Quigley Scholars

the program

Cardinal George created The Quigley Scholars Program in 2007 to support young men in the Archdiocese of Chicago who want to learn more about the priesthood.

Quigley Scholars are high school students who like to help others, are involved in their parish and apply themselves at school. It’s open to teens in Catholic and public high schools as well as those who are homeschooled.

The Scholars attend a formational meeting once a month at St. Joseph College Seminary from September through April. We pray together, attend Mass, have dinner and attend a faith sharing session with the seminarians.

Scholars who attend Catholic high schools in the Archdiocese may also apply for a $2,500 scholarship to help offset the cost of high school tuition. The program and scholarship fund are made possible through the generosity of donors connected to the 101-year history of the Archbishop Quigley high school seminary system.

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what we look for in a quigley scholar

Our Scholars Are Eager to Know More

Those who encounter Jesus Christ grow in their relationship with him. And soon, they begin to want to know more and more—more about Him, and more about the Church.

Quigley Scholars are eager to know more. They’re high school men who feel God is speaking to them in a real way. They’re excited about their faith and want to talk about it and study it further. And they feel that God might actually be asking them to learn more about what it means to be a Catholic priest.

Our Scholars Are Serious about their Faith.

When we look for Quigley Scholars, there are standards and requirements. Here’s what we look for in a candidate:

A baptized Roman Catholic who practices his faith.

You’ll be asked to present a baptismal certificate, which you can receive from your parish office. If you received the Sacrament of Confirmation, that will be on the certificate, too. To practice your faith means that you and your family are registered at a parish in the Archdiocese of Chicago and attend Sunday Mass regularly.

Someone interested in exploring the priesthood.

Each month, we come together at St. Joseph College Seminary to pray and learn more about the mysteries of our faith. There will also be some talks about what it means to be a priest. You’ll have a chance to meet seminarians and may even hear stories about the ways God is working in their own lives.

Someone who is recommended for the program.

You’ll need to ask for a recommendation from your pastor, a teacher from grade school or high school, and a member of your family. Sometimes it’s the people around us who help us notice the good things we’re doing and recognize the gifts God has given us.

Someone who is serious about their education.

Our scholars carry at least a 3.0 GPA out of a 4.0 grading system. They value learning and apply themselves to the best of their ability. We’ll ask your school to submit your grades to St. Joseph College Seminary twice a year: at the semester and at the end of each year. If you’ve just transferred into a Catholic high school, you should ask to receive an official transcript from your former school and submit it to the administrator of the program.

Someone who is responsible and respects others.

Quigley Scholars aren’t just serious about their school work, but they’re serious about who they are as a person. We accept candidates who do not have a history of behavioral problems during grade school and at high school.

Someone interested in religion and learning other languages.

An interest in theology is a very important sign that you’re ready to seriously begin studying the mysteries of our Catholic faith more deeply. Also important is an interest in learning other languages. Priests often know more than one language to serve their communities. Plus they’re open to studying Latin and the biblical languages, such as Greek and Hebrew.

What do Quigley Scholars Do?

Quigley Scholars make a commitment to:

Attend a Formation Meeting Once a Month

We meet at St. Joseph College Seminary, 1120 W. Loyola Avenue in Chicago once a month from September through May. The evening includes prayer, reflection time, Mass, dinner with the seminary community, and faith sharing and catechesis with college seminarians.

Pray

The heart of our relationship with God is in sharing our life with Him—through our personal daily prayer and by participating in our sacramental life. Our Quigley Scholars know that prayer is one of the most important ways we can be open to the way God calls us.

Meet with the Priest Sponsor

Once a month, the priest who sponsors the Quigley Scholar meets with him to discuss his spiritual life and the ways God is working in the young man’s life. The Priest Sponsor may be a pastor, an associate pastor, or even one of the Archdiocese’s Associate Vocation Directors.

Attend Daily Mass

If and when it’s offered at a Catholic high school, Quigley Scholars are encouraged to attend daily Mass. The Eucharist is central to the life of every Catholic and especially to those who feel a call to priesthood.

Participate in Youth Activities if Needed

At times, the Quigley Scholars are asked to help the Vocation Director with different vocation events during the year. Quigley Scholars witness that God is actively calling people to serve the Church.

How to Apply

Who to Contact

Ask your parish priest to help you with the application process and to receive the application packet. The involvement of your parish priest is an important part of the program.

Or feel free to contact us directly with the contact form on the bottom of the page.

If you would like to download the application forms directly, please do so here:
Quigley Scholar Application

Quigley Scholars Application Forms

Scholarships Available

Help Offset Catholic High School Tuition

The Archdiocese of Chicago offers 12 scholarships a year. It is administered through the Quigley Alumni Office at St. Joseph College Seminary.

The scholarship amount is $2,500 per school year per student. The scholarship is paid directly to the Catholic high school the student is attending and will be paid in two installments: one in the first semester and one in the second.

To qualify, the student must be attending a four year Catholic high school in the Archdiocese of Chicago. (Awards are not given to students who attend public high schools or are homeschooled.)

Participation is the most important part of the program, so to receive the full scholarship students are required to be present at the monthly meetings.

There is an area on the application form where you can also apply for the scholarship.

about us

The Quigley Scholars Program is administered by the faculty and staff of St. Joseph College Seminary. St. Joseph is the undergraduate seminary program of the Archdiocese of Chicago and is affiliated with Loyola University. The men who attend St. Joseph are seriously discerning a vocation to the Catholic priesthood.