Formed for the New Evangelization
The Maria de Agreda Theological Institute was erected on May 8, 2025 by the Most Reverend Peter Baldacchino, Bishop of Las Cruces. It is dedicated to the academic and spiritual formation of those called to serve the Church in the Diocese of Las Cruces and beyond.
The Institute provides a rigorous program of philosophical and theological education rooted in the Thomistic tradition and faithful to the Magisterium of the Catholic Church. Our seminarians come from across the United States and beyond, forming a diverse community united in their pursuit of truth.
The Diocese of Las Cruces faces a pastoral reality that demands urgent and creative responses. With a vast territory spanning thirty-three thousand square miles, we have received this challenge as a call to invest in the future of priestly ministry in the Southwest.
Under the Patronage of
A Word from Bishop Baldacchino
The Maria de Agreda Theological Institute was born from a deep conviction: that our seminarians must be formed in the midst of the people they will one day serve. Rooted in the local Church, guided by the wisdom of the Thomistic tradition, and inspired by the example of our patrons, we seek to form priests who are deeply and fully immersed in the mystery of Christ.
We invite you to join us in this mission — through prayer, through support, and through the sharing of this good news throughout the Diocese of Las Cruces and the Province of Santa Fe.
Bishop of Las Cruces