‘By 2030 SPPU will have become a leading, internationally renowned centre for theological, philosophical and pastoral education.’

The Mission of St Patrick’s Pontifical University naturally flows from this:

‘SPPU exists to explore faith, enrich minds, equip leaders and empower individuals and communities to bring about positive change in a rapidly changing world’.

Graduates of St Patrick's Pontifical University, Maynooth are fluent in the Catholic intellectual tradition, open, integrated and socially engaged.

Animated by the Gospel and the Catholic tradition the Faculties values are:

• Achievement of the highest standards in teaching and learning, research, and vocational formation, marked by academic accountability, critical reflection, experience, and flexibility
• Respect towards the uniqueness of each individual, responding to the diversity of backgrounds and need
• Relationships which are mutually beneficial with students, alumni, professions, government, higher education institutions, NGO’s, the Catholic Church, other Christian denominations and world religions, at local, national and international levels, and contribute to the common good characterised by a special concern for people who are marginalised and the natural environment.

Upholding our values and mission are

• Expertise as the largest theological & philosophical institute in the Catholic tradition in Ireland, offering a complete range of theological disciplines delivered by a highly-qualified staff, sustained by resources, publication, dialogue, innovation and mutual support.
• Rootedness in a rich Catholic intellectual tradition and community, and commitment to ethical and academic values
• Collaboration characterised by attentiveness to students, engagement with the wider academic community, and constructive interaction with church, society and culture.

Selected passages from John Paul II, SAPIENTIA CHRISTIANA Apostolic Constitution on Ecclesiastical Universities and Faculties (1979).

(II) with regard to culture, Catholic universities have had and still have special importance. By their nature they aim to secure that "the Christian outlook should acquire a public, stable and universal influence in the whole process of the promotion of higher culture."

In the first place, the Church has entrusted to these Faculties the task of preparing with special care students for the priestly ministry, for teaching the sacred sciences, and for the more arduous tasks of the apostolate. It is also the task of these Faculties "to explore more profoundly the various areas of the sacred disciplines so that day by day a deeper understanding of sacred revelation will be developed, the heritage of Christian wisdom handed down by our ancestors will be more plainly brought into view, dialogue will be fostered with our separated brothers and sisters and with non - Christians, and solutions will be found for problems raised by doctrinal progress."

While carrying out their primary duty of attaining through theological research a deeper grasp of revealed truth, those engaged in the sacred sciences should therefore maintain contact with scholars of other disciplines …

(IV) Teachers are invested with very weighty responsibility in fulfilling a special ministry

(V) To attain these purposes, Ecclesiastical Faculties should be organised in such a way as to respond to the new demands of the present day …

In addition, there is a steadily growing interest being shown in the theological sciences, not only among the clergy but also by lay people, who are attending theological schools in increasing numbers.

Finally, a new attitude has arisen about the structure of universities and Faculties, both civil and ecclesiastical. This is a result of the justified desire for a university life open to greater participation, a desire felt by all those in any way involved in university life. Nor can one ignore the great evolution that has taken place in pedagogical and didactic methods, which call for new ways of organising studies. Then too there is the closer connection that is being felt more and more between various sciences and disciplines, as well as the desire for greater cooperation in the whole university environment.