St. Vincent de Paul Regional Seminary is located in Boynton Beach, Florida (which is approximately 30 minutes south of West Palm Beach). It was opened in 1963 and is the only Roman Catholic theologate in the Southeastern United States. It is 1,000 miles from the nearest major seminary to the north and 800 miles from the nearest major seminary to the west. Because of its location and history it is the only bilingual and multicultural major seminary in the United States.
Students generally come to St. Vincent's afer receeiving an undergraduate degree in philosophy from a college seminary program (like St. John Vianney College Seminary in Miami) or having complete a pre-theology program (a 2 year prep program of philosophy and formation). The primary purpose of St. Vincent de Paul Regional Seminary is to provide a spiritual, academic, and pastoral program to prepare candidates for the Roman Catholic Priesthood. In response to the increased Hispanic presence in the United States, the seminary fosters a bilingual and multicultural environment.
As a free-standing graduate, professional and academic School of Theology, the seminary is secondarily committed to providing continuing education for clergy, religious, and laity of all denominations. St. Vincent de Paul Regional Seminary offers Master's Degrees and provided the necessary preparation for priestly ordination. Seminarian candidates are ordained to the priesthood for their sponsoring dioceses following the successful completion of their studies at St. Vincent's. St. Vincent de Paul Regional Seminary is co-owned by the seven dioceses of Florida.
