St. Augustine’s Seminary
Serra House
Our downtown location accommodates seminarians in the initial stage of formation (discipleship stage – philosophy and undergraduate studies). All men residing at Serra House are considered full seminarians and receive a complete formation program dedicated to the diocesan priesthood.
News & Testimonials
Location
The unique location and the smaller design of Serra House are meant to foster a greater sense of fraternity and community life. Its location downtown is also ideal for seminarians working on an undergraduate degree.
Milestones: Celebrating 40 Years!
Preparing for Grand Opening
Restoration of the original Serra House building includes upgraded rooms, a larger chapel, an upgraded kitchen, and a dining space to accommodate more students. The project also includes the development of a library, common space, office space, a fitness room, seminary rooms, and suites for guest speakers. Some images are shared in the gallery photos above and we will update this webpage as more become available.
Renovations
Initial renovations began in 2017, including the demolition of a section at the back of Serra House that had deteriorated. Students moved to St. Augustine’s Seminary in the interim.
Ground-breaking Ceremony
Official groundbreaking with Cardinal Thomas Collins in the backyard of the old Serra House on Toronto’s St. George Street took place in early November 2019.
The Founder
In 1983, Serra House was founded by Fr. Sean O’Sullivan (vocations director for the Archdiocese of Toronto at the time) with Cardinal Gerald Emmett Carter’s support. Fr. Sean O’Sullivan became a priest in 1981. He left a life of politics and was the youngest Member of Parliament at age 20, when first elected in 1972. O’Sullivan was diagnosed with leukemia, which eventually claimed his life in 1989 at age 37.
The house was named after Serra International, which promotes vocations to the priesthood and religious life.
The Landmark Heritage Property
The original 2.5- storey house is located on 226 St. George Street since 1903. This George Gooderham Mitchell House has cultural heritage value as a fine example of Queen Anne Revival style architecture in Toronto to the designs of notable Toronto architect David Roberts, Jr. Since 1950, the building has been used as a vocational school and dormitory by several groups affiliated with the Roman Catholic faith, including the Jesuit Fathers, the Sisters of Providence and, currently, St. Augustine’s Seminary. In 1959, the Jesuit Fathers commissioned the prominent Modernist Toronto architect Peter Dickinson to build a 4-storey addition to the rear of the original house that served as a student dormitory and was known as Bellarmine Hall. The property is a landmark heritage property and designated under Part IV, Section 29 of the Ontario Heritage Act since July 21, 1980.
“I am most grateful to God for having had the opportunity to live at Serra House downtown for two years. The spiritual guidance of the fathers, the fraternity developed among the brothers, and the great location for balancing studies with outreach and friendship all contributed in helping me grow in awareness of and perseverance toward
a priestly call.”
“Living at the Seminary has helped me in my spiritual life. How many people have the privilege of having the blesssd sacrament in the same place where you live? It makes it easier to get close to Jesus.”
“...it won’t take as long to commute to and from school, which will gives me more time to do the things I need to do like: ...homework, pray, read... Another thing that I am looking forward to is that we will be right downtown which will give us more opportunity to form community....”
“...we are able to have our own unique space with our own schedule and activities that are prayerfully chosen by our formators to provide for our particular needs during this period of our formation. We are at a different place and have different needs than our Theology and Spiritual Year Brothers...”
“I am looking forward most to bringing our community of fraternity and charity which is so precious and cherished here at St. Augustine’s to the new Serra House. To establish another heart which can beat alongside that of St. Augustine’s is a great work and privilege to be a part of. I hope and pray that God may be pleased to use this other heart to be a beacon of hope and light in the world, which will bring Christ to souls and souls to Christ.”
We invite you to consider supporting the Serra House Pre-Theology Residence Restoration Project
Please contact our Development Office for details:
Phone: 416-261-7207 x 358, Email: development@staugustines.on.ca
St. Augustine’s Seminary of Toronto is a registered Canadian Charity (Charitable Registration Number: 852191683RR0001)