Preparing the Faithful for Service in the Life of the Church
There are many universities where you can study theology and learn about the Church. But the University of Saint Mary of the Lake, founded in 1844 and home to Mundelein Seminary, offers something truly unique: formation. Because we form priests, we understand that ministry requires more than academic knowledge — it demands integral formation that nurtures the whole person: spiritually, pastorally, intellectually, and humanly. That’s what makes all the difference.
As the Catholic university of the Archdiocese of Chicago, USML is deeply rooted in the life and mission of the Church. Our close relationship with the Archdiocese ensures that everything we teach and every formation experience we offer is authentically Catholic, pastorally grounded, and responsive to the real needs of today’s parishes.
At the School of Parish Leadership and Evangelization (SPLE), students learn from the same distinguished faculty who educate and form our seminarians — experts who unite deep theological knowledge with lived pastoral experience. This shared formation environment fosters a rich exchange between clergy and laity, preparing all who study here to serve together in the mission of the Church.
For Catholics responding to God’s call to serve the Body of Christ, the School of Parish Leadership and Evangelization (SPLE) provides education and formation from the Church, for the Church — preparing expert lay ministers who serve alongside clergy with wisdom, faith, and love. Rooted in a century of priestly formation, SPLE draws from the same trusted faculty who have shaped generations of parish leaders and priests alike.
Our Programs – English
Graduate Programs
Ministry Programs
Deacon Formation
Nuestros Programas – Español
Ministerio Laico
Liderazgo Catequético
Diaconado Permanente
Online Short Courses
Explore the richness of Catholic teaching through the School of Parish Leadership and Evangelization’s engaging online short courses. Perfect for individuals seeking spiritual growth, deeper understanding, or professional enrichment. Study at your own pace, guided by expert instructors. Each course brings a fresh, energized approach to the study of liturgical and ministerial renewal. On-demand self-paced courses offer optional community collaboration and award Continuing Education Units (CEUs) upon completion of a final quiz.
Lay Leaders Help the Church Carry Out Its Mission
The Catholic Church depends on both clergy and lay leaders to carry out its mission of proclaiming the Gospel and building the Kingdom of God. Faithful, well-formed lay leaders bring their lived experience of family, work, and community into the life of the Church, helping to bridge faith and everyday life. Serving alongside priests and deacons, they strengthen parish life, lead ministries, and extend the Church’s presence in the world. Together, clergy and laity form a living partnership—united by baptism and guided by the Holy Spirit—to share Christ’s love and renew the Church.
At the University of Saint Mary of the Lake’s School of Parish Leadership and Evangelization (SPLE), this vision becomes a reality. SPLE provides degree, parish-ministry, deacon-formation and continuing-education programs in English and Spanish that equip lay men and women with theological grounding, pastoral skills and ministerial identity for service alongside clergy. Participants are immersed in a community of faith and learning, benefit from faculty shared with our seminary, and are prepared in both mind and heart to lead their parishes, schools and dioceses in the Church’s mission.
“I’ve only been [at SPLE] for almost a year, but it has entirely changed the trajectory of the way that I serve as a liturgist and the things I implement into the community. It really impacts you, not just because it’s your career, but how you live your life every day.”
Haley Henry, Master of art in liturgy student
“I love that USML started me on this path to explore my faith and its teachings and how I might share it with others.”
Thérèse McCall, MAPS Graduate
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Our Dean
Dear friends in Christ,
It is my great joy and privilege, on behalf of the University of Saint Mary of the Lake’s School of Parish Leadership & Evangelization (SPLE), to extend a warm welcome to you — whether you are a prospective student, a parish minister looking for formation, a lay leader seeking deeper mission, or simply exploring how to live more fully in service of the Gospel.
I am honored to serve as the Dean and Professor of Theology of SPLE, bringing to this role over twenty years of teaching and research in theology—especially in the areas of Christian–Muslim–Jewish relations and the call to encounter, dialogue, and transformative mission in a world so in need of hope and unity.
At SPLE, our mission is shaped by the rich tradition of this venerable university, grounded in Catholic faith and responsive to contemporary pastoral needs. Our purpose is to form you — lay men and women — to lead with fidelity, creativity, and compassion in the local parish and beyond.
Here are some of the hallmarks of our approach:
- Rooted in Tradition: We uphold the treasures of our Catholic faith, attending to Church teaching and the living traditions of theology, liturgy, and pastoral practice.
- Formation-centered: We focus on the holistic formation (human, spiritual, intellectual, pastoral) of future ministers.
- Synodal: Formation happens best in community, and with a synodal attitude (pastoral de conjunto): where students listen to and learn from faculty, each another, and the lived experience of others in the Church.
- Dialogical: We prepare students to engage in dialogue with the Church and the world, since they will encounter diverse people in their ministries: from fellow Catholics and Christians, to people of other religions and no religion.
I invite you to browse through our programs, connect with our faculty and staff, visit our campus in Mundelein, Illinois, and consider how you might join our community of learners and leaders.
Whether you are beginning this journey, returning for further formation, or simply exploring how to live out your baptismal call more intentionally — you are welcome here!
Sincerely,
Dr. Rita George-Tvrtković
Dean & Professor of Theology, School of Parish Leadership & Evangelization
University of Saint Mary of the Lake
rgeorgetvrtkovic@usml.edu