Cyril & Methodius) builds upon Polish American roots to educate future priests and lay people. John Paul II said during his first visit here: “This is an eternal truth that every person must perceive… That he is ‘called.’ And to be aware of the fact…means to understand the whole reason for existence; it enables us to overcome the sensation of nothingness. ‘To be called’ means to know why one lives
, why one exists. Orchard Lake consists of this Shrine Chapel which is and must be in the heart of your whole institution. In this setting, my dear members of the Orchard Lake family, you can think about your vocation… Listen to this calling with your whole heart, mind and soul, and follow it through to the end. This is the mystery of Orchard Lake… The mystery is based upon the fact that we here can ettle the most important items of our spiritual life… the items of a vocation to serve God in the best way for Him and for us. I wish this to all, not only students and faculty, but to all who… work for Orchard Lake and make it what it is… Follow in your calling to the very end. I appeal especially to you, dear faculty members whose task it is to form the minds of your students; and I especially appeal to you, spiritual directors, whose task it is to form the souls of men. All of this has once cause, the cause of Orchard Lake and what it stands for.’’
SS. Cyril and Methodius Seminary, founded by Father Joseph Dabrowski in 1885, as the first seminary in the State of Michigan and the only seminary in the United States dedicated to preparing foreign-born seminarians, primarily from Poland as well as Polish Americans, to serve the Catholic Church in the United States. Cyril and St. Methodius, who brought Christianity to the Slavic peoples. As we have celebrated over 125 years as a seminary (and 100 years at Orchard Lake), we recommit ourselves to our mission of forming missionaries as evangelizers in the 21st century. We are also committed to assist in the pastoral formation of permanent deacons and lay ministers. The Church in the US is blessed to experience the collaboration of priests and other ministers in the church. We currently offer four degree programs: Master of Divinity, Master of Arts in Pastoral Ministry, Master of Arts in Pastoral Ministry with a Specialization in Catechetics, and a Master of Arts in Theology. We are committed to faculty development as well as the development of programs and degrees that respond to the changing needs of the church. We are fortunate to be part of the Orchard Lake Schools campus that provides wonderful facilities in a beautiful environment for an enjoyable educational experience. We entrust our work to Divine Mercy and to Our Lady of Orchard Lake.
