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Apply to Our Seminary
“He is the one who has loved us so much; why shouldn’t we love Him in return?”
— St. John Vianney, Patron Saint of Parish Priests
The Application Process for the Fall of 2024 is now closed.
Applications for the Fall of 2025 formally opens in January of 2025. The deadline to submit documents is May 1, 2025. Please also note that we are now requiring test results for either the SAT or ACT exams as part of our application process.
Application Process
English-speaking men between the ages of 18 and 35 who are considering a priestly vocation, or who are ready to apply to the FSSP, may make a short visit to the seminary during the academic year. This allows the visitor to experience the Fraternity charism and life as a seminarian. We are unable to consider candidates older than 35 years of age.
When a man is ready to begin an application, he can access all of the necessary documents under the “Documents” tab on this page. Candidates should submit the various documents by mail as they are completed, or in small batches. We will record and acknowledge receipt of these documents.
In addition to all of the application documents, candidates must attend the vocations retreat, to be held at the end of May at the Seminary (* see next paragraph if you live outside of North America). During the retreat, applicants will be interviewed individually by a panel of priests.
* (Candidates who live outside North America should contact the OLGS Vocations Office regarding the required vocations retreat. It is possible that alternate arrangements can be made to meet with an FSSP priest in a region or at our seminary in Wigratzbad, Germany. The formal visit with the FSSP priest may replace the retreat requirement.)
The Vocations Retreat will occur in the first week of June, and is open only to those men who have submitted the complete application and have been specifically invited. The Vocations Office must approve attendance at the retreat.
Decisions on acceptance are made only after all the documents have been reviewed and interviews have been conducted during the vocations retreat in May or June. Paperwork sent in after the May deadline will be reviewed for the next academic year rather than the one starting that fall. If you have any questions about the application materials, please contact the Vocations Office for assistance.
Please be certain to check the regions found under the Questions tab to make sure you are contacting the vocations office responsible for your region.
Catholic men who are seriously considering preparation for the Roman Catholic priesthood and priestly service within a particular diocese or religious community are eligible to seek admission to Our Lady of Guadalupe Seminary. Our Lady of Guadalupe Seminary does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, or national origin, and complies with all applicable non-discrimination laws not contrary to the religious mission of the Seminary. This school is authorized under Federal law to enroll non-immigrant alien students.
Application Paperwork
Our Lady of Guadalupe Seminary.
ATTN: Vocations Office Secretary
PO Box 147 Denton, NE
68339 USA.
The following documents are in PDF format. Please be certain that you have Adobe Acrobat Reader version 8.0, or higher, to ensure compatibility with the forms. Acrobat Reader is a free application which you can obtain HERE. These forms are fillable online if you are using Acrobat.
- OLGS Application Checklist– Print out this form and use it as your checklist to keep track of your documents. We urge you to retain copies of all documents. If you have any questions about the items listed on this sheet, please email us. *(We request a “complete” baptismal certificate with explicit notation concerning the reception or non-reception of the sacraments of Holy Orders and Matrimony, a sample is included in the PDF).
- Application for Admission – The application form can be filled out online and printed when complete. Please note that you will not be able to save the completed file. You shou ld print out an additional copy for your records. If you experience difficulty in opening the application, you may access a static version of the application which must be printed and filled out by hand: Static Application for Admission. If you choose this option, be certain to write legibly to avoid any delays in processing your application.
- Two Application Essays: See the end of the Application for Admission form for instructions on the essays.
- Autobiographical Guide Sheet – This sheet will provide you with topic suggestions for writing your detailed autobiography.
- Medical Record Form – You will need to complete the first part of this form. Your physician will need to complete the second part. This form is not fillable online – please print it and complete it by hand.
- Letter of Recommendation Cover Letter – This is the cover letter that you will provide to each person completing a letter of recommendation for you. If you will be providing them with a printed copy instead of forwarding a PDF copy, be certain to fill in your name at the top before printing.
