Sulpicians: What We Do

St. Mary's Spiritual Center & Historic Site
Baltimore, MD


	about St. Mary's Spiritual Center, click here to visit their website.

In 1791, at the invitation of Bishop John Carroll, the Sulpician Fathers arrived in the City of Baltimore and settled on Paca Street to begin the first Roman Catholic Seminary in the United States. Bishop Carroll knew of the Sulpician Fathers’ unique ministry of priestly formation from their ministry in France, and thus he invited them to come to his young diocese in the United States to do their ministry of priestly formation in this new land.

The seminary, founded in 1791, was initially located in a building on southeast corner of the property known as the One Mile Tavern. With the help of Bishop John Carroll and others, the Sulpicians were able to purchase additional property adjoining the One Mile Tavern and build St. Mary’s College and Seminary.

Today, the Spiritual Center is often referred to as a “spiritual oasis” in the midst of a busy and hectic city, offering various lectures and programs on the topic of Christian spirituality. Another feature offered by the Center is individual spiritual direction. The Adjunct Staff, all trained Spiritual Directors, are ready to guide and assist individuals on their journey through life and in their quest to deepen their spiritual lives. St. Mary's Spiritual Center today continues to work at forming priests, religious women and men, and laity in the area of spirituality and Christian discipleship.