St. Augustine’s Seminary Celebrates Historic Inauguration of Ecclesiastical Faculty of Theology

TORONTO – August 28, 2026 – St. Michael’s Cathedral Basilica was the setting for a historic celebration on the feast day of St. Augustine as As the community of St. Augustine’s Seminary and invited guests gathered for Mass marking the inauguration of the Ecclesiastical Faculty of Theology at St. Augustine’s Seminary.

The celebration marked the culmination of many years of planning,

preparation and implementation by past and present administrators, faculty members and staff. It also represented an important new chapter in the more than century-long history of St. Augustine’s Seminary and in the theological life of the local Church.

In a message welcoming those gathered, Frank Cardinal Leo, Metropolitan Archbishop of Toronto and Chancellor of St. Augustine’s Seminary, expressed his joy at the inauguration and gave thanks for all those who helped bring the new faculty to fruition.

“We are celebrating the establishment and offering of two ecclesiastical degrees, sui iuris, the Bachelor of Sacred Theology and the Licentiate in Theology and Patristic Studies, a jewel of a program,” Cardinal Leo wrote.

The Cardinal extended his gratitude to all those who supported the process and to those participating in the days of celebration, describing the occasion as one marked by “enlightened conversation, communal worship and ecclesial fellowship.”

The historic moment builds upon decades of theological education at St. Augustine’s Seminary. Since 1996, the Holy See has authorized the Seminary to confer the Ecclesiastical Baccalaureate of Sacred Theology (S.T.B.). In 2022, the Dicastery for Culture and Education granted St. Augustine’s Seminary its new ecclesiastical status, sui iuris, allowing the institution to establish its Ecclesiastical Faculty of Theology. The Seminary subsequently began offering its Licentiate in Theology and Patristic Studies in September 2023. 

Msgr. A. Robert Nusca, President of St. Augustine’s Seminary, reflected on the significance of the occasion and the important contributions made by many Church leaders and members of the Seminary community in bringing the vision to life.

In his message, Msgr. Nusca acknowledged the support of Cardinal Leo, the Seminary’s Board of Governors, faculty and the many individuals who have contributed to the institution throughout its history. He also recognized the leadership of former Archbishop of Toronto Thomas Cardinal Collins and Cardinal Leo, whose support helped make the development of the Ecclesiastical Faculty possible.

The inauguration comes at a significant moment for Catholic theological education. Msgr. Nusca pointed to the need for strong theological formation amid the technological, cultural and social challenges facing the Church and the world today.

The Ecclesiastical Faculty of Theology will continue the Seminary’s mission of the Seminary’s mission of providing faithful and foundational theological and spiritual formation in service of the Church in Canada and beyond. Its Licentiate in Theology and Patristic Studies provides advanced study of theology and the development of Christian thought, with particular attention to the early Church and its rich intellectual tradition. 

The celebration also included special recognition of His Eminence José Tolentino de Mendonça, Prefect of the Dicastery for Culture and Education, and His Excellency Archbishop Carlo Maria Polvani, Secretary of the Dicastery, whose presence and participation underscored the significance of the occasion for the universal Church.

Cardinal Leo offered special gratitude to Archbishop Polvani for his presence and words of encouragement on behalf of the Holy See’s Dicastery for Culture and Education.

As the faithful gathered at St. Michael’s Cathedral Basilica for the August 28 Mass, the celebration was both an occasion of thanksgiving and a look toward the future. Rooted in the Church’s intellectual and spiritual tradition, the new Ecclesiastical Faculty of Theology represents an important investment in the formation of future priests, religious and lay leaders.

“May God continue to bless St. Augustine’s Seminary,” Cardinal Leo wrote, “its seminarians, students, faculty, administrators, board members, staff and volunteers as we earnestly strive to continue to offer excellent programming and formation of clergy, religious and lay leaders in service to the local Church and beyond.”

The inauguration at St. Michael’s Cathedral Basilica marked not simply the beginning of a new and significant academic program, but a renewed commitment to the study of faith, the formation of future leaders and the continuing mission of the Church to serve Toronto, Canada and the wider world.