Chancellor - Archbishop of New Orleans

(cf. Administrative Organization Chart)     

     Notre Dame Seminary, its property and buildings, belong to the Archdiocese of New Orleans and are subject to its Corporation and the Board of Directors for ownership, capital improvements and disposition of title.  The Corporation of the Archdiocese of New Orleans, with Archbishop Francis B. Schulte as President, exercises fiscal and titular responsibility over Notre Dame, which was incorporated in 1948 by the State of Louisiana and by an act of the state legislature (Act 136, House Bill 832) authorized to grant degrees.

     In January 1970 a charter was granted to Notre Dame Seminary by the State of Louisiana for operation of the institution by a Board of Trustees, including ex officio the Archbishop of New Orleans as President, a Vicar General of the archdiocese, the President-Rector of Notre Dame, and other appointed members for an aggregate of 15 trustees.  The Board of Trustees is to establish, conduct, and maintain a seminary, college and/or university, to further advance the cause of education, to promote and disseminate the study and knowledge of theology, the classics and the arts and sciences and give instruction in the learned professions. 

     In 1975 the charter was amended so as officially to designate the Archbishop of New Orleans as chancellor of the seminary; it was revised again in 1995, designating the same archbishop as ex officio chairman of the Board of Trustees, and emphasizing the requirements of Canon Law and the NCCB “Program of Priestly Formation” in the operation of the seminary. 

     The Board of Trustees shall consist of not less than five nor more than twenty-five members.  By custom and practice the bishops of the province are permanent members of the board.  Other members are appointed by the membership of the corporation of Notre Dame Seminary.  The officers of the board are three: chairman, secretary, and treasurer.

     The members of the corporation are the archbishop or administrator of the Archdiocese of New Orleans and such other persons as may be designated by the chancellor (archbishop) at the time.  The officers are three: president, vice-president and secretary treasurer. 

     The Board functions as committee of the whole in the exercise of the following responsibilities:

   1) To choose the President-Rector who is directly responsible for the administration of the seminary.
  2) To approve the incurring of extraordinary indebtedness.
   3) To approve tuition, fees, and all significant changes in seminary programs.
   4) To approve candidates for the annual graduation.
   5) To examine and approve the seminary budget.
   6) To approve the President-Rector’s term of office.

     The Faculty council has ultimate responsibility for:

     - Curriculum and Graduate programs;
     - Faculty recruitment and advancement;
     - Faculty welfare and domestic concerns of the full-time faculty;
     - Election of faculty members to certain internal committees (as provided in their charters);
     - The formation program;
     - The continuation of seminarians in the program;
     - The recommendation of students for Holy Orders;
     - The discipline of individual students;
     - Matters of confidentiality.

     In addition, the Faculty Council augmented by other faculty, as occasion recommends, may meet for workshops or to give advice requested by the President-Rector, or other officers regarding the execution of their duties.

     The Faculty Council is the highest policy making body in the seminary.  It also functions as an open forum of communication between the various parts of the seminary community. All full-time members of the faculty and seminary administration are members of the Faculty Council.  Other professors and administrators (part-time and/or non-resident) may be accorded membership by the Faculty Council on a year-to-year basis or for as long as the person’s responsibilities at the seminary are not reduced.  The President-Rector serves as chairman of the Faculty Council.

     The Standing Committees of the Faculty Council are comprised of Faculty and Students, and will meet once each semester or when needed.  The purpose of the committees is to discuss current issues and to process an on-going evaluation in each area.  Each Standing Committee must submit a written report to the Faculty Council each semester.  The President-Rector will meet monthly with the President of the Student Association.  The President-Rector will report to the Faculty Council on the actions and concerns of the Student Association.

