School of Parish Leadership and Evangelization
Forming the next generation of parish leaders for service to God and His people.
About Us
At the University of Saint Mary of the Lake, “Tradition” is deeply rooted in our long history as a center for Catholic theological education and formation. Established in 1844, it is one of the oldest Catholic universities and seminaries in the United States. The university’s tradition is characterized by its commitment to the intellectual, spiritual, and pastoral formation of its students, preparing them for service in the Church.
The School of Parish Leadership & Evangelization (SPLE) offers lay leadership programs to help students grow in faith, knowledge, and Catholic intellectual tradition to prepare them for service in their parishes, neighborhoods, and families. Students at the School of Parish Leadership and Evangelization learn about faith and go on to serve the church and its people in a ministerial or leadership role.
At the School of Parish Leadership and Evangelization you’ll find:
Tradition
Established in 1844, USML is one of the oldest Catholic universities in the United States committed to the intellectual, spiritual, and pastoral formation of our students, preparing them for service in the Church.
Spiritual Growth
We provide a holistic approach to spiritual growth, ensuring that students are not only academically prepared but also spiritually enriched and ready to serve the Church and His people with a deep, vibrant faith.
Community
Being part of our community means joining a vibrant, faith-filled environment dedicated to the holistic formation of our university. As a student, you become part of a long tradition of excellence in Catholic theological education
Broad Horizons
Your intellectual curiosity, spirituality, and pastoral readiness will be cultivated while you prepare to make a lasting impact on the Church and its people, guided by the knowledge, faith, and experiences you gain.
Expert Faculty
Many of the same professors who teach seminarians also teach our students. You can be assured that what you learn at USML is in conformity with authentic Catholic doctrine from the heart of the Church.
Pathway to Service
At USML we honor the tradition of pastoral formation, equipping future priests and lay leaders with the practical skills and pastoral sensitivity needed to serve effectively in their ministries.
Graduate Programs
There are any number of universities where you can study theology and facts about the Church. But the University of Saint Mary of the Lake, founded in 1844, includes Mundelein Seminary, which means the formation of priests; and this makes all the difference. That’s because you won’t just memorize theological ideas, we will provide you with an integral formation that focuses on helping your grow spiritually, pastorally, and intellectually. That’s the USML difference!
Our programs have served the needs of the Catholic community by providing excellence in intellectual and academic formation and addressing all of its dimensions. We see graduate theological education as a transformative encounter with the riches of the Catholic spiritual and intellectual tradition.
Flexibility and convenience are key terms for the School of Parish Leadership and Evangelization. The University is part of the Archdiocese of Chicago, so we offer classes in-person here on the campus of the University of Saint Mary of the Lake, in many of the vicariates in the Archdiocese of Chicago, or online.
Discover more about each of our graduate programs:
George Cardinal Mundelein Scholarship
The School of Parish Leadership and Evangelization at the University of Saint Mary of the Lake offers affordable programs for lay people and others who want to learn about their faith and serve the church. We know that affordability is an important factor in choosing a program. So, our programs are priced competitively while at the same time providing a world class theological education.
The University is part of the Archdiocese of Chicago which offers the George Cardinal Mundelein Scholarship to support students from diocese who send their seminarians to the University of Saint Mary of the Lake’s Mundelein Seminary. The scholarship provides $11,000 of tuition assistance to students.