News Releases

Mundelein, Ill. (March 27, 2020) – The University of Saint Mary of the Lake/Mundelein Seminary announced today the postponement of the priesthood and diaconate ordination for candidates from the Archdiocese of Chicago. Given the current restrictions on large public gatherings in the City of Chicago and the State of Illinois, the ordinations will be indefinitely postponed until public ceremonies can once again be scheduled.

“Cardinal Blase Cupich and I are deeply saddened that these liturgical celebrations have to be postponed. They represent the culmination of years of spiritual, academic, and pastoral formation,” said Father John Kartje, rector/president of USML/Mundelein Seminary. “However, it is important that we abide by the current directives for large gatherings. We want these liturgies to be accessible to all, and they will serve as a joyful beginning for the entire Archdiocese to celebrate when we come out of this situation.”

The diaconate ordination was originally scheduled for Saturday, May 9 and the priesthood ordination was scheduled for Saturday, May 16, both at Holy Name Cathedral.

When the events are rescheduled, seven seminarians will be ordained to the priesthood and eventually assigned to parishes in the Archdiocese of Chicago. Fourteen seminarians will be ordained to the transitional diaconate on their way to being ordained as parish priests in 2021. This includes 11 seminarians from the Archdiocese of Chicago, 2 from the Diocese of Kiyinda-Mityana, Uganda and 1 from the Vincentian community. Thirty men will be ordained to the permanent diaconate.

USML also announced the cancellation of the convocation ceremony that was scheduled for Saturday, May 2 on the university campus. In addition to preparing more than 170 seminarians from over 30 dioceses to become parish priests, USML also trains hundreds of lay, religious and clergy through the Institute of Diaconal Studies, Institute for Pastoral Leadership, Instituto de Liderazgo Pastoral and the Liturgical Institute.

All students and seminarians are currently completing the semester through distance learning, and many seminarians are living at parishes throughout the Archdiocese, helping priests to minister to their parishioners in unique and creative ways since the suspension of in-person Masses and other in-person gatherings.

Plans to recognize the Class of 2020 are still being developed. This year the university will award 211 degrees and certificates to the graduates of its six schools and institutes.

Mundelein Seminary                                        53 graduates

Pre-Theology Certificate                                        7

Master of Arts (Philosophy and Religion)              9

Master of Divinity                                                  37

Pontifical Faculty of Theology                         23 graduates

Baccalaureate in Sacred Theology                      17       

Licentiate in Sacred Theology                               6

Liturgical Institute                                           5 graduates

Licentiate in Sacred Theology                               4

Doctorate in Sacred Theology                               1

Institute for Pastoral Leadership                      27 graduates   

Lay Leadership Certificate                                    12

Catechetical Leadership Certificate                        8                     

Lay Ecclesial Ministry Graduate Certificate            3

Doctor of Ministry                                                    4

Institute for Diaconal Studies                          22 graduates

Certificate in Diaconal Studies                               22       

Instituto de Liderazgo Pastoral                        81 graduates

Lay Leadership Certificate                                     63

Catechetical Leadership Certificate                         5

Certificate in Diaconal Studies                               13