The Faculty Council has the following standing committees:

     a) The Faith-Life Committee:   Membership on this committee consists of the Director of Spiritual Formation as ex-officio chairman, the Director of Liturgy, the Spiritual Director, one elected faculty member, and one student member from each  of the classes.

     b) The Academic Affairs committee: Membership on this committee consists of the Academic Dean as chairman, the Assistant Dean, the M.A. Director, two faculty members elected by their peers and one student from each of the classes, and an off-campus representative.  This committee brings to the Faculty Council recommendations and motions regarding all aspects of the academic program of the seminary.

     c) The Pastoral Field Education Committee: Membership on this committee consists of the Director of Field Education as chairman, one other full-time faculty member elected by peer vote and one student member from each of the classes.  This committee brings to the Faculty Council reports and motions on the plans and activities of the field education program.

     d) The Library Committee: Membership on this committee consists of the librarian as chairperson, one faculty member elected by peer vote, and one elected student representative.  This committee brings to the Faculty Council reports and motions on the library services, dealings with consortium libraries, notice of notable acquisitions and notable losses in the number of books from the collection; also any plans for renovations or expansion.

     e) The Finance and Maintenance Committee: Membership on this committee consists of the director of finance as chairperson, the president-rector, one member of the full-time faculty elected by peer vote, the secretary-treasurer of the Student Association, and one other student representative chosen by his peers on the basis of his expertise in business management.  This committee meets to review the budget and to discuss all matters pertaining to the maintenance of the seminary, the costs involved and the measures which need to be taken, and brings to the Faculty Council reports and motions on these matters.

     The Executive Council, charged with day-to-day administration and general planning, consists of the President-Rector (chairman), the the Academic Dean, the Director of Field Education, the Director of Finance, the Director of Spiritual Formation and at the Rector’s discretion, other administrative officials who may be co-opted for consultation on specific matters.

     Membership on this board consists of the President-Rector (chairman), ,Academic Dean, and the Director of Spiritual Formation.  This committee, meeting especially during the summer months, oversees the admission of all candidates, seminarians and off-campus, to Notre Dame Seminary.

     This committee, consisting of the President-Rector (Chairman), Academic Dean, Director of Field Education, Director of Spiritual Formation or another faculty member designated by the rector, meets once or twice a week during the semester to interview and evaluate individual seminarians; the results are periodically presented to the Faculty Council for further deliberation and vote.  The committee may also suggest policies and practices regarding spiritual formation for consideration by the Faculty Council.

     Membership on this committee consists of the President-Rector (chairman), the Academic Dean and one elected faculty member.  It deliberates and votes in connection with hiring new full-time faculty, and renewing or terminating contracts (subject always to the approval of the Chancellor and Board of Trustees).

     The President-Rector is chief executive of Notre Dame Seminary.  It is his responsibility to insure that faculty, students, seminarians and staff work harmoniously toward the implementation of the stated goals and responsibly carry out the programs of the institution.  He is accountable directly to the chancellor and through him to the Board of Trustees.  Moreover, because of his canonical appointment as Rector, he is specifically responsible for implementing the NCCB’s Program of Priestly Formation at Notre Dame Seminary, in accordance with the norms of Canon Law and the Second Vatican Council, and is charged with coordinating the work of all personnel involved in priestly formation.

As chief executive, his duties are:

     1) To assume overall responsibility under the Chancellor and the Board of Trustees for overseeing the administration of Notre Dame Seminary.  In day-to-day administration, the President-Rector is assisted by an Executive Council.

     2) To submit to the Board of Trustees twice a year, a report on the condition of Notre Dame Seminary and to offer proposals from the Faculty Council concerning the welfare of the institution.

     3) In concert with faculty and student community to participate in the formation of major decisions regarding general policy and to convoke and chair the Faculty Council in pursuit and review of the same.

     4) To represent Notre Dame Seminary, its philosophy and policies, to the Board of Trustees, the bishops of the province, diocesan and religious authorities and personnel, the alumni, education agencies and the general public.

     5) To promote the search for qualified faculty and staff and to foster the programs developed by the faculty and other personnel.

     6) To assume final responsibility in accordance with the norms approved by the Board of Trustees for presenting proposals to the chancellor for the hiring and termination of faculty and other personnel.

     7) To foster collaboration with the New Orleans Consortium, Our Lady of Holy Cross College and St. Joseph Seminary College.

