History of the Neumann College
History and Development of the St. John Neumann Seminary College: College and Post-College Seminary Residencey Program of the Archdiocese of New York
The College Seminary in New York:
For many years the Archdiocese of New York trained its high school and college seminarians at Cathedral College in New York City. Cathedral Preparatory High School and its two-year college program was first located on Madison Avenue and 51st Street and later moved to West End Avenue and 86th Street. Upon graduation from Cathedral College, a college seminarian completed his final two years of college at St. Joseph's Seminary in Yonkers, New York. There he entered a six-year program - two years of philosophy and four years of theology.
In 1968, not long after the close of the Second Vatican Council, the Archdiocese decided to unite the four years of college seminary preparation. Cathedral College kept its four-year high school program and St. Joseph's Seminary kept its four years of theology. The Archdiocese then, not wishing to build its own college seminary, sent its college seminarians to the Brooklyn Diocese to the College of the Immaculate Conception, Douglaston, New York. There, New York seminarians studied with the students from both Brooklyn and Rockville Centre Dioceses.
A New Alternate College Seminary Program:
Under the inspiration and direction of His Eminence Terence Cardinal Cooke, the Neumann Residence was founded as an alternate seminary college formation program. Students who wanted to attend the college seminary in Brooklyn were encouraged to do so. Those who had an interest in the priesthood but were already in college or planning to attend the college of their choice were encouraged to enroll in the Neumann Program.
Pre-Theology Program for College Graduates:
In addition to attracting college students who were matriculating in the universities of the metropolitan area, Neumann from the beginning has attended to the special needs of post-college students who have had no prior seminary training. The Pre-theology Program has allowed them to make a gradual adjustment from their careers to seminary life and prepare them for admissions into the major seminary. This blending of the more mature graduate with the college students has been an enriching experience for the underclassmen. Both groups have mixed well and contributed to the stability and spirit of community life.
The Neumann Residence in Yonkers: 1977-1980:
The Neumann Residence first opened its doors in September of 1977. It was then located on the grounds of St. Joseph's Seminary, Yonkers, New York. There it enjoyed the supportive services of the Seminary lay staff while its spiritual and academic program remained independent of the major seminary. The Residence had its own Chapel, dining room, and living accommodations for twenty students. In its third year the number of students had grown from its original class of 6 to 24. In October of 1980 the Program moved to the former Visitation Monastery (1901-1980) in Riverdale, five miles south of St. Joseph's Seminary, where it had ample room to expand.
The Neumann Residence in Riverdale: 1980-2001:
At Riverdale, the buildings and grounds provided the space and atmosphere for the continuing development of its program. In January 1982, a series of philosophy courses - fully accredited by Iona College - began to be taught at the Residence. In September of 1986, a special program of affiliation was established with St. John's University, Queens. The post-college or pre-theology program of studies is now taught completely at the Residence - fully accredited by St. John's. Undergraduate students may also take these courses when necessary, in order to fulfill their pre-theology requirement. Neumann has developed over the years to be the Archdiocesan seminary-college and post-college residency program. More than eighty-five (85) percent of its graduates have advanced to the major seminary. In its eighteen-year history, eighty-one (81) of its alumni are now priests while more are steadily advancing towards ordination. As it began its second decade with its largest enrollment ever, under the guidance and support of John Cardinal O'Connor, a new wing was built to provide the Residence with more facilities for study, living and prayer.
The Neumann Residence returns to Yonkers:
In March 2001, His Eminence Edward Cardinal Egan announced that he would offer a new building on the grounds of Saint Joseph's Seminary for the Neumann Residence. This new Saint John Neumann Hall at Dunwoodie now provides modern and well-appointed facilities for priestly formation. After extensive renovations, the Riverdale facility currently serves as a residence for retired priests of the Archdiocese.
The Neumann Residence changes its name:
In December of 2009, in response to universal Church norms, which remind us that College seminaries are not just propedeutic to the theologate but fully seminaries, and to the nature of our program itself, Archbishop Timothy Dolan approved that our name should reflect more faithfully what Neumann had already been in practice. Therefore, the new official name for our college and pre-theology program is “St. John Neumann Seminary College.”
