OUR SEMINARY

Those applicants seeking admission to the seminary program must furnish:

• A completed Seminary Division Application Form
• Psychological evaluation by a psychologist experienced in testing candidates for the seminary. The testing center, or professional, must be approved by the school;
• One page account (as called for by the application) describing the candidate’s life, the candidate’s process of discernment of his priestly vocation and commitment to celibacy;
• Three letters of recommendation;
• Letters of evaluation from the rector of each seminary previously attended;
• Letters of evaluation from any diocese or religious community with which the candidate was or is associated;
• Official certificates of candidate’s baptism and confirmation prepared within six months of the date of application, and a copy of the candidate’s parents’ marriage certificate;
• Medical certificate of good health, stating the candidate is able to undertake studies for the priesthood and is free from contagious diseases (this must be prepared by a licensed physician within six months prior to application); HIV and drug testing required;
• Academic transcripts of all post-secondary education, proof of the highest degree earned, and all standardized test results available (G.R.E. Institution code 3429). All must be official and issued directly to Holy Apostles Seminary;
• Criminal background check;
• Non-refundable application fee.

• Applicants for the M.Div. program should follow the Seminary Division Admissions Procedures
• Applicants for the M.Div. program must have a Bachelor’s degree or its equivalent from an accredited college or university and 24 credits in 8 pre-requisite philosophy courses as given in the Theology program requirements as described in the academic catalog.
• Before being admitted to the M.Div. program, applicants must have completed the prior stages: the Propaedeutic Stage and the Discipleship Stage.

In cases where an applicant has been a seminarian in another accredited theologate, 60 graduate credits with at least a “C” grade may be transferred toward the M.Div. degree.

Once the application and all supporting documentation have been received and evaluated, candidates will be invited to visit Holy Apostles for individual interviews with the Rector and members of the Admissions Committee. The applicant will also meet with the Academic Dean who will evaluate his academic record and preparation, and with the Financial Aid Officer, if necessary, to determine how to finance his education if accepted. A recommendation on each applicant is made by the Admissions Committee to the Rector, who informs the candidate in writing of his decision.

All seminarians are to be sponsored by a Diocese, Religious Community or Society of Apostolic Life at the time of application. The reason for this sponsorship is that seminary formation is entails a partnership between a sponsoring bishop or religious ordinary and the seminary formation team.

During this year of discernment, it is the responsibility of the aspirant to pay for his education, either by loans or other means, and to provide for his health needs. The attire for aspirants is black trousers, black shoes, and a white shirt. Unlike pre-theologians and college seminarians, aspirants do not where a black tie.

Psychological exams and background checks are required of aspirants.

Some students who apply at a later age and do not have a Bachelor’s degree may, with the permission of their diocese or religious society, earn a Certificate of Preparation for Ordination for the Priesthood upon the satisfactory completion of four years of theology. All requirements for those in the certificate program are the same as those in the M.Div. program, including the philosophy pre-requisites. Candidates for the M.Div. degree must achieve and maintain a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.0.

International Student Information

All students who are citizens of foreign countries must have proper documentation from the United States government in order to attend Holy Apostles College and Seminary. There are three principal forms of acceptable documentation:

• permanent resident alien status
• the F-1 student visa
• the R-1 visa for religious workers

Those who have permanent resident status (i.e., a “green card”) are not required to provide further documentation.Applications from international students who plan to attend class on campus must submit complete applications at least 120 days in advance of the start of the semester in which they plan to begin their studies here.In addition to the regular college admissions application, each potential international student who plans to attend Holy Apostles under the F-1 student visa must submit a photocopy of his or her passport and complete a form provided by the college’s Business Office.The information on this form becomes part of the I-20 application submitted to the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) and must be provided before a student visa is issued. SEVIS is a Web-based information system designed to track all foreign students attending college in the United States under the F-1 student visa program.Holy Apostles College and Seminary is required to verify the authenticity of each application for admission before the F-1 student visa is issued. Specifically, Holy Apostles College and Seminary must provide, on the I-20 form, information that includes the student’s major, level of education, anticipated start and end dates for studies and sources of funding.International-student applicants are responsible for complying with all government regulations regarding the F-1 student visa. Final documentation is issued by American consulates or embassies in foreign countries.

Government regulations require all such students to have a sponsor in the United States who will guarantee the payment of all educational and living expenses in the event the student defaults on such payments. In addition, Holy Apostles College and Seminary requires that at least one year’s full tuition be deposited with the college in advance, to verify the authenticity of the application. The college reserves the right to require additional cash deposits as proof of a legitimate application. In the event that the application for the F-1 student visa is denied, all funds will be returned to the applicant.Holy Apostles College and Seminary is required by federal regulation to notify the Department of Homeland Security about the arrival and registration of all F-1 students and about the physical presence and registration of every F-1 student each academic semester. For that reason, new international students are required to come directly to campus upon their arrival in this country and to present all required documentation at that time.In addition, the college is required to inform SEVIS of any changes in an F-1 student’s status due to things such as leaves or absence, suspensions or withdrawals from the college; the dropping of courses below the level of full-time student; changes of resident address; changes regarding dependents; changes in major or expected completion date; and types and periods of authorized or unauthorized employment.Because Holy Apostles College and Seminary provides no on-campus or off-campus housing for non-seminary students, all F-1 lay students are required to provide for their own living arrangements in advance of the start of their studies. This task can be taken care of by the applicant’s U.S.-resident sponsor.Further essential information is available on these two federal government Web sites: US Immigration & Customs Enforcement US Department of Education

English Proficiency Test

An English Proficiency Test will be given during the orientation period to determine the ability of candidates to read and communicate in English. Deficiencies will be brought to the candidate’s attention. Special instruction will be arranged when necessary, and the course “English As A Second Language” is available to foreign students. Visit, the Holy Apostles College and Seminary Language Policy