     8) In collaboration with the Director of Alumni, Special Projects and Development, to search out and pursue feasible sources for the endowment of Notre Dame Seminary and to encourage recruitment programs.

     9) To deal directly with the seminary’s accrediting agencies and with both state and federal bureaus in matters relating to the seminary.

As Canonical Rector, it is also his duty:

     1) To oversee the admission of candidates to Notre Dame Seminary.  In carrying out this duty he is assisted by the Admissions Board.

     2) To serve as chief executive officer on matters concerning priestly formation and to be directly responsible to the ecclesiastical authorities concerned.

     3) To review all formation and evaluation procedures and the progress of candidates for priesthood.

     4) To call and preside at meetings of the Formation Committee; to coordinate the spiritual-academic-pastoral programs for the seminarians.

     5) To interpret and articulate to all those concerned the norms of the Holy See, the NCCB, the Board of Trustees, and the proper ordinaries concerning priestly formation.

      6) To arrange evaluation of candidates for Ministries and Orders and to inform appropriate persons of time, place and procedure.

     7) To retain the personal files of the seminarians.

     8) To secure and present to the appropriate ordinaries and religious superiors the results of the Faculty Council’s evaluation of students for the priesthood and its final vote on candidates petitioning for advancement to Ministries and Orders

The President-Rector’s contract is as follows:

     - The President-Rector is initially hired by the Chancellor, with the approval of the Board of Trustees, for a period of three years. 

     - After evaluation by the Board and faculty consultation, his term may be extended for another five years;

     - After similar evaluation and consultation, it may be extended a further two years;

     - Subsequently, his appointment must be reviewed every two years by the Chancellor, Faculty and Board of Trustees.

     The Academic Dean is responsible for all matters of curriculum, advancement and conferral of degrees.  He is charged with implementing the entire instructional program and the development of plans for the improvement of the School of Theology.  His duties are:

     1) To supervise the entire program in all instructional areas.
     2) To serve on the Admissions Board with particular reference to admissions to the School of Theology.
     3) To serve as chief advisor to the President-Rector in academic matters, to advise the President-Rector on the appointment of faculty members.
     4) To serve as chairman of the Academic Affairs Committee.             
     5) To report to the Faculty Council on the condition and needs of Notre Dame Seminary in academic matters.
     6) To render the necessary academic reports to such accrediting agencies as are entitled to receive them.
     7) To present candidates for degrees at commencement, and make recommendations for honorary degrees.
     8) To represent Notre Dame at meetings of educational  associations.
     9) To maintain appropriate memberships for Notre Dame in educational and professional organizations.
   10) To prepare and edit for publication the catalog and other academic bulletins.
   11) To oversee establishment and operation of any additional academic department or programs.
   12) To represent the interests of Notre Dame in collaboration with the religion and theology faculties of the New Orleans Consortium and of other colleges and universities.
   13) To maintain special collaboration with archdiocesan agencies devoted to education, ministry, and the needs of ethnic groups.
   14) To serve as a member of the Formation Committee, and to report to this committee on the academic performance of the students being evaluated.

     The Director of Spiritual Formation is responsible for coordinating the spiritual formation program of Notre Dame Seminary.  He is directly responsible to the President-Rector and the Faculty Council for implementing policies and for directing all the activities of the spiritual formation program.  His duties are:

     1) To oversee the spiritual life of the community and to work closely with the Director of Liturgy and the Spiritual Director in preparing community liturgies and prayer programs.
     2) To be available to the students for spiritual direction.
     3) To coordinate monthly conferences to the individual classes.
     4) To coordinate retreats and days of recollection.
     5) To oversee preparation of  Ministries and Candidacy.
     6) To serve ex-officio as chairman of the Faith-Life Committee.
     7) To maintain liaison with the counseling program and student welfare.
     8) To serve as a member of the Formation Committee, attending its meetings, and taking part in student evaluations as needed.
     9) To serve as secretary of the Executive Council.
   10) To serve as a member of the Admissions Board.

