Holy Spirit Seminary
A place to discern, grow, and prepare to serve the Church
Holy Spirit Ukrainian Catholic Seminary in Edmonton is a place of formation for men who are discerning a call to ordained ministry in the Ukrainian Catholic Church.
Through prayer, study, community life, and pastoral experience, seminarians are invited to grow in relationship with Christ and to explore how God may be calling them to serve His people.
You do not need to have every answer before beginning the conversation. Discernment starts with prayer, honesty, and the willingness to take the next faithful step.
What Is Holy Spirit Seminary?
Formation for a life of ordained service
Holy Spirit Ukrainian Catholic Seminary was established in 1981 as the first major Ukrainian Catholic seminary in Canada for the formation of eparchial priests. Located in Edmonton, it serves the Ukrainian Catholic Church in Canada and supports the formation of men who are discerning ordained ministry.
The Seminary’s apostolate includes preparation for priestly and diaconal service in the Ukrainian Greek-Catholic Church. This page focuses particularly on the path of priestly discernment and formation.
Seminary is not simply a place to earn a degree. It is a community where a possible vocation is prayed with, tested, accompanied, and formed. The goal is to prepare future ministers of God’s Word, ministers of the Holy Mysteries, and servant-leaders of God’s people.
A House of Prayer, Study, and Community
Formation that involves the whole person
The seminary journey is more than academic preparation. It brings together the different dimensions of a person’s life so that discernment and formation can take place with honesty, freedom, and care.
A house of prayer
Seminarians deepen their relationship with God through personal prayer, participation in the Divine Liturgy, the sacramental life of the Church, spiritual direction, and a growing openness to God’s will.
A house of study
Seminarians study Scripture, theology, philosophy, the Eastern Christian tradition, and the foundations needed for pastoral ministry. Academic studies are completed through Newman Theological College in Edmonton, with the specific academic path determined as part of each candidate’s formation plan.
A house of community living
Seminarians live and grow alongside others who are also discerning a call to serve the Church. Community life develops fraternity, generosity, responsibility, humility, and the ability to serve with others.
A place of pastoral formation
Through parish experience and other forms of pastoral service, seminarians learn to listen, accompany people, proclaim the Gospel, and respond to the real needs of the faithful.
The Formation Journey
Growing in prayer, maturity, knowledge, and service
The formation program is a sustained journey that brings together spiritual, human, intellectual, and pastoral development.
Spiritual formation
Seminarians are encouraged to grow in prayer, participation in the life of the Church, spiritual discipline, and attentiveness to God’s call.
Human formation
Formation helps candidates develop the maturity, self-knowledge, emotional balance, responsibility, and relationships needed for a life of faithful service.
Intellectual formation
Study gives candidates the theological and philosophical foundation needed to understand the faith, proclaim the Gospel, and serve the Church responsibly.
Pastoral formation
Parish placements, field education, and practical ministry help candidates learn how to serve people in the ordinary circumstances of their lives.
Community formation
Life with other seminarians and the formation team helps candidates learn the patience, collaboration, humility, and generosity required for ministry.
The Seminary describes its formation program as a six-year course of study that combines academics, field education, communal life, and spiritual formation. The length and academic details of an individual formation plan may vary according to the candidate’s previous education and the direction of the Church.
Who May Be Called to Priesthood?
For men who are willing to ask the question honestly
Every vocation unfolds differently. A call to priesthood may grow through prayer, service in a parish, love for the Church, the witness of a priest, or a persistent desire to give one’s life more fully to God and His people.
You may wish to begin a conversation if you:
- Feel a lasting desire to serve Christ and the Church
- Are drawn to prayer, the Divine Liturgy, and the life of the Church
- Want to accompany people through important moments of their lives
- Feel a growing responsibility for the spiritual good of others
- Are open to learning, personal growth, and the demands of formation
- Continue to wonder whether God may be calling you to priesthood
You do not need to be certain that you will become a priest before reaching out. Discernment is a process of listening, seeking guidance, and becoming more open to God’s will.
The Ukrainian Catholic Church welcomes men who sincerely want to explore this vocation. Your background or level of certainty should not prevent you from beginning a respectful conversation.
How to Begin
Take the first step with your parish and the Eparchy
The first step is a conversation, not a commitment to enter the Seminary. The Church accompanies discernment so that a possible vocation can be explored with prayer, support, and honesty.
1.
Speak with your parish pastor
Share your questions and your desire to discern. Your pastor can offer guidance, prayer, and support as you begin to explore the possibility of priesthood.
2.
Contact the vocations director
The vocations director can explain the formation process, answer your questions, and help you understand the next steps.
3.
Speak with the Bishop
The Bishop has an important role in discerning a vocation and approving a candidate’s application to the Seminary. The Eparchy will help guide this process.
4.
Continue discerning with support
Further conversations, spiritual direction, parish involvement, and visits to the Seminary may help you understand whether this path is right for you.