Seminaries & Seminarians
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⬅ Back to Priesthood
The Diocese of Tucson has long-standing relationships with the seminaries that our seminarians attend. It is our belief that the close bonds of fraternity among priests begin at the seminary level. As such, we try very hard to put our seminarians together during their formative years in seminary.
Our Theology (Post Graduate) level seminarians attend the University of St. Mary of the Lake/Mundelein Seminary in Mundelein, IL. The beautiful campus has its own lake nestled amidst a wooded environment.
St. John's Seminary is in Camarillo, CA. The seminary provides graduate-level theological education in ministry preparation primarily for ordination candidates only, is the Master of Divinity, which follows a curriculum prescribed by the American Bishops in their Program for Priestly Formation, 4th ed.
Our Philosophy (College) level seminarians attend Mt. Angel Seminary in St. Benedict, OR. Located just south of Portland, it is known as the "Hilltop", where it commands a magnificent view of snow-capped mountains and green fields. Run by the Benedictine Order, it has cared for the formation of the Diocese of Tucson undergraduate seminarians for many years.
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Meet the Seminarians
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Deacon Abundio Colazo-Lopez
St. James Parish, Coolidge, AZ
4th Year Theology
St. John's Seminary -
Deacon Roberto E. Villablanca
St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, Tucson, AZ
4th Year Theology
St. John's Seminary
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Deacon Jesus Gomez
St. Monica Parish, Tucson, AZ
4th Year Theology
Mundelein Seminary -
Deacon Alan Soto Hopkins
Sacred Heart, Nogales, AZ
4th Year Theology
Mundelein Seminary
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Deacon Luis Pablo Ochoa-Escárrega
Sacred Heart Parish, Nogales, AZ
4th Year Theology
St. John's Seminary -
Carlos Nagore
Our Lady of Fatima, Tucson, AZ
2nd Year Theology
St. John’s Seminary
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Seminarian FAQs
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Priests have the enormous responsibility of caring for souls. Just as a future doctor is required to go to medical school to learn how to properly care for the physical body, a future priest must go through extensive formation to learn how to properly care for the soul.
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What seminary you attend will be determined based on your previous experience and education.
Theology (post-graduate) level seminarians attend the University of St. Mary of the Lake/Mundelein Seminary in Mundelein, Illinois.
Master of Divinity candidates attend St. John's Seminary in Camarillo, California.
Philosophy (college) level seminarians attend Mt. Angel Seminary in St. Benedict, Oregon.
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It’s more common than you might think. In fact, many vocation directors agree that the only way to know if you have a vocation to the priesthood is to attend seminary.
Being in an environment with others going through the same process of discernment is likely to make it more clear to you what your vocation is.
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