Located in the Elmhurst neighborhood of Queens, Cathedral Preparatory School and Seminary is a Roman Catholic high school for grades 9–12, operated by the Diocese of Brooklyn, which oversees both Brooklyn and Queens. It is the last full-time high school seminary in the United States, providing students with both academic and spiritual education. Learn more about how this institution prepares young men for the priesthood and religious life at queens1.one.
Founded in Brooklyn
In early 1914, Bishop Charles E. McDonnell of the Brooklyn Diocese decided to establish a seminary for teenage boys aspiring to become Catholic priests. By September of the same year, 110 students began attending classes in temporary facilities at St. John’s Chapel in Brooklyn. This seminary became the training ground for future bishops, cardinals, and Church leaders. In December 1914, the diocese began constructing a permanent campus in Brooklyn.
Thursdays were designated as non-school days since students attended classes on Saturdays. The school followed the le petit séminaire model, commonly used in North America and Europe. Education consisted of four years of high school and two years of college. Students interested in further spiritual studies could enter a six-year major seminary program. Many did, eventually becoming priests, while others pursued service in religious orders or careers in medicine, law, or education.
In 1963, a second institution of this type opened in the Brooklyn Diocese—a four-year Cathedral Preparatory School and Seminary in Elmhurst. In 1985, the two campuses were consolidated into the Queens location.
Mission
Cathedral Preparatory School and Seminary aims to inspire young men to pursue the priesthood. The school nurtures strong and dedicated leaders for both the Church and society. Boys from Brooklyn, Queens, and Long Island receive personalized education in an environment that emphasizes personal growth, maturity, and knowledge. For over 100 years, the institution has remained committed to its mission: shaping minds for academic excellence and hearts and souls for heroic virtue and faith.
The school develops students into thoughtful individuals and generous servants of the Church and society. Whether graduates become priests, deacons, or community leaders in other fields, they are guided to live lives of greatness.
Students learn to overcome challenges and address life’s difficulties. Small class sizes ensure that each participant receives the support and attention they need from teachers. For the most motivated students, there is an advanced program designed to fully develop their talents. Athletic programs further promote discipline and leadership. Students can participate in track and field, bowling, cross-country, soccer, basketball, and baseball.
Controversy
In 2002, the then-rector of the institution, Charles M. Kavanagh, was accused of sexual misconduct. A former seminarian, Daniel Donahue, reported to the police that Kavanagh had abused him in the 1980s. In 2003, the Archdiocese of New York’s Review Board found Kavanagh guilty. Although Kavanagh appealed, a tribunal in another diocese upheld the charges. After a second appeal, a different tribunal also confirmed the guilty verdict, leading to his removal from the priesthood.