     The Spiritual Director is distinguished from the Director of Spiritual Formation in that his basic duties lie in the internal forum. He has as his primary responsibility the providing of spiritual direction to the individual seminarians.  His concern is for the overall quality of the spiritual direction program of the seminary.  Hence, he is responsible for providing in-service programs for the resident and adjunct spiritual directors of the seminary.  His duties are the following:

     1) To foster sound habits of personal prayer in all of the seminarians.
     2) To see that each seminarian has a personal spiritual director whom he sees at least once a month.
     3) To devote the greater part of his time to the direction of individual seminarians.
     4) To provide opportunities for experience in different forms of prayer.
     5) To select adjunct spiritual directors with the approval of the President-Rector and to provide in-service programs for them.
     6) To chair meetings of the seminary spiritual directors and to coordinate their efforts and goals in general so that they are in harmony with the published policies of the seminary.
     7) To be ex-officio a member of the Faith-Life Committee of the seminary.

     The Director of Pastoral Field Education is responsible for the preparation of seminarians for the priestly ministry, especially through the program of supervised pastoral field education in the areas of parish ministry, religious education, clinical pastoral education, and internship in parish ministry.  The responsibilities of the director are:

     1) To serve as advisor to the President-Rector and Academic Dean on matters pertaining to the practical guidance of seminarians in the areas of field education.
     2) To collaborate with the Academic Dean in initiating and coordinating programs in academic pastoral education.
     3) To serve as a member of the Formation Committee, and to report on the performance of all students engaged in field education through the Formation Committee.
     4) In consultation with the academic dean, to prepare and distribute periodically to the faculty and Formation Committee, reports on the pastoral program and its effectiveness.
     5) To establish and maintain contact with pastors, educators, ministerial and civic leaders who are able and willing to provide effective leadership and supervision for seminarians engaged in field education.  Also, to conduct in-service training of supervisors.
     6) To assist the rector as official liaison between Notre Dame Seminary and archdiocesan and diocesan officials in matters pertaining to the seminarians’ participation in the field education programs conducted in the archdiocese and dioceses.
     7) To provide frequent opportunities for individual, group, and community dialogue and evaluation in order that the students may express their estimates of the progress of their work, the experience gained, and the difficulties encountered.
     8) In collaboration with the academic dean, to elicit the assistance of qualified personnel, both within and without the Notre Dame Seminary community, for additional conferences on pastoral matters and sufficient theological reflection with students involved in field education.
     9) To serve as chair of the Pastoral Field Education Committee.
   10) To serve on the Executive Council.

     The Registrar, as the officer chiefly responsible for the academic reports of the School of Theology, provides the students, faculty and administration, as well as other institutions and appropriate persons, with analysis and interpretations of the academic program.  The duties of the registrar are:

     1) To assist the President-Rector and the Academic Dean  in matters relating to admission to the seminary and/or graduate school.
     2) To direct all registration procedures.
     3) To record and maintain permanent records of all registered students.
     4) To present academic reports to students, bishops, religious superiors and others entitled to receive them.
     5) To check credentials of candidates for degrees and for academic awards.
     6) To issue transcripts of the student’s academic record.
     7) To assist the Academic Dean in the scheduling of classes and examinations.
     8) To assist in the editorial work of the catalog and other academic publications.
     9) To maintain a library of catalogs of colleges, universities and seminaries.
   10) To prepare academic records for microfilming.
   11) To procure invitations for the annual commencement exercises, to arrange for the printing of the commencement program itself; to procure academic apparel for the faculty and Board of Trustees members requesting them; to assist in logistic preparations for the ceremony.

