After sitting in my drafts for years, I’m finally sharing this experience. 😊

When my husband and I accompanied his grandmother to visit her friend at a seminary, I didn’t think much of it since I had never visited one before. Please forgive my ignorance; all I knew was that it was a place for people who wanted to become priests. So when I heard the name “University of Saint Mary of the Lake” I was a bit surprised because I was expecting a different name for a seminary. I guess the word university is what got me thinking.

Located in Mundelein, Lake County, this seminary is a 42-mile drive north of Chicago. It’s no surprise that it is also known as the Mundelein Seminary. Our grandma told us that the 600-acre seminary grounds are beautiful, so I googled it to see some photos, and she was right! The journey felt long because the photos got me super excited. 😃 My husband couldn’t wait to get there either; it was his first time visiting a seminary, and the photos he saw got him excited as well. His grandma phoned her friend as we approached the gate, and he became our “GPS” as we entered the seminary grounds. Of course, I got out of the car to take a snap of the gate just before we drove in. 😉

We were welcomed by bare trees and a pretty white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus).

The trees may not have any leaves at that moment for obvious reasons (it was winter time) but I still think it’s beautiful and even more so when autumn comes again.

The seminary grounds have 5 bridges surrounding Saint Mary’s Lake. You’ll need to cross the first bridge as you enter the dormitory and chapel area.

University of Saint Mary of the Lake is the largest Major Seminary in the United States. According to Wikipedia, it is the principal seminary and school of theology for the formation of priests in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Chicago, governed from Chicago, Illinois in the United States. It is recognized as the first institution of higher education in the City of Chicago. Chartered by the Illinois General Assembly in 1844, it has the longest continuous academic charter in the state of Illinois.

Mundelein Seminary serves 45 dioceses in eight different countries and was the first ecclesiastical faculty in the U.S.

In addition to the Seminary, the University of St. Mary of the Lake offers the Lay Formation Program, Instituto de Liderazgo Pastoral, Diaconate Formation Program, and the Liturgical Institute.

Chicago Studies is an academic journal for priests and others in parish ministry. It is edited by the university/seminary faculty along with priests of the Archdiocese of Chicago.

I wish we had more time that day to learn more about the history of Mundelein Seminary but we’re grateful that our Grandma’s friend was kind enough to give us a quick tour of the area. We spent some time inside the church, said some prayers, and admired the architecture.

As we explored the grounds of the beautiful Mundelein Seminary, we came across the grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes. It was a serene and captivating spot that added an extra layer of charm to our visit.

The Faculty Building

We also got to see their stunning Harry Potter-like library. 😉

But my favorite part of all was the historic Belvedere and mall. It is simply breathtaking! ❤

Our visit to Saint Mary of the Lake Seminary was not only a beautiful adventure but a journey into history and spirituality. It’s amazing how a single place can hold so much significance. I’m grateful for the opportunity to explore this hidden gem, and I look forward to more adventures like this.

Thank you for taking the time to read about our wonderful adventure. 😊 Until next time, happy travels and happy reading! ❤️