Monsignor Andrew Baker, a priest of the Diocese of Allentown who is serving as Rector of Mount St. Mary’s Seminary, Emmitsburg, Md., is planning to return to the Diocese in June 2025.
In a news release and video from the seminary, Monsignor Baker announced that he is stepping down from leading the seminary when he completes his second five-year term.
“As a Diocese, we are proud that one of our priests has served the needs of the larger Church with great distinction,” said Bishop of Allentown Alfred Schlert. “Monsignor Baker has also proven himself to be a zealous pastor, and he will be a great asset to the pastoral life of our Diocese.”
Previously he served as assistant pastor at St. Thomas More and Sacred Heart parishes, Allentown; professor at Bethlehem Catholic and Notre Dame, Easton high schools; campus minister at Lehigh University, Bethlehem; member of the faculty at St. Charles Borromeo Seminary, Philadelphia; staff member of the Congregation for Bishops at the Vatican 2001-09; and pastor of the Cathedral of St. Catharine of Siena, Allentown, 2009 until he was named rector of “the Mount” in 2015.
He was born in Coopersburg; attended St. Michael the Archangel School, Limeport-Colesville; graduated from Allentown Central Catholic High School; studied for the priesthood at the former Brisson Seminary, Center Valley and St. Charles Borromeo Seminary; and did graduate studies at Navarre University in Pamplona, Spain and the Pontifical University of the Holy Cross in Rome. He was ordained a priest on June 1, 1991.
During Monsignor’s first nine years as rector, Mount St. Mary’s has grown to become the largest major seminary in the United States. Its accreditation was reaffirmed by the Association of Theological Schools, and a Propaedeutic Stage program was established.
In addition, Monsignor Baker oversaw the writing and implementation of two strategic plans with new vision and mission statements. He also managed the passing of seminary canonical statutes and civil by-laws, which brought a Seminary Governing Board into existence.
“We are grateful to Monsignor Baker for his years of service and his deep love and dedication of priestly formation,” said Mount St. Mary’s University President Gerard Joyce. “Please join me in praying for the search committee [for the next rector] as we begin our work, and for Monsignor Baker as he continues his priestly ministry, both at the seminary for the next 10 months and in Allentown.”
In the video, Monsignor Baker said he made his decision after consulting with his spiritual director, Bishop Schlert, Archbishop William Lori of Baltimore, and the seminary board. Archbishop Lori is also chancellor and chairman of the board of the seminary.
“The reason why I’m stepping down at this time is really twofold,” said Monsignor Baker. “One, it’s time to return I think to parish life. For the last 10 years I’ve been forming seminarians to become priests and eventually pastors, and I’d like to be able to return as well to be a pastor of souls once again.
“But also, and probably more importantly, this is a great time to have a transition. The Mount is very strong. We have some wonderful, numerous seminarians here at Mount St. Mary’s. We have an incredible faculty, administration, staff. And I think this would be a really ideal time to pass the baton to a new rector.”
Watch the video at https://youtu.be/D-C47n6RI4Y?si=UIBPK8n4NqgEdFwk.
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