St Gall's Seminary - A theological education for all!
The Holy Celtic Church International endeavours to maintain high standards of education for our clergy and many have suitable theological degrees from reputable universities. For members of our church who have not received a suitable theological degree, and for members of other jurisdictions in communion with us, we offer short in-house training courses:
(1) The St Gall's Minor Seminary Course in Catholic Theology and Church History. This course is particularly suitable for those who do not come come from a Catholic background or for those Catholics whose religious education may be lacking. There are five textbooks, all from the "Course in Religion" series by Fr John Laux. The tutor for this course is our Bishop Sean OSBA, in the USA. Students must be members of the HCCI.
(2) The Catholic foundations having been secured, the St Gall's Major Seminary Course concentrates more on Liberal Catholic theology, mystical theology, liturgy, monastic studies and ecclesiastical history of the IC/OC movement and the wider church. The tutor is the Primus. There are very few books to buy as this course is mostly pdf based.
Seminarians are normally ordained at regular intervals to the minor orders, diaconate and ultimately the priesthood. The course(s) may be completed in one or two years or longer if necessary. Lay people who do not intend to be ordained to major orders may also be welcome to study with us, depending on denominational affiliation. Lay man may also like to consider ordination to the Minor Orders, or in the case of ladies, admittance to the Deaconess Society of Our Lady and St Ita, for which a special course is offered .
The Foundation course may include residential weekends at St Gall's Retreat in Switzerland for community building, tutorials, altar training and ordinations. For students who live outside Europe or students of very limited means, other arrangements can normally be made. Seminarians from Asia, or the Americas may complete the course via email and skype and ordinations from their nearest HCC bishop (or a bishop in communion with us) may be arranged.
There are three variations of the Major Seminary Course. Firstly, we offer a course in Monastic Studies, which may or may not lead to ordination, for members of the our Benedictine and Franciscan communities. Members of other communities are also welcome. Alternatively, we also offer a course in Liberal Catholic and Esoteric Studies, primarily for members of the Holy Celtic Order of the Temple and the Mar Thoma Liberal Catholic Church. For members of St Dunstan's Anglo-Catholic Fellowship we offer the Father Ignatius Memorial Course which has a specifically Anglo-Catholic orientation. These courses are all mostly pdf based.
For enquiries about Studies please use the contact form on the Vocations page. Thank you!
We also have a branch of the Seminary in Italy, CENTRO STUDI TEOLOGICI “SAN GALLO” , for our Italian speaking seminarians, under the capable Rectorship of Mons Giovanni OSBA, Vicar Apostolic, whilst for Spanish speaking students the Revd Dom Daniel Medina in Florida is the tutor of a special course in the Spanish language.
Residential Weekends for Seminarians
Ordination of a Deacon
As part of the St Gall's Foundation Course, those seminarians wishing to be ordained would normally attend several residential weekends. Seminarians from outside Europe may attend fewer residential weekends or alternative arrangements may be made for then with a bishop nearer to home.
1st residential weekend - Tutorials on Spirituality, Church History. Altar Training - the Divine Office. Ordinations to Cleric, Doorkeep & Lector.
2nd residential weekend - Tutorials on Biblical Studies and Pastoral Theology. Altar training - Preaching and the liturgical duties of the diaconate.
Ordinations to Exorcist, Acolyte and Sub-deacon.
3rd residential weekend - Tutorials on Dogmatic and Sacramental Theology. Altar Training - the Holy
Eucharist. Ordinations to the Diaconate.
4th residential weekend - Presentation of Dissertations. Altar Training - the Sacraments of Reconciliation and Healing. Ordinations to the Priesthood.
The dates for Residential weekends are flexible according to the needs of the individual and the group. For both the distance learning and combined distance learning and residential weekends course fees are modest with concessionary rates available for those on low incomes. For further information please contact the Primus at bishopalistair1964@bluewin.ch
The Dean is the Rt Revd Dom Alistair Bate OSBA, who holds a Master of Arts Degree in Divinity from the University of Edinburgh.
1st residential weekend - Tutorials on Spirituality, Church History. Altar Training - the Divine Office. Ordinations to Cleric, Doorkeep & Lector.
2nd residential weekend - Tutorials on Biblical Studies and Pastoral Theology. Altar training - Preaching and the liturgical duties of the diaconate.
Ordinations to Exorcist, Acolyte and Sub-deacon.
3rd residential weekend - Tutorials on Dogmatic and Sacramental Theology. Altar Training - the Holy
Eucharist. Ordinations to the Diaconate.
4th residential weekend - Presentation of Dissertations. Altar Training - the Sacraments of Reconciliation and Healing. Ordinations to the Priesthood.
The dates for Residential weekends are flexible according to the needs of the individual and the group. For both the distance learning and combined distance learning and residential weekends course fees are modest with concessionary rates available for those on low incomes. For further information please contact the Primus at bishopalistair1964@bluewin.ch
The Dean is the Rt Revd Dom Alistair Bate OSBA, who holds a Master of Arts Degree in Divinity from the University of Edinburgh.
Ash Wednesday Mass, 2013
Testimonial from a former student:
St. Gall´s Retreat: Why to go there –what to get there. ...
More and more people struggle in their daily life.Their job and the world around them keeps them busy and they need time to breathe., to breathe the Spirit of God.
Attending a Seminar at St. Gall´s retreat – up in the mountains of Avers - makes you feel that not only the air is fresh to breathe. What´s more, one feels closer to his creator. This beautiful and peaceful area accompanied by Bishop Alistair´s guidance, celebrating the divine liturgy and the daily office gives you a glimpse into another world, free from the daily pressures. Not only will you be nourished by the Holy Sacraments, if you wish to do so, but also by the knowledge of e.g. Celtic spirituality and traditional liturgy. This will strengthen you for your daily tasks to come and will give you a feeling of God´s love in a broken world.
So, why don´t you book your next holiday or retreat there? I am sure this will be an unique experience for all who want to have a different holiday – away from the noise and darkness of the day, into the quietness and light of God.
More and more people struggle in their daily life.Their job and the world around them keeps them busy and they need time to breathe., to breathe the Spirit of God.
Attending a Seminar at St. Gall´s retreat – up in the mountains of Avers - makes you feel that not only the air is fresh to breathe. What´s more, one feels closer to his creator. This beautiful and peaceful area accompanied by Bishop Alistair´s guidance, celebrating the divine liturgy and the daily office gives you a glimpse into another world, free from the daily pressures. Not only will you be nourished by the Holy Sacraments, if you wish to do so, but also by the knowledge of e.g. Celtic spirituality and traditional liturgy. This will strengthen you for your daily tasks to come and will give you a feeling of God´s love in a broken world.
So, why don´t you book your next holiday or retreat there? I am sure this will be an unique experience for all who want to have a different holiday – away from the noise and darkness of the day, into the quietness and light of God.
A Prayer of St Columba
St Brigid's Perpetual Flame in Kildare
Kindle in our hearts, O God, The flame of that love which never ceases, that it may burn in us, giving light to others. May we shine forever in Thy holy temple. Set on fire with Thy eternal light, Even Thy son, Jesus Christ, Our Saviour and Redeemer. Amen.
