About
A house of formation for the Diocese of Cleveland.
Borromeo Seminary is the college seminary in the Diocese of Cleveland. We're a community where men discern the call to the priesthood and are formed for diocesan priesthood or religious life.
We serve the Diocese of Cleveland, the Diocese of Youngstown, and the Capuchin Franciscan Province of Saint Augustine. Our campus sits at the Center for Pastoral Leadership in Wickliffe, Ohio, where men live, pray, and study together while earning their undergraduate degree at John Carroll University.
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What is college seminary?
Borromeo is one of roughly 18 college seminaries in the United States. It is a house of formation, not a standalone college. Men accepted into the program live at the seminary and take an integrated sequence of philosophy and theology here, while completing the rest of their undergraduate degree at John Carroll University.
When a man finishes at Borromeo, his formation continues. Most graduates apply to Saint Mary Seminary for graduate studies in theology before ordination. Borromeo provides Saint Mary Seminary with the majority of its seminarians, and the Diocese of Cleveland with the majority of its priests.
Formation
The four dimensions of formation
Priestly formation is one journey lived in four dimensions.
1
Human formation
Shapes the character and maturity that let a priest be a bridge to Christ rather than an obstacle.
2
Spiritual formation
Draws a man into friendship and communion with Jesus Christ through prayer, the sacraments, and the rhythm of the Church.
3
Intellectual formation
Gives a man the philosophical and theological grounding to teach and to lead.
4
Pastoral formation
Trains a man to shepherd and serve real people.
Our History
Our history
Since 1954, Borromeo Seminary has formed young men discerning a call to priestly ministry for the Diocese of Cleveland.
Archbishop Edward Hoban founded Borromeo Seminary in 1954 on a fifty-six acre campus in Wickliffe, the former Marycrest School for Girls, and named Msgr. John Whealon its first rector. In 1979, the Capuchin Franciscans of the Province of Saint Augustine joined the community. Capuchin students discern the call to religious life alongside diocesan seminarians, and Franciscan friars teach some of the formation courses.
For nearly forty years, the school was known as Borromeo College of Ohio, a fully accredited liberal arts college where hundreds of men earned a Bachelor of Arts degree. In 1991, Bishop Anthony Pilla secured its future through an agreement with John Carroll University. Borromeo College of Ohio became Borromeo Seminary, a collaborative seminary affiliated with the university, while keeping its own academic faculty.
Today, under the leadership of its rector, Father Andrew Turner, Borromeo Seminary forms men through the Program of Priestly Formation, sixth edition, for the Diocese of Cleveland, the Diocese of Youngstown, and the Capuchin Province of Saint Augustine.
Archbishop Edward Hoban founds Borromeo Seminary in 1954 on the former Marycrest campus in Wickliffe.
The Capuchin Franciscans of the Province of Saint Augustine join the community in 1979.
For nearly forty years, Borromeo College of Ohio grants hundreds of Bachelor of Arts degrees.
In 1991, Bishop Anthony Pilla secures its future through an agreement with John Carroll University.
Today, under Father Andrew Turner, Borromeo forms men for Cleveland, Youngstown, and the Capuchins.
Wondering if God is calling you to the priesthood?
You don’t have to figure it out alone.
Contact Vocations Director