The Pontifical College Josephinum is a Roman Catholic seminary whose mission is to provide initial formation to men so that they can participate in the ministerial priesthood of Jesus Christ, “Head and Shepherd, Servant and Spouse.” The seminary prepares men for the ordained priesthood in the Propaedeutic, Discipleship, and Configuration Stages, integrating the human, spiritual, intellectual, and pastoral dimensions of formation. At the service of integral formation are two schools: the College of Liberal Arts and the School of Theology.

The Josephinum is a pontifical institution immediately subject to the Holy See, through the Apostolic Nuncio, and governed by the Board of Trustees. Its programs follow the norms established by the Code of Canon Law, the Congregation for the Clergy, and the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. As a pontifical seminary, the Josephinum assists seminarians in developing their unity and love for the Holy Father and the Holy See.

Continuing the vision of its founder, Msgr. Joseph Jessing, the Josephinum seeks to prepare holy, generous, adaptable, and resilient priests for the 21st century and to serve the pastoral needs of the Church. In fidelity to this vision, the Josephinum provides resources to prepare candidates for the priesthood and the diaconate, enabling them to respond to the particular needs of their local communities. The Josephinum shares its resources with the Church by promoting vocations and offering ongoing formation to clergy and education to the laity.