near-trend for young guys to be lazy and apathetic. Seminary helped me get away from that. I am more disciplined, and that’s made me freer. I’m more productive, my relationships are healthier, and I’ve managed to get into pretty decent shape. In general, guys here would agree that this place makes you more masculine. Seminary also brought me a great deal of healing, especially within spiritual direction. When I thought I had already gone deep enough in the spiritual life with my spiritual director, Christ only wanted to take me deeper, and deeper still, to keep healing me. This also helped form my masculinity. I’m less afraid, more alive, and what sets me free the most is that I know Jesus Christ knows me, likes me, and loves me.
We began every day with Holy Hour in front of the Blessed Sacrament and then the celebration of Mass (though I am sure the structure/times have changed since I was up there). Following breakfast, we would have class with non-seminarians at the University. After a day of studies, we would have Evening Prayer followed by community activities.
Hanging out with Diocesan brothers
Every morning started with an hour of prayer and Mass. The only way to start the day. Then all the seminarians moved off in large packs to breakfast at the University’s cafeteria. After breakfast started our “work day”. Until late afternoon we were expected to be in class, doing homework, or something formative (reading, sports, exercise, napping!). The daytime was a time for work and the evening was a time for rest and rejuvenation. Three evenings each week we had different fraternity meetings aimed to have fun and grow close to your Diocesan brothers and brothers on your floor. The day was concluded with Night Prayer. The structure of seminary was sometimes hard for men who wanted to go about seminary doing only what they wanted or thought was right for them. When you trust that God’s hand works through the seminary and you give yourself to it, it becomes a place to flourish as a man in Christ, a man for the Church, and a man for others. An alter Christus.
I was surprised by how active guys are. Sports are very popular here. We have a basketball and ice-hockey league formed by seminarians, and we finish the year with a seminary-wide waffle-ball tournament. There’s also a big racquetball tournament. Besides the formalized leagues, you can usually find anyone to play just about anything. In general, there’s just a lot of energy and life here. I was also blown away by how joyful the environment is here. It’s positive, and it’s a safe place to be a normal, healthy person without trying to meet the unfair demands of the culture. People may think me strange for joining a seminary, but I’m also really happy—how do they account for that? To steal the title of a C.S. Lewis book, I was “Surprised by Joy.”
Ski Trip with fellow College Seminarians
Seminarian playing air guitar on the UST homecoming parade
I think I can say with confidence that whatever your expectations, dreams or visions of seminary are, they’re probably wrong, or pretty inaccurate. It’s not heaven, and it’s not hell on earth. It’s a place where a bunch of men have been joined together to try to listen to God. What we’re doing is unusual by the world’s standards, but seminarians are just normal guys. We don’t levitate much; we don’t spend hours locked in a closet with the Blessed Sacrament. We have hobbies, we like having fun. This is what surprised me: that my expectations were mistaken.
It’s good to be with other students. You see the need for the gospel right in front of you, as opposed to being removed from the need, having to guess or make assumptions about how the world, and our generation, is struggling. As of this coming year, a lot of the seminarians will be teaching students on campus as part of their “apostolic outreach” assignments (they’ll teach Apologetics and Theology of the Body)—so study up and you may be able to teach on campus. It’s worth noting that there are a lot of Catholic students around, so it’s easy to connect with people outside the seminary. Catholic presence here is pretty substantial.
It’s also convenient to have all the resources available to you that a normal college offers: dining options, athletic centers (pool, racquetball courts, indoor/outdoor track, weight room, basketball courts, etc.), campus events, free concerts, etc.
Joe O'Sullivan takes a study break to hit the slopes
For me, it was a bit of a trial by fire. Set right in the middle of what I’m giving up (“fun and a family”) to follow the call of God was difficult and sometimes frustrating, but I guess it’s not much of a sacrifice if you don’t know what you’re sacrificing. Also, my understanding was a little skewed: pursuing the priesthood is definitely not boring, and the type of family is just different. I think I grew in understanding that.
Finally, to put it bluntly: though UST is definitely very nice, being on a college campus – you see why the world needs Jesus.
Being on a typical college campus was a great transition from high school and provided an opportunity of evangelization, as well as, a broader experience in community life. As with all colleges, even great Catholic Universities, there are the rebels, and the party life. Yet being a seminarian with the opportunity to meet friends in class and on campus and bring the light of the Gospel into their lives is an amazing experience that only strengthened my desire for the priesthood and the mission it entails.
My favorite thing about college seminary is that the crew of guys up here is really solid. Living the seminary life definitely has its challenges but these challenges enhance the depth of brotherhood among the guys. We rejoice with one and other when there is cause for rejoicing and we support one and other when times are tough. The level of brotherhood that is here is unparalleled to any other college experience!
College seminary was the first place I encountered virtuous friendships. The seminary was focused on forming men humanly to be real men. This was done through the formation staff and especially through my brother seminarians.
My favorite part about college seminary was having the opportunity to go to daily Eucharistic Adoration and Holy Mass every day with a group of 150+ other men who were discerning the Priesthood with me. It gave me much hope for the future of the Church and for my own vocation. When friendships and fraternities are centered around Christ, it leads to a greater love of Him and more holy lives.
College Seminarian procession with Our Blessed Mother
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