Saint Albert Priory

The Saint Albert Priory in Oakland, California, provides a house of formation for men wishing to enter the Dominican Order. Also known as the Order of Preachers, St. Albert's Priory plays an important role continuing this Roman Catholic tradition in the western United States. Though the order is exclusive to men, its educational program at Saint Albert Priory welcomes as many as 35 new women and men every year. The educational mission of Saint Albert Priory claims a history nearly as old as the order's presence in California. Since 1851, the Western Dominican Order has offered formal teaching to augment the prayers required of its friars. For years, Saint Albert Priory operated this education program from its grounds under the name of the College of Saint Albert the Great. Today, members of Saint Albert Priory attend the current iteration of the school, known as the Dominican School of Philosophy and Theology, and gain access to additional resources through a partnership with the University of California, Berkeley. After graduation, members of Saint Albert Priory move on to a number of roles within the religious community. Though some move into traditional positions as parochial ministers or other ministerial functions suitable for Catholic priests, others proclaim the word of Jesus Christ abroad. Many members of the order continue their education past the St. Albert Priory's minimum required Master's degree, with some of these graduates becoming theology professors or ministering in such locations as the former Soviet Union or the Philippines.