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Father John Kartje | Current Rector

Father John Kartje, Ph.D.

Rector, 2015 – Present

Ph.D. University of Chicago; M.Div, S.T.B., University of St. Mary of the Lake; S.T.L, S.T.D., Catholic University of America. Former Associate pastor at St. Benedict Parish. Former Chaplain and Director Sheil Catholic Center, Northwestern University. Member of the Catholic Biblical Association.

Bishop Robert Barron | Rector 2012-2015

Bishop Robert Barron, S.T.D.

Rector, 2012 – 2015

Bishop Robert Barron is an auxiliary bishop for the Archdiocese of Los Angeles. He is also a former rector of Mundelein Seminary, the founder of Word on Fire Catholic Ministries, and the host of CATHOLICISM, a groundbreaking, award-winning documentary about the Catholic Faith. He received a Master’s Degree in Philosophy from the Catholic University of America (1982) and a doctorate in Sacred Theology from the Institut Catholique de Paris (1992).

Msgr. Dennis J. Lyle | Rector 2006-2012

Monsignor Dennis J. Lyle, S.T.D.

Rector, 2006 – 2012

Rev. Msgr. Dennis J. Lyle was the eighth rector of Mundelein Seminary. He received his Doctorate in Moral Theology from the Pontifical Lateran University in Rome in 2000. Before coming to Mundelein, he was an Instructor of Theology, Formation Director, and Academic Dean at St. Joseph College Seminary from 1994-1997. He was the Associate Professor in the Department of Christian Life from 2000-2006, becoming rector in 2006.

Msgr. John Canary | Rector 1995-2006

Monsignor John Canary

Rector, 1995 – 2006

Rev. Msgr. John Canary was the seventh rector of Mundelein Seminary. Having a background in the writings of St. John of the Cross, Msgr. Canary was the Dean of Formation at Mundelein from 1977-1988 and the Vice-Rector from 1984-1992. He became the seminary rector in 1995, leaving in 2006 to become the Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Chicago.

Bishop Gerald F. Kicanas | Rector 1984-1995

Bishop Gerald F. Kicanas

Rector, 1984 – 1995

Most Rev. Gerald F. Kicanas was the seventh rector of Mundelein Seminary. Before becoming rector of Mundelein, he served as rector, principal, and Dean of Formation at Quigley Preparatory Seminary South. He was appointed rector of Mundelein in 1984. In 1995, Kicanas was appointed Auxiliary Bishop of Chicago. He was named Bishop of Tucson in 2003. His motto is “Justice begets peace,” which is taken from the Book of the Prophet Isaiah (32:17).

Very Rev. James Keleher 1978
Very Rev. James Keleher | Rector 1978-1984

Archbishop James P. Keleher, S.T.D.

Rector, 1978 – 1984

Most Rev. James P. Keleher was the sixth rector of Mundelein Seminary. He obtained his Doctorate in Sacred Theology, focusing on the writings of St. Augustine of Hippo. Before becoming rector in 1978, he already served as an associate professor of systematic theology at Mundelein. He was the third Archbishop of Kansas City and occasionally taught at the seminary. He died in 2024.

Very Rev. Thomas J. Murphy
Very Rev. Thomas J. Murphy | Rector 1973-1978

Archbishop Thomas J. Murphy

Rector, 1973 – 1978

Born in Chicago, Archbishop Thomas J. Murphy attended Quigley Preparatory Seminary and the University of St. Mary of the Lake/Mundelein Seminary before being ordained in 1958. He was named rector of the seminary in 1973 and served in that post until 1978, when he was appointed bishop of Great Falls, Montana. He became coadjutor archbishop of Seattle in 1987 and archbishop of Seattle in 1991. He died in 1997.

Bishop John Gorman | Rector 1966-1973

Bishop John Gorman, D.D.

Rector, 1966 – 1973

Most Rev. John Gorman, D.D. was the fourth rector of Mundelein Seminary. He was ordained to the priesthood in 1952. Before becoming rector of Mundelein, he served as a faculty member of the Archdiocese of Chicago’s high school and college seminaries, Loyola Pastoral Studies Institute, and Notre Dame University Summer School. He also served as an associate pastor in Chicago parishes. He was appointed rector of Mundelein Seminary in January 1966 and served until 1973, overseeing the seminary as it ushered in changes to reflect Vatican II. In 1988, he was named Auxiliary Bishop of Chicago.

