
Theological College: Founded in 1917
Celebrating Over 100 Years
Explore Our History
Beginnings
Father Jean-Jacques Olier founds the Society of St. Sulpice in France to strengthen seminary vocation formation and the priesthood.
Beginnings
At the invitation of Bishop John Carroll, Sulpicians from France open the first diocesan seminary in the United States, St. Mary’s Seminary in Baltimore, Maryland.
Sulpician Seminary
An annex of St. Mary’s Seminary in Baltimore, Sulpician Seminary opens in Washington, D.C., with 40 fourth-year seminarians who take up residence in the Paulists’ Apostolic Mission House (on the campus of The Catholic University of America) and are taught by three Sulpicians and one Paulist.
Sulpician Seminary
Nuns from the Congregation of the Sisters of Divine Providence of Kentucky begin their work of domestic care for the seminary and its residents. Now 70 seminarians reside in Caldwell Hall and the Paulists’ Apostolic Mission House.
Sulpician Seminary
Sulpician Seminary becomes a full theologate with seminarians in all four years of seminary study. The new building at the corner of 4th Street and Michigan Avenue was dedicated on September 23 by Cardinal Gibbons of Baltimore
Sulpician Seminary
The Basselin Foundation is established at Catholic University and the Sulpician Seminary, funded through a generous bequest from Theodore Basselin to provide for the education and training of exceptionally qualified philosophy students in college seminary studies, with a focus on public speaking and apologetics.
Sulpician Seminary
Sulpician Seminary becomes independent of St. Mary’s Seminary in Baltimore.
Sulpician Seminary
Seminarians are given responsibility for Sunday services at the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, including High Mass and Vespers. This continues for decades.
Sulpician Seminary
Founding of the Sulpician Seminary Alumni Association.
Sulpician Seminary
Sulpician Seminary becomes the university seminary of The Catholic University of America. That year, first-year seminarians take their classes at Catholic University. The next year, both first- and second-year seminarians receive their academic formation at Catholic University, followed then by first-, second-, and third-year men in 1939.
Theological College
The Sulpician Seminary and Catholic University ratify a contract, through which the seminary is renamed Theological College and becomes a national pontifical seminary. All academic formation is now at Catholic University, with all other formation at Theological College.
Theological College
The Sedes Sapientiae statue is erected in the seminary courtyard as a gift from the alumni, marking the 25th anniversary of the seminary founding. It was later moved to the front walkway.
Theological College
Dedication and blessing of the seminary building, the tower section, and the “new wing” (which is now McCormick Pavilion).
Theological College
Theological College initiates pastoral formation as part of the overall program of preparation for priesthood.
Theological College
The seminary faculty create the position of formation advisor, which quickly becomes a national standard.
Theological College
During the 1980s, the seminary and University create the Pre-Theology Program (for seminarians who already have bachelor’s degrees) and a joint Sacred Theology Bachelors/ Masters of Divinity degree program.
Theological College
Phase one of a major renovation campaign, which modernized and reconfigured the first floor, is completed. The unused seminarian rooms were separated into office space in the new McCormick Pavilion.
Theological College
Phase two of the renovation campaign is completed with new student and faculty rooms.
Theological College
The newly renovated reservation chapel is dedicated.
Theological College
The seminary and University institute a five-year combined S.T.B and S.T.L. degree program.