Our life of prayer

A student’s spiritual formation is a combination of many different things, from personal prayer to spiritual reading, and from learning about the Church’s different spiritual traditions to accompaniment from a spiritual director.

Embedded into the life of the college is our communal rhythm of house prayer, but we also encourage an individual’s commitment to their prayer life, whatever this looks like. Ultimately, they are responsible for the growth and development of their spiritual life.

Praying together as a community, even in silence, bonds us together. Praying as a community also holds us accountable to praying, even when life is difficult or we do not feel like praying. This life of prayer sustains us. As St Jean Vianney put it:

‘Private prayer is like straw scattered here and there: If you set it on fire, it makes a lot of little flames. But gather these straws into a bundle and light them, and you get a mighty fire, rising like a column into the sky; public prayer is like that.’

What this looks like

- Morning holy hour and morning prayer, largely in silence
- Daily preparation and celebration of the Holy Mass 
- Evening prayer
- Community rosary on Saturday afternoons
- A weekly house talk (spiritual conference)
- Annual college retreats and occasional days of recollection, as well as retreats in connection with scrutinies and ministries, plus an annual pilgrimage
- Year-specific courses on spirituality and Christian living

Our chapel

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.

Discover Pugin’s chapel

How to discern

It can be difficult to discern a calling to the priesthood. Here is a helpful roadmap to guide you on your way.

Try our discernment roadmap

What to expect

Curious about what seminary life is actually like? Here’s what happens from entering seminary all the way to becoming a Catholic priest.

The journey of seminary