     The Director of Student Welfare and Guidance is responsible for general student welfare and supervises the health program, recreational and social activities.  In collaboration with the President-Rector, he is responsible for psychological testing and for counseling programs in areas distinct from spiritual direction.  He serves as chief advisor to the President-Rector on student morale and general comportment.  His duties are:

     1) To advise the faculty and administration of student concerns and interests which affect the entire Notre Dame community.
     2) To work closely with students in programs and activities which serve the good of the entire Notre Dame community.
     3) To evaluate and to see to the implementation of the seminary guidelines.
     4) To serve as advisor to the Student Association and to confer regularly with them.
     5) To address the student body periodically, whether in general assembly, by classes or by bulletin, on matters pertaining to the areas mentioned above.
     6) To serve as principal advisor to the President-Rector on matters pertaining to the general emotional and psychological health of students.
     7) To seek the advice and services of people professionally qualified and personally oriented to understand the emotional and personality development of candidates for priesthood.

     The Director of the Library is responsible for the administration, supervision and development of the Notre Dame Seminary Library.  The director provides library facilities within the limitations of the budget, in keeping with the stated purposes of the seminary and the desired intellectual and scholarly growth of the faculty and students.  The duties are:

     1) To have financial responsibility for the selection and purchase of books, periodicals and other library materials recommended by the faculty, library committee or students.
     2) To keep administration, faculty and students informed of new acquisitions, and to promote the general welfare and development of the library through cooperation with the administration and faculty.
     3) To engage and supervise general library personnel and student assistance who serve for the academic well-being of Notre Dame.
    4) To serve as chair of the library committee.

     The Director of Alumni, Special Projects and Development is responsible for maintaining helpful communication with all alumni of Notre Dame Seminary and projecting to them the interests and image of the seminary as well as related programs; correspondingly, to seek to promote good relations between the Association of Notre Dame Alumni and the Chancellor, the President-Rector, faculty, staff and students of the seminary.  He is responsible for seeking out appropriate sources of funding or endowment, and engaging in whatever special projects further this end.  The duties are:

     1) To maintain mailing addresses of all alumni.
     2) To assist the Executive Committee of the Alumni Association in planning the annual Alumni Day activities, and to assist the committee in implementing other decisions which it has been authorized to make.
     3) To aid the treasurer in the collection of alumni dues.
     4) To advise the President-Rector on matters concerning the alumni and general public relations, and to represent the President-Rector at specific public functions when so requested.
     5) In liaison with the Archdiocesan Office of Development, to search out and pursue sources of funding or endowment for the seminary.
     6) To act as principal advisor to the President-Rector in all matters touching development.

Policies and Procedures for Fund-Raising and Development

     1) All fund-raising activities will be conducted by the Director of Development in close liaison with the Archdiocesan Office of Development, and, in the seminary, with the President-Rector, Director of Finance, and the Executive Council.
     2) That the Director of Development be assisted and advised in his work by an advisory committee, consisting of persons skilled and knowledgeable in development and fund-raising and each year establish specific short-term and long–term goals for development.
     3) That these goals be specifically related to the institution’s purpose, viz., firstly education and formation of men for the Roman Catholic ministerial priesthood, with special reference to the Gulf South, and to Third World countries (“Globalization”); and secondly, service to the wider community, as a graduate school of theology.
     4) That, in addition to soliciting grants from suitable foundations, an alumni fund drive, directed especially to seminary alumni, be established; also, that alumni be encouraged to inaugurate, or contribute to, burses for the education of seminarians.
     5) That alumni, and other interested parties, be kept informed of the latest developments in fund-raising through a quarterly Development Newsletter.
     6) That policies and procedures for fund-raising and development be regularly evaluated, on an annual basis, as follows: first by the advisory committee at its summer meeting; secondly, following the director’s report, by the President-Rector’s Executive Council, and then by the resident and full-time faculty at their August orientation meeting.

      The Director of Finance is responsible for the control of business activities, the maintenance of the physical plant and the control of the budget.  The duties are:

     1) To keep all financial accounts relating to the proper maintenance and upkeep of the physical plant.
     2) To keep all accounts relating to the expenditures for academic development, academic purchases, faculty salaries and benefits, student activity funds, loans, etc.
     3) To collect all tuition and student fees.

