Curious about what seminary life is actually like? Here’s what happens from entering seminary all the way to becoming a Catholic priest.
We are working to form the next generation of priests for the evangelisation of England and Wales.
Do you feel called to live for others? Are you open to the possibility that you may be called to the Catholic priesthood or diaconate? If so, this is a good place to start.
A first-hand experience of what seminary life is like, these weekends are designed for those discerning the Catholic priesthood.
Talking helps. If you are curious about or interested in the Catholic priesthood, we can connect you with a member of our team or a seminarian who would be happy to answer your questions and share about this way of life.
What is it like to train to become a priest? What is life in our seminary like? Take a read of stories and reflections from our students.
I come from Drogheda in Ireland, the youngest of a family of four. I studied chemistry in Dublin and then Edinburgh and lived in Germany and Cambridge doing research. Just before applying to seminary, I was working in Dublin at a university but decided to pursue my vocation with the Diocese of East Anglia, which I came to know well during my time in Cambridge.
Read moreI am from Ezza-Ezekuna in Ishelu LGA of Ebonyi State, Nigeria. I was born and raised in a place called coal camp, and this is where some of the British miners resided in Enugu at the beginning of the 1900s. It is a huge, Catholic populated area and most of our activities happened within the context of the Catholic faith.
Read moreMy hometown is Burnley in Lancashire, but I have been fortunate to live in Manchester, Bristol, Wolverhampton and Birmingham during my career.
Read moreI come from a devout Catholic family. During my teenage years, I slowly drifted away from the Faith. At 18 I had a reversion to the Faith through the Jesus Youth movement and was actively involved since then.
Read moreI used to be a professional classical ballet dancer. I started dancing when I was 8 years old, and it soon became a dream, to jump as high as a Nureyev or a Nijinsky. I went to the Royal Ballet School in London, for my training and then to Uruguay.
Read moreMy name is Owen Dugan and I come from a small town called Gosport on the south coast. I grew up in a Catholic household and was inspired in my faith from a young age by my maternal grandparents who originate from Malta.
Read moreThe following is an edited version of the journal entries of Peter Ross, originally intended for the Saint Margaret Mary Community. Peter’s full journal entries can be read in the Oscotian Magazine.
Read moreIn the summer of 2022, I had the amazing opportunity to visit India for a pastoral placement, with the support of the College and my own diocese of East Anglia. The bulk of my time was spent in the Don Bosco Boarding Home and St Mary’s and Christopher’s School in Pedavgi near Eluru, in Andhra Pradesh.
Read moreThis story began in the village of Knock, in County Mayo, in the West of Ireland on Thursday evening, 21st August 1879.
Read moreThe following are the words of architect Anthony Delarue in response to interview questions. The full article is available in the Oscotian Magazine.
Read moreOn 8th December 2020, Pope Francis issued his Apostolic Letter ‘Patris Corde’, marking the opening of the ‘Year of Saint Joseph’.2020 seems like an age ago now, especially when we consider the events that have elapsed since! Indeed, the whole world is changing rapidly. It can sometimes seem like we are being tossed from crisis to crisis. The phrase, ‘out of the frying pan into the fire’ comes to mind.
Read moreThe English word ‘vocation’ comes from the Latin word ‘vocāre’, which means ‘to call’.
Read moreIt’s quite fitting that there is a cemetery on the grounds of Oscott College in which thousands of people, bishops, priests and laypeople, are buried. Death and dying are part of the daily life of priestly ministry and there is no harm for seminarians in being reminded of the reality of their future priestly lives, as well as their life to come after death.
Read moreOur historic home was at the heart of the revival of Catholicism in this country and has deep ties to St John Henry Newman, Augustus Pugin, and many others.
The beating heart of college life, our chapel is also a masterwork of architect Augustus Welby Pugin, who believed that beautiful sacred spaces had the power to stir people’s imagination and inspire them to find God in prayer and worship.
Containing over 40,000 catalogued physical items, this library is the main library of the college and is largely made up of texts covering the Church and general history, theology and philosophy.
Want to experience some history? Our tours have been running for over a decade, removing the mystery of the college and giving the general public a sense of what we do here at Oscott College.
We are not able to take enquiries about family history, but suggest you explore our records held at Birmingham Archdiocesan Archives. You may also find details in the list of old alumni, up to the closure of the school in 1889.
Can you help us to form the next generation of priests? Whatever you can give really does make a difference.
We are the seminary of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Birmingham serving the Catholic Church in England, Wales and Scotland.
Our team of dedicated staff would be happy to connect with you and answer any questions that you have about our work.