About St. Bernard's
St.
Bernard's History
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Opened
as a Roman Catholic Seminary in l893 and restructured into an
Institute for
theological
and ministerial studies in l98l, St. Bernard’s has steadily
pursued a course of dedication and service to a changing Church in a
changing world. The
founder, Bishop Bernard J. McQuaid, an educational pioneer, was bold
and innovative in his vision of theological education. Succeeding bishops of Rochester also left their mark on the
development of St. Bernard’s. Archbishop Thomas Hickey laid the
groundwork for its financial stability.
Bishop James E. Kearney left a legacy of deeply rooted
personal devotion. Archbishop
Fulton J. Sheen introduced changes enabling the traditional
seminary to meet the challenges of the Second Vatican Council.
In
response to the Second Vatican Council, St. Bernard’s changed
rapidly and became one of the first Roman Catholic seminaries in the
United States to open its doors to laity. The focus on ministerial
and theological education for the laity intensified with the move
from the north side of Rochester to the Colgate Rochester Divinity
School (now known as Colgate Rochester Crozer Divinity School)
campus on South Goodman Street.
On August 26, 1981, St. Bernard’s and the Colgate Rochester
Divinity School signed a covenant establishing a graduate-level
affiliation between the two institutions. Under this arrangement,
both institutions retained their own curriculum, degrees, endowment,
alumni, and Boards of Trustees.
Both institutions shared the physical facilities of the
Colgate Rochester Crozer Divinity School, maintaining a
single
library, and, within curriculum requirements, extended
cross-registration privileges to all enrolled students.
In
the fall of 1989, St. Bernard’s initiated an extension program in
the Diocese of
Albany with the enthusiastic support of Bishop Howard Hubbard. St.
Bernard’s program at Albany serves the educational and ministerial
needs of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Albany as well as the wider
ecumenical community of the Albany and surrounding areas.
In
the spring of 1992, the Diocese of Rochester started a non-graduate
training program for people serving in and preparing for parish
ministry. This program, known as the
Certification
Program continues to serve as the
Diocesan training program for many parish leaders while also
providing opportunities for individuals seeking adult faith
formation. A comparable program known as the
Instituto
de Pastoral Hispano is offered for the Hispanic community.
In
the fall of 1994, the Certification for Designated Ministry program,
the Instituto de Pastoral Hispano and the Office of Professional
Development were incorporated into the structure of St. Bernard’s.
The consolidation of these educational programs with the graduate
program brings both better collaboration and clarity to the diverse
levels of preparation for ministry.
The integration of the Certification and
Community
Education programs into the overall mission of St. Bernard’s
signaled the emerging role of the school as the ministerial training
center for the Diocese of Rochester.
In 2002, the Certification program was extended to the Albany
diocese, further enhancing St. Bernard’s role in preparing a wider
range of people for ministry.
In
August 2003, St. Bernard’s moved to its brand new
facility
on 120 French Road. This
marks an exciting new phase in the history of the school.
This independent existence would not have been possible
without the support and significant financial commitment from the
Roman Catholic Diocese of Rochester under the leadership of the
current Bishop, Matthew H. Clark.
Significant dates and occurrences in
the
history
of St. Bernard's.
Mission Statement
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| St.
Bernard’s School of Theology and Ministry, a Roman
Catholic graduate and professional
school, educates and assists women and men in academic,
ministerial,
interpersonal and spiritual formation for the purpose of
serving the Church
through diverse forms of lay and ordained ministries; for
theological
scholarship; and for Christian service in society. |
Accreditation
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St. Bernard's School
of Theology and Ministry (formally St. Bernard's Institute),
successor to St. Bernard's Seminary, operates under the original charter
of incorporation granted in 1891 and modified in 1981 by the Board of
Regents of the State of New York and is accredited by the Association of
Theological School in the United States and Canada.
Student Body
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Responsive to the prompting of the Spirit, students of diverse walks
of life, denominations and ages are pursuing graduate studies at St.
Bernard's . Women and men, parish staff, and interested laity,
from their 20's through their 60's, the St. Bernard's student body is a cross
section of the Church itself. All are intent in discerning the Lord's call
to them as they respond to the needs of the Church in the 21st century.
