Saint John’s School of Theology and Seminary in Collegeville, Minnesota announces an exciting scholarship program for Master of Theological Studies (MTS) students named the Virgil Michel Scholars program.
A well-known monk and theologian of Saint John’s Abbey, Dom Virgil Michel, OSB (1890-1938) spearheaded the Catholic Liturgical Movement in the United States as integrated with a vision of social regeneration. He understood that Christian worship possesses the power to renew human beings, communities, and structures to mirror and enact the Kingdom of God and animate the Mystical Body of Christ. For Virgil Michel, liturgical and social renewal unfolds through theological education and its expressions in prayer, worship, and communal life. He founded the Liturgical Press as well as the journal Orate Fratres, collaborated with luminaries like Dorothy Day and Jacques and Raissa Maritain and advocated deeply for the lay apostolate of Catholic Action.
Inspired by his legacy, the Virgil Michel Scholars program honors students with strong potential for doctoral studies, and it celebrates the dynamic connection between rigorous theological study and ecclesial life. “Saint John’s is special in the way that it relates to the life of the Church and the pursuit of wisdom,” says Director of Admission, Alex Blechle. “Investing in the next generation of scholars, teachers, and ministers through our Master of Theological Studies program is core to our identity as a School of Theology and Seminary that prepares visionary leaders for service to the church and the world.”
The Virgil Michel Scholars program provides full-tuition scholarships and on-campus housing support for full-time, residential applicants to the MTS program at Saint John’s School of Theology and Seminary. Cohort students will participate in a learning colloquium that explores texts, supports advanced theological writing, and prepares students for doctoral applications. Virgil Michel Scholars are also eligible for priority funding for travel/conference related experiences throughout their studies at Saint John’s.
In addition to the application process for the Master of Theological Studies program, students interested in the Virgil Michel Scholars program must submit an 800-word essay on the connection between liturgy and social justice or a topic that connects study of a particular theological discipline to the pastoral life of the church.
For more information on the Master of Theological Studies program, visit https://www.csbsju.edu/sot/academics/graduate-degrees/.
For more information, reach out to Saint John’s School of Theology and Seminary
Office of Admission here: https://admissions.csbsju.edu/register/sotseminquiry