CAMPUS

  The campus is located in Mundelein, Illinois, forty miles northwest of downtown Chicago. The fifteen major buildings comprising the physical plant are situated at the west end of the campus overlooking a lake. The buildings are Colonial or Georgian style and include the centrally located Main Chapel, Administration Building, Feehan Memorial Library, McEssy Theological Resource Center Theology Lecture Hall, Theology Residence, Center Office, Conference Center Hall and Faculty Residence. There are two computer labs for student use. University of St. Mary of the Lake (USML) also has a gymnasium with facilities for basketball, swimming, handball, racquetball and bowling; an Auditorium with a full stage, theater organ, and projection equipment; a Dining Hall; and a Power Plant.

 LIBRARY

 The Feehan Memorial Library and McEssy Theological Resource Center has over 190,000 catalogued books.  It is especially strong in the areas of scripture philosophy, patristic studies, theology, canon law and church history, supporting scholarship from the M.Div. through the S.T.D. levels. The Library maintains subscriptions to over 453 periodical publications and several online databases. The Library is an institutional member of the Catholic Library Association, the American Theological Library Association, and the Consortium of Academic and Research Libraries in Illinois. It cooperates in interlibrary loan programs, giving students access to books and periodicals throughout North America

OTHER FACILITIES

 HOUSING

 Each student has a private room with individual study, shower, and toilet facilities. Phone and data retrieval connections are available in each room.  Within the residence buildings, students live in small groups called "cams" (from the Italian camerata, "dormitory” or living area) formed for purposes of prayer, community experience, and various activities. A priest lives and works with each cam in a pastoral role. 

DINING HALL

 A pleasant dining atmosphere is provided in a carpeted dining hall. An appetizing and varied menu is prepared daily by the seminary kitchen staff.

 COMPUTER SERVICES

 Students’ rooms are provided with phone, internet, and cable connections. The Seminary has high speed Internet connection to support all types of multimedia traffic. Students who do not have their own computers may use one of the three computer labs on campus. Support is available from trained student volunteers as well as from the Seminary Office of Computer Services.   All classrooms are equipped for use of technology and internet to enhance teaching and learning.

 SPEECH STUDIO

To assist the students in the Homiletics and Liturgical Celebration Practicum courses, the School of Theology has a variety of facilities. These include a  soundproofed studio with videotape equipment, a speech and recording library, and supplementary microphone and recording equipment.

 HEALTH CENTER

 A health center is operated by a registered nurse. Doctors are available in the nearby communities of Mundelein and Libertyville for consultation in cases of illness.

ATHLETIC FACILITIES

In addition to the gymnasium and indoor swimming pool, there are playing fields and courts for soccer, baseball, handball, and tennis. An eighteen-hole golf course on the grounds was leased to a professional operator for public use. It is available for use on a limited basis by students and faculty.

CHESTER AND MARGARET PALUCH CHAIR OF THEOLOGY

In 1990, the Margaret and Chester Paluch Chair of Theology was established through a generous donation to foster theological studies at Mundelein Seminary. The first recipient of this honor from 1990-1993 was Rev. Eugene LaVerdiere, S.S.S.  Past recipients have included; Dr. Edward Kantowicz, Dr. Ewert Cousins,  Rev. Edward Oakes, S.J. and Reverend Joseph Henchey, CSS  This past year the holder of the Paluch Chair was Reverend Philip Timko, O.S.B. For this coming year Sister Sara Butler, M.S.B.T. will be the Paluch Professor.

 Sister Sara Butler, M.S.B.T., has been a seminary professor of dogmatic theology for the past twenty years—most recently at St. Joseph’s Seminary (Dunwoodie) in the Archdiocese of New York (2003-2010), but before that at Mundelein Seminary (1989-2003). Sister Sara is a member of the Missionary Servants of the Most Blessed Trinity.  She has a papal appointment to the International Theological Commission (2004, renewed in 2009) and has served on the Anglican-Roman Catholic International Commission since 1991.  She is currently a consultant to the Baptist-Catholic International Conversation, the USCCB Doctrine Committee, and the Apostolic Visitation of Women Religious in the U.S.   In 2009 Sister received the Cardinal Wright Award for outstanding scholarly service to the Church.  The author of many scholarly articles, Sister Sara recently published The Catholic Priesthood and Women: A Guide to the Teaching of the Church (Chicago: Hillenbrand, 2007).  She has an M.A. in Religious Education from The Catholic University of America, an S.T.L. from the University of St. Mary of the Lake, and a Ph.D. in Systematic Theology from Fordham University.  She served on the General Council of her religious institute from 1978-88, and prior to that she was assigned to deanery religious education offices of the dioceses of Richmond, Virginia and Mobile, Alabama.

