Louvain: The Perfect Place for Your Sabbatical

For nearly six centuries the name “Louvain” has been associated with the finest in the Catholic intellectual tradition.

This is the city where Desiderius Erasmus, Justus Lipsius, Gerard Mercator, Désiré Mercier, Fulton Sheen, and Willy Onclin taught and studied. This is the university that was home to many of the periti who infused the Second Vatican Council with its unique wisdom and insight. Louvain’s great philosophical and theological heritage continues to enlighten and strengthen the Church’s ministers in their vital work.

The American College offers flexible and diverse sabbatical opportunities for priests, deacons, religious, and lay ecclesial ministers and educators. Participants come to Louvain from many corners of the world to renew themselves theologically, to enjoy the cultural treasures available in the heart of Europe, and to be refreshed by life within a caring, welcoming, and prayerful community.

Semester Sabbatical Program

The American College understands how precious and important is that privileged experience of time away: the ministerial sabbatical. Those who serve as priests, deacons, religious, and lay ministers need, at special moments in their working lives, the space and time to be renewed and restored through rest, prayer, study, and recreation.

Clergy, religious, and lay ministers join our community for one to nine months (usually a semester: mid-September through mid-December or mid-February through mid-May). Sabbatical students at the American College have full access to the courses of the Faculties of Theology, Philosophy, and Church Law. They attend the lectures they wish to attend, as many or as few as they want. No exams. No grades. It’s all in English.

Our semester sabbatical students are also entitled to participate in our two-week Sedes Sapientiae program (see below). Also provided as part of the semester program are occasional opportunities to enjoy supper and a visit with one of the professors from the university with whom sabbatical students informally discuss topics in that professor’s area of specialization.

The Liturgy of the Hours and the Eucharist are celebrated each day with the entire American College community in the college chapel. Meals are likewise taken in common with the seminary and graduate students. In addition, many opportunities are available for participants to attend the special liturgical, seasonal, and educational events that are part of the on-going life of the college, the university, and the city of Louvain. Weekends are free for relaxation and travel.

Spring term 2009: February 6 (arrival); May 23 (departure)

Fall term 2009: September 21 (arrival); December 19 (departure)

Spring term 2010: February 5 (arrival); May 22 (departure)

The present cost of the semester sabbatical program is $6,100 (U.S.), plus a nonrefundable $375 administration fee due with the application. Costs for shorter or longer sabbaticals (from one month to a full academic year) are available upon request.

Click here for the program of courses and events (spring term of 2008) and application form.

Sedes Sapientiae Renewal Program

For more than twenty-five years, the American College has offered a popular semester-based sabbatical program. Today it is often difficult for priests, deacons, religious, and lay ministers to find time away from their ministries to enjoy longer sabbaticals, while the need for rest, study, and personal reflection has only increased.

Responding to changing needs for busy ministers of the Church, we also offer two-week Sedes Sapientiae Renewal Programs, which provide opportunities for Church ministers to be immersed in the world of contemporary theological and philosophical reflection. The Sedes Sapientiae Program is the perfect way to enjoy a rich sabbatical with minimal time away from your vital pastoral ministry.

In your two weeks with us you will enjoy eight courses by some of Louvain’s finest professors. In classes specially designed for you, we reflect on the latest developments in systematic theology, moral theology, biblical study, sacramental theology, and other areas. The program also includes guided tours of Louvain, focusing on its theological history; the Louvain city hall; Louvain’s St. Peter’s church; the city of Bruges; and the Cathedral of Our Lady in Antwerp.

Spring Sedes 2009: May 4 (arrival); May 16 (departure)

Fall Sedes 2009:  October 19 (arrival); October 31 (departure)

Spring Sedes 2010:  May 3 (arrival); May 15 (departure)

The present cost of the Sedes Sapientiae program is $1,600 (U.S.), plus a nonrefundable $100 administration fee due with the application. Depending on room availability, those who wish may arrive and/or depart a few days before/after the program at an extra cost of $60 per day (room and meals). Partcipants may also leave some bags (at no charge) while traveling around the region (Paris, Amsterdam, Cologne, and even London are all close by). Click here for the program of courses and events and application form.

Theology for Ministry Summer Institute

Each July, the American College welcomes clergy, religious, and lay ministers from around the world for a month of intensive theological study balanced by wonderful opportunities for prayer, travel, and making new friends in Church ministry. Our guests leave us at the end of July theologically, spiritually and culturally enriched. They return to their ministry with renewed joy and enthusiasm.

Louvain theologians offer rich courses of study in their area of specialization. The program incorporates eighteen hours of instruction each week. Special highlights during the month include a visit with Cardinal Godfried Danneels, Archbishop of Mechelen-Brussels, and excursions to Bruges, Waterloo, and the medieval abbey of Villers la Ville. Weekends are free for travel to hundreds of destinations within Europe by train, plane or automobile.

Participants of the Summer Institute are invited to participate actively in daily liturgy of the American College, which includes Morning Prayer and celebration of the Eucharist each afternoon. They are likewise invited to share responsibility for the ministries of our community prayer, in accordance with the customs of the house.

It is our experience that the laity, religious, and clergy from throughout the English-speaking world who participate in the Summer Institute form among themselves a vibrant community of believers who find their lives enriched by their Christian fraternity, common prayer, travel together, and daily dialogue over important theological concepts and issues.

Participation is limited to 35 persons each year (including companions, i.e., spouses, older children, etc.). Accommodation for non-participating spouses might be available depending on space.

Summer Institute 2009:  July 5 (arrival); July 31 (departure)

Summer Institute 2010:  July 4 (arrival); July 30 (departure)

The present cost of the Summer Institute is $3,600 (U.S.), plus a nonrefundable $300 administration fee due with the application. Click here for the program of courses and events and application form.

Practical Details

All sabbatical participants at the American College have private rooms with sinks and hot water. Shared restrooms and shower facilities are nearby. Each room is equipped with a private telephone with an internationally accessible number. A calling card must be used to place international calls. Sabbatical 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, residents who are at the College for longer than one month 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 International Airport (BRU); direct train service to Louvain/Leuven from the Brussels Airport is available every half hour.

For more information, contact admissions@acl.be.