- Letter of Recommendation – If the priests who will write your letters of recommendation are computer literate, you can either email them a copy of the PDF or point them to the direct URL. This form is fillable online. If you are printing this form to have your writers complete the document by hand, be certain to type in your name at the top before printing. Also, do not forget to include the Letter of Recommendation cover letter (#5) and offer your writers postage reimbursement. These letters must be mailed directly to the vocations office by the priest. If you experience difficulty accessing this file, a static version is available here.
- FBI ID Record Request – All required information and documentation for the FBI background check can be found by following the link to the FBI website. Be sure to add the seminary address as the location where the results should be mailed to: FSSP Vocations Office, PO Box 147, Denton, NE 68339.
- Advanced Placement and Course Exemption Information – This is an informational sheet for your records that provides you with background information on possible course advancement for previous academic work.
- Letter of Reference & Confirmation of Prior Formation in a Religious Community/Diocese – If you have spent any time within a religious community of any kind or if you have spent any time as a diocesan seminarian, you are required to have your bishop (for diocesan seminarians) or major superior (for religious/novices/postulants/aspirants) complete this document. In addition, if you have spent any time studying in a seminary you are also required to have the seminary rector complete this document. If the bishop/major superior or rector chooses to delegate the task to another priest we require a statement signed by him stating that he delegated the task to the other priest and that he supports what the delegated priest has written. Like the recommendation letters, you can either mail a hard copy or ask them to use the direct URL. (Please note that in addition to this document, you will also need to have two letters of recommendation, from priests, to complete the letter of recommendation requirement). For those who experience difficulty accessing this file, a static version may be found here.
Expenses
The charge for room, board, and tuition is $7,000 per seminarian, per year. This amount is substantially less than the actual cost of priestly formation (about $30,000 per seminarian per year), thanks to the generous support of Fraternity benefactors. Additional expenses may include books, medical and vehicle insurance, travel to/from home during breaks, etc.
Candidates are expected to find benefactors (i.e. family, friends, Knights of Columbus, parish, etc.) to help pay for the various expenses associated with their priestly formation. Please note, however, that a candidate who does not have the ability to pay the annual charge should not be discouraged from applying. Applications will not be declined based on an inability to pay the tuition and room/board charges. More information regarding financial matters can be found on the FAQ page.
Questions
Take time to read through the Frequently Asked Questions before contacting the Vocations Office, as your concerns may be covered in that section. If you have more questions after reviewing the information on this site, please contact us at the appropriate location listed below.
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- English-speaking candidates from the Oceania region should contact:
Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter Vocations Director
ATTN: Fr. Duncan Wong, FSSP
Ezechiel House Novitiate
Residence: 44 West Street, Petersham, NSW 2049. Australia
Postal address: PO Box 917, Petersham, NSW 2049. Australia
ezechiel@fssp.net - English-speaking candidates from the United Kingdom/Ireland region should contact:
Fr. Armand de Malleray, FSSP
St Mary’s Priory
Smith Street
Warrington, WA1 2NS
malleray@fssp.org - English-speaking candidates from the Africa region should contact:
Fr. Angelo Van der Putten, FSSP
Nne Enyemaka Shrine Umuaka
PO Box 430
Imo State, Orlu, Nigeria
nigeriafssp@gmail.com - English-speaking candidates from all other regions should contact:
Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter Vocations Director
ATTN: Fr. Gregory Eichman, FSSP
Our Lady of Guadalupe Seminary
PO Box 147
Denton, NE 68339 USA
vocations@olgseminary.org - Spanish-speaking candidates from the Latin America region should contact:
Fr. Daniel Heenan FSSP
Av. Enrique Díaz de León Sur
No. 933, Col. Moderna.
C.P. 44190
Guadalajara, Jalisco, México.
vocacionesfssp@gmail.com
- English-speaking candidates from the Oceania region should contact:
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