About Thomasianum
Studienhaus Thomasianum
Understanding faith. Growing together.
The house of studies
Thomasianum is the theological house of studies of the Order of the Good Shepherd. It brings together shared learning, independent academic work and spiritual reflection. Its two-year programme is intended for people from the Bund freier katholischer Gemeinden. The programme director provides individual guidance on participation.
The Order of the Good Shepherd
The Order is an ecumenical community within the Catholic tradition. Its motto “ut unum sint” — “that they may be one” — expresses a calling to Christian unity. Clergy, knights, dames and associates form a community of mutual spiritual accompaniment. Thomasianum provides a dedicated place for theological learning within that life.
The Federation of Free Catholic Congregations
The Order belongs to the Bund freier katholischer Gemeinden, the Federation of Free Catholic Congregations. The Federation brings together autonomous congregations and communities in the Catholic tradition, independently of the Holy See. It emphasises welcome, spiritual accompaniment and sacramental life. It provides Thomasianum’s wider ecclesial setting; the Order, Federation and house of studies each have their own role.
Visit the Federation’s website
Study and vocation
Study can help people with life and professional experience discern a religious vocation. The study documents set out regular active participation, a supervised final paper of at least 30 pages and an oral Colloquium for the ecclesial Absolutorium. No state-recognised academic degree is promised. Admission to the Order and ordination are separate decisions. Practical pastoral training for ordination candidates takes place at the P.-Wolfgang-Kunicki-Akademie.