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.

 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.  Three years ago the lecture series was given by the Institute for Priestly Formation.  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.

The Reverend Msgr. Kevin Irwin, S.T.D.

 The Rev. Msgr. Kevin W. Irwin is the Dean of the School of Theology and Religious Studies at the Catholic University of America, where he is also Ordinary Professor of Liturgy and Sacramental Theology and holder of the Monsignor Walter J. Schmitz Chair of Liturgical Studies.

 Monsignor Irwin is the author of a number of scholarly books, most recently Models of the Eucharist and Context and Text: Method in Liturgical Theology as well as numerous articles and over fifty book reviews for such journals as Worship, Theological Studies, New Theology Review, the Jurist and the Thomist.  He is a much sought-after speaker, offering approximately thirty-five public lectures a year.  Monsignor Irwin is an advisor to the Bishops’ Committee on the Liturgy and previously served as theological consultation to the Bishops’ Committee on the Diaconate.  He is a member of a number of scholarly societies, including the North American Academy of Liturgy, the Catholic Theological Society of America and the Society of Catholic Liturgy.

 A priest of the Archdiocese of New York, Monsignor Irwin received the M.Div. from Saint Joseph Seminary, Dunwoodie and the M.A. (Liturgical Studies) from the University of Notre Dame, and the S.T.D. (Sacramental Theology) from the Pontifical Athenaeum of Saint Anselm in Rome.

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.