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St. Charles Seminary strives to form a Seminarian as one who imitates Christ, by a life centred on the Eucharist and inspired by the Word of God.
He lives in a structured institution which functions like a family and integrates human, Christian and priestly values.
He follows a distinctive seminary life-style with character, integrity, maturity, prudence and self- discipline.
He assimilates the formation programme, tries to measure up to the academic requirements, experiences freedom, right motivation, commitment to his call, obedience to authority.
He lives as a prophet, works as a community builder and strives to be a relevant witness in the modern world.
He is formed in a holistic, integrated and developmental way which emphasizes human, spiritual, social, moral and pastoral dimensions.
He builds up a deep relationship with God, and is at ease with himself and with others. He is gradually transformed into a missionary to proclaim the Good News.
St. Charles Seminary belongs to the Archdiocese of Nagpur and is staffed and administered by the Friars of the Order of Preachers (O.P.). It has a long and checkered history. Its first itinerant phase lasted 47 years, from 1851 to 1898. During this period the Rector and the Seminarians moved from place to place, travelling for the most part by bullock cart. Its second more settled and stable phase lasted another 47 years. During this period it was housed in the Red Seminary building (Bishop’s School) from which Seminary Hill gets its name. Its third present phase commenced in 1959.
Archbishop Eugene D’Souza envisioned a concurrent formation programme in which a student, while being trained for the priesthood, would also obtain a University Degree. For this purpose he converted the old Red Seminary building into an University College in 1955 and dedicated it to St. Francis de Sales. He then built a new Seminary building, namely, the present St. Charles Seminary.
The present location of St. Charles Seminary is one of the finest campuses in Nagpur. The gardens, avenues, playing fields, games courts, wooded areas, provide an ideal setting for prayer, study, reflection, recreation and the all-round development of our seminarians.
The grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes behind the Seminary is one of the most beautiful places in Nagpur, and devotees of all castes and creeds come to pray to the Mother of God all through the day. Most of the seminarians too make it a point to visit the grotto daily.
For a considerable period of time, St. Charles Seminary was administered by the Missionaries of St. Francis de Sales (M.S.F.S.) and the clergy of Nagpur Archdiocese. But from 1960 onwards, it has been placed under the care of the Dominican Fathers, first of the Indian Vicariate of the Irish Province, and then later from 1987 of the Vice-Province and Province of India, who oversee both the administrative and academic requirements of the Seminary.
In 1987 the Dominican Friars living in the Seminary were instituted into a new Priory, under the patronage of St. Albert the Great.
From the inception of the new St. Charles Seminary until 1994, the Sisters of St. Joseph of Chambery (S.S.J.) served in the Seminary. In June 1994, their place was taken by the Sisters of Jesus, Mary and Joseph (J.M.J.) of the Bangalore Province. In June 2007, the Franciscan Sisters of the Presentation of Mary (F.S.P.M.) from Coimbatore began their service to the Seminary
Mariam Bhavan, a hostel adjacent to the Grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes, Seminary Hill, is run by St. Charles Seminary which offers hostel facility for the religious sisters seeking sacred and secular education.