     The Director of Music is responsible for the liturgical music program of the seminary.  As such he is directly responsible for the music at all special liturgies of the seminary as well as coordinating the music at daily liturgies.  His duties are:

     1) To see that the church’s directives on music in the Sacred Liturgy are faithfully carried out in the seminary, and that the music used in the Liturgy is suitable and fitting for divine worship in the seminary community.
     2) To see that the students are exposed to the treasures of liturgical music from all periods of the Church’s history, and to see that the students are also exposed to the more recent works of composers and liturgical musicians.
     3) To serve as director of music for all special liturgies.
     4) To coordinate the music for daily Eucharist and for Morning and Evening Prayer.
     5) To rehearse the students in the music to be used at all liturgies.
     6) To direct the Schola Cantorum.
     7) To review and approve the music chosen for all liturgical celebrations.
     8) To teach courses in liturgical music.

The responsibility of the Director of Liturgy is to promote and to facilitate the proper planning, execution, and evaluation of liturgical celebrations within the seminary community.  The Director of the Liturgy works in collaboration with the Director of Spiritual Formation.  The primary duties of the Director of Liturgy are as follows:

     1) To provide a weekly calendar of all eucharistic celebrations on class-days.
     2) To schedule liturgical ministries for all eucharistic celebrations on class-days.
     3) To prepare and direct all special liturgical events, such as, Institution of Readers and Acolytes, Admission to Candidacy, Alumni Day Eucharist, etc.
     4) To be an ex-officio member on the Faith-Life Committee, with whom he proposes and evaluates liturgical policies.
     5) To collaborate with the Director of Spiritual Formation and the Director of Music, in overseeing the Liturgy of the Hours, in programming music and in superintending the work of the sacristans.
     6) To collaborate with the Rector’s Office in scheduling guest celebrants for community liturgies.
     7) To plan and direct workshops for seminarians who are to be instituted as Readers and as Acolytes.

     The M.A. Director, in cooperation with the Academic Dean, is charged with the responsibility of the off-campus students in the M.A. Program.  The duties are:

     1) To act as principal advisor to the Academic Dean in whatever concerns off-campus M.A. students and the M.A. Program.
     2) To assist at registration, as regards off-campus M.A. students.
     3) To meet with off-campus M.A. students at orientation, and at other appropriate times during the course of the academic year.
     4) To facilitate communication between the off-campus M.A. students and the seminary community through meetings and a newsletter.
     5) To meet with individual students in the off-campus M.A. Program, advising and assisting them in planning and implementing  their academic program.
     6) To make decisions regarding acceptance of credits, language examinations, requirements for a concentration and comprehensive examinations.
     7) In the case of off-campus students doing the research M.A., to arrange and preside at the thesis committee meeting when the candidate explains the project for the Master’s thesis.
     8) When the thesis is completed, to arrange and preside at the thesis committee meeting where the candidate orally defends and explains the completed thesis.
     9) In collaboration with the Academic Dean, to report to the Faculty Council, especially at the end-of-the semester meeting, on whatever concerns off-campus M.A. students and their program.
   10) To work with and advise off-campus students registered at Notre Dame Seminary.

     The Philosophy Program Director, in cooperation with the Academic Dean, is responsible for coordinating the philosophy program, and advising philosophy students.  The duties are:

   1) To act as principal advisor to the Academic Dean in all that concerns the philosophy program.
   2) To plan and coordinate the philosophy program at Notre Dame Seminary.
   3) To act as liaison with consortium colleges attended by philosophy students.
   4) To interview and be available to individual students in philosophy, advising them of their academic needs.
   5) To assist at registration as regards philosophy students.
   6) In collaboration with the Academic Dean, to report to the Faculty Council, especially at the end-of-semester meeting, on whatever concerns the philosophy students and their program.

     The Ecumenical Representative, not strictly an administrative officer, but elected by vote of the full-time faculty, is responsible for matters pertaining to the seminary’s ecumenical relations.  The duties are:

     1) To act as principal advisor to the President-Rector in whatever concerns ecumenical relations.
     2) In particular, to arrange suitable services or functions for the annual Church Unity Octave (January 18^th through 25^th), and to make provision for a guest speaker.
     3) To make arrangements for regular courses in ecumenical theology.