In 1973, he became pastor at St. Michael Church in Orland Park, where he remained until 1987. He was director of the Department of Parish/Pastoral Services from May 1986 until 1988. In 1988, he was named Auxiliary Bishop of Chicago and Episcopal Vicar of Vicariate I from 1988 to 1990. He served as Vicar General/Vicar for Regional Services until 1995. Finally, on February 15, 1995, Bishop Gorman served as Episcopal Vicar of Vicariate V until May 1, 2003.

Rev. Msgr. Malachy P. Foley 1944
Rev. Msgr. Malachy P. Foley | 1944-1966

Monsignor Malachy Foley

Rector, 1944 – 1966

In 1944, Cardinal Stritch appointed Msgr. Malachy P. Foley as the third rector of Mundelein Seminary. He was ordained a priest of the Archdiocese of Chicago in 1922. From 1935 to 1944, he served as rector of the high school seminary in the Archdiocese of Chicago.

Msgr. Foley was known for his priestly personal piety and priestly example as rector at Mundelein. During his long administration, the United States would enter World War II. The need for military chaplains drew many priests into the service, which required the seminary to accelerate its training to fill the positions which they left. This period exemplified the generous support which the Archdiocese of Chicago had for the military, evidenced by the larger number of priests who were released to serve as chaplains.

In 1965, Msgr. Foley became pastor of the former Parish of Saint Bride in Chicago, IL. He was named pastor emeritus on December 22, 1969, and continued to serve the people of Saint Bride until his passing in 1979 at the age of 81.

Msgr. Reynold Hillenbrand 1936-1944 Priest, pastor, educator, social justice advocate and liturgical reformer, Monsignor Reynold Hillenbrand (1905-1979), a priest of the Archdiocese of Chicago, served as rector of St. Mary of the Lake Seminary from 1936 to 1944, and pastor of sacred Heart Parish in Winnetka, Illinois from 1944 to 1974. Known as one of Chicago’s most influential and inspirational priests, Hillenbrand was a visionary leader of liturgical reform and social renewal. As a prolific speaker and founder of numerous organizations and events, including the National Liturgical Weeks, the Summer of Social Action and the Catholic Family Movement, Hillenbrand shaped the understanding of generations of priests and laypeople.
Msgr. Reynold Hillenbrand | Rector 1936-1944

Monsignor Reynold Hillenbrand, S.T.D.

Rector, 1936 – 1944

Priest, pastor, educator, social justice advocate and liturgical reformer, Monsignor Reynold Hillenbrand (1905-1979), a priest of the Archdiocese of Chicago, served as rector of Saint Mary of the Lake Seminary from 1936 to 1944, and pastor of sacred Heart Parish in Winnetka, Illinois from 1944 to 1974. Known as one of Chicago’s most influential and inspirational priests, Hillenbrand was a visionary leader of liturgical reform and social renewal. As one of the American pioneers of the Liturgical Movement in the United States, Hillenbrand began promoting active participation in the liturgy decades before the Second Vatican Council made today’s liturgical practices the norm. Always conscious that worshippers formed a Mystical Body with Christ as its head, Hillenbrand encouraged appropriate lay participation so that Christ’s work, which continued in the Church, could flourish on earth.

Rev. Msgr. J. Gerald Kealy, D.D., USML's first rector in 1921. In addition to building an institution of higher learning from the ground up, Kealy hosted the International Eucharistic Congress at the Mundelein campus.


Msgr. J. Gerald Kealy | Rector 1921-1936

Monsignor J. Gerald Kealy, D.D.

Rector, 1921-1936

Monsignor J. Gerald Kealy was the founding rector of Mundelein Seminary. In addition to building an institution of higher learning from the ground up, Kealy hosted the International Eucharistic Congress at the Mundelein campus.
Appointed as pastor of St. Gertrude Parish in Chicago in 1936, he would continue in the pastoral ministry until his retirement in 1968. However, his expertise in seminary administration was called upon in 1945 when he assumed the office of rector of the Pontifical North American College for one year, after which he returned to the pastorate. He died in 1976 at the age of 83.