History

On May 26, 1898, eleven seminary rectors met at St. Joseph's Seminary in Dunwoodie, New York, at the invitation of Rev. Thomas J. Conaty, the rector of Catholic University, to discuss how to attract more and better qualified students. That meeting eventually led to the official founding of the National Catholic Educational Association, which initially included three departments: Seminaries, Catholic Colleges, and Parish Schools. More than one hundred years later, seminary rectors continue to meet and discuss, among other topics, how to attract more and better qualified students.

Mission Statement

The following mission statement was adopted by the Seminary Department in 2003:

The Seminary Department of the National Catholic Educational Association provides on-going leadership development to seminary staff members by convening, supporting and networking around current issues and concerns related to the formation of priests. We sponsor programs and commission research to foster excellence in human, spiritual, intellectual, and pastoral formation within seminaries. We also collaborate with and serve as a liaison to agencies, organizations and programs that strengthen and impact the work of seminaries.