Not long after the Second Vatican Council initiated its widespread renewal of the Church, the American College responded to the increased need for theological, canonical, and philosophical formation of priests and religious by opening its doors to priests pursuing higher degrees in these fields of study. Ever since, graduate students have been a much appreciated and important part of our community life. They remind us in an especially clear way that study of the sacred sciences is itself “ministry” to the local churches and religious congregations from which they come. The high quality instruction and close personal attention offered to our graduate students by the professors of the Catholic University of Louvain provides to these students a firm foundation for the various ministries they will perform once they return to their dioceses and congregations.

The graduate students of the American College do not participate in the formal formation program provided to the seminarians of the college, but, as priests, permanent deacons, and religious, they also have the need to be part of a community of faith that supports them in your vocation and gives them an opportunity to exercise their call to ministry in certain pastoral ways within the community. As full-time students engaged in the pursuit of higher academic degrees, they also have the need for a serious environment within which to study and work. The formation faculty of the American College is happy to collaborate with our graduate students in guaranteeing a sound academic environment for their studies while offering them a spiritual and personal home while they are in Louvain.

Community Life

The graduate students of the American College remain among us for one to five years as they pursue higher degrees in the theology, philosophy, or canon law. As such, they become integral and full members of this community, both enjoying its benefits and contributing to its common good. First and foremost, we expect them to offer to our seminarians and the whole community examples of well-balanced and wholesome lives, lives that bespeak the values of Christ and the Gospel. More particularly, we encourage them to regularly participate in the common prayer of the community, including daily Eucharist and Liturgy of the Hours, and for priests, to be available to preside and preach within our community's liturgy. Priests are also encouraged to concelebrate at daily Eucharist. We encourage them to also take responsibility for some aspect of caring for the well-being of our community by generously accepting a “house position of service” and accomplishing that task for the common good regularly. We encourage them to participate as well in our semi-annual workdays.

Even as our graduate students become a part of the whole community, we sincerely hope that they will also form among themselves a community within the community, offering to one another fraternal support, friendship, and mutual care.

Academic Life

Graduate students in the American College pursue higher degrees in the Faculty of Theology, the Faculty of Canon Law, or the Institute of Philosophy. The development of the academic program and its pursuit is left primarily to each graduate student according to the instructions they have received from their ordinaries or superiors. It is primarily their own responsibility to attend diligently to their personal study, class participation, and research so that their program might be completed in a timely manner. Nevertheless, it is important to note as well that their academic diligence is important to the wider community, since it contributes to the serious tone of the house and offers an example to the younger members of the community.

Personal and Spiritual Life

Graduate students are always in need of continuing their personal and spiritual growth, and thus attention must be given to spiritual direction, the quality of interpersonal relationships, and the concrete living-out of the Christian virtues during their time in Louvain. Any one of our formation faculty members (excepting the rector) happily offers to our graduate students their services in spiritual direction or as confessors.

Our American College faculty cannot offer professional psychological counseling, but, in cases of need, there are available in the area English-speaking counselors who can provide this service. Likewise, there are in the area groups such as Alcoholics Anonymous.

Relationship to the Seminary Community

The primary, though not exclusive, mission of the American College is the formation of seminarians for priestly ministry. The example of committed and faithful lives given to our seminarians by our graduate students over the years has been a valuable part of the “secondary formation” of our seminary program. The seminarians’ daily interaction and conversation with those already serving in ministry teaches them much about their own lives and the challenges and blessings of Church ministry that will soon be their own. We likewise hope that the enthusiasm and idealism of our seminarians will be inspiring and rejuvenating to our graduate students.

Practical Details

Graduate students at the American College have private rooms with sinks and hot water. Shared restrooms and shower facilities are nearby. A lounge with TV, VCR, and DVD is available for their use. A kitchenette for personal cooking is also available.

Each room is equipped with a private telephone with an internationally accessible number.

Graduate residents have use of the American College Computer Center with easy access to the Internet. Personal laptops can access the Internet via a Wi-Fi connection. If they wish, graduate residents may have an American College e-mail address for the duration of their stay.

During term the college dining room provides three meals per day, Monday through Friday, and two self-serve meals on Saturday and Sunday. No meals are served during Christmas and Easter vacation periods. During the Summer Institute, minimal food service is available on weekends.

In-house washing machines and dryers are provided at no charge.

An in-house sauna and a small gym are available to all residents. They may also use the university’s ample sports facilities for a small additional charge.

Louvain has a small-town atmosphere with all of Europe at its doorstep. Brussels is 20 minutes away; Paris, 1 ½ hours; London, 2 ½ hours; and Amsterdam, about 3 hours. On weekends one can travel as often and as far as interests and pocketbooks allow!

Travel arrangements by plane should be made to/from Brussels Airport (BRU); direct train service to Louvain/Leuven from the Brussels Airport is available every half hour.

Cost

The current yearly cost of our graduate studies program is $14,600 (U.S.) plus a non-refundable $375 administration fee due with the application. The program cost includes Catholic University of Louvain tuition, medical/dental insurance, lodging and meals, and use of the above-listed college facilities and services.

Application Procedure

Click here for American College Gradute Program application form. In addition to applying to the American College, prospective students must apply to the Catholic University of Louvain online: http://www.kuleuven.be/applicationform/

After submitting the application via the internet, please print it and send two copies to the Admissions Office of American College, together with one set of official grade transcripts and the other supporting documentation indicated on the university website, instead of sending it to the university’s International Office, as directed on the website. The Admissions Office of the American College will photocopy everything before forwarding the originals to the university.

For more information, contact admissions@acl.be.