ALBERT CARDINAL MEYER LECTURESHIP

The Albert Cardinal Meyer Lecture Series began in 1984. It was named after Cardinal Meyer to recognize his significant influence on the Church. He was a man of great intelligence who spoke eloquently for the values promoted by the Church. Since that time a distinguished list of speakers has participated. In recent years we have been honored to have Dr. John Esposito, Professor J. Philip Jenkins and Dr. Margaret Mitchell. The presentation in 2007 was given by Rt. Rev. Dr. N.T. Wright, the Lord Bishop of Durham, Church of England. In 2008 the lecture series honored Avery Cardinal Dulles, S.J.. The 2009 lecturer was The Rev. Steven M. Avella. In 2009-2010 Rev. Msgr. Kevin Erwin, S.T.D. was our guest lecturer. For 2010-2011 the Meyer Lecturer will be Archbishop Felix Machado

The Reverend Kevin FitzGerald, S.J., Ph.D

The Reverend Kevin FitzGerald is a priest of the Society of Jesus and is a Research Associate Professor in the Division of Biochemistry and Pharmacology of the Department of Oncology at Georgetown University Medical Center and the Dr. David P. Lauler Chair for Catholic Health Care Ethics at Georgetown University. We are happy to welcome him to the position of Albert Cardinal Meyer Lecturer at the University of Saint Mary of the Lake / Mundelein Seminary.

The Meyer Lecture Series this year continues the five year project of studying the constitutions of the Second Vatican Council in anticipation of the fiftieth anniversary. The lectures this year are devoted to Gaudium et Spes: The Pastoral Constitution on the Church in the Modern World, with a special emphasis on the theme of religion and science.

Father Fitzgerald is a distinguished scholar and researcher in biological science. In addition to his hospital and university appointments, he is also a member of the Center for Clinical Bioethics, the Advisory Board for the Center for Infectious Disease (CID), and the Angiogenesis, Invasion, Metastasis Program at the Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center.

His research interests have included the investigation of abnormal gene regulation in cancer and ethical issues in human genetics, including the ethical and social ramifications of molecular genetics research. He is also a Jesuit priest and an expert on ethical issues in personalized medicine, pharmacogenomics, human cloning research, stem cell research, and genetic testing.

Father Fitzgerald received his undergraduate education in biology at Cornell University. He entered the Society of Jesus and completed his M.Div. at the Jesuit School of Theology. He then completed two research doctorates at Georgetown University, the first in molecular biology and the second in bioethics.

FRANCIS CARDINAL GEORGE, O.M.I.,

PROFESSOR OF FAITH AND CULTURE

In 2008, the Archbishop of Chicago began an endowment with a portion of a generous gift from an alumnus of Mundelein Seminary to establish a chair for the study of faith and culture.  An additional annual gift from the Word on Fire Global Ministry supports the research professorship.  In addition to seminary teaching, research and writing, the George Professor has the responsibility for public lecturing and bringing the insights of the Catholic tradition into dialogue with American culture, especially the various professions.  The first Francis Cardinal George Professor of Faith and Culture is Father Robert E. Barron.

Fr. Robert Barron, was ordained a priest of the Archdiocese of Chicago in 1986.  He served as associate pastor of Saint Paul of the Cross Parish before undertaking post-graduate studies in France.  Upon completion of his doctorate, he joined the faculty of the University of Saint Mary of the Lake / Mundelein Seminary.  Father Barron has held a number of positions at Mundelein, including chairperson and professor in the Department of Systematic Theology and associate director of the Doctor of Ministry Program.  Additionally, Father Barron founded Word on Fire, a Catholic evangelism ministry.  He is the author of eight books, including  The Strangest Way: Walking the Christian Path, Creation as Discipleship,  A Study of the DePotentia of Thomas Aquinas in Light of the Dogmatik of Paul Tillich, Thomas Aquinas: Spiritual Master, And Now I See:  A Theology of Transformation, Heaven in Stone and Glass and Bridging the Great Divide and The Word on Fire: Proclaiming the Power of Christ and of the Priority of Christ: Toward a Postliberal Catholicism. Articles on theology and the spiritual life have appeared in numerous journals. Father Barron received the M.A. (Philosophy) from the Catholic University of America, the S.T.B., M.Div., and S.T.L. from the University of St. Mary of the Lake / Mundelein Seminary and the S.T.D. from the Institut Catholique de Paris.