St. John Vianney Seminary

Saint John Vianney College Seminary is a Roman Catholic college seminary located on the University of St. Thomas campus in Saint Paul, Minnesota. Founded in 1968, it provides an initial stage of priestly formation for men studying at the university before they proceed to major seminary and advanced theological preparation. The institution is associated with the Catholic Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis and serves seminarians sponsored by dioceses from across the United States. The seminary emerged from an effort to reorganize priestly education in the Twin Cities. Before its creation, candidates commonly followed a longer integrated pathway involving Nazareth Hall Preparatory Seminary, the College of St. Thomas, and The Saint Paul Seminary. In 1959, Archbishop William O. Brady commissioned a feasibility study for a "4-4-4" model consisting of four years of high school formation, four years of college education, and four years of theology. Although that model was initially well received, declining enrollment after the Second Vatican Council led Catholic leaders to reconsider the structure. The resulting plan favored establishing a college seminary at the University of St. Thomas and closing Nazareth Hall. Saint John Vianney Seminary initially occupied Loras Hall and Cretin Hall near The Saint Paul Seminary. In 1972, its residence moved to Brady Hall on the College of St. Thomas campus. A dedicated building was planned in the early 1980s, with construction beginning in 1982. The purpose-built facility combined residential space with offices, guest rooms, a chapel, and communal areas for the seminary's formative program. A recreation room later became known as the Pope Benedict XVI Room and contains memorabilia connected with Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger's visit to the seminary in the 1970s. Its formation model combines university-level liberal-arts education with spiritual, human, pastoral, and community formation. The seminary describes its purpose as nurturing priestly vocations and developing Christian character before candidates enter major seminary. Students generally live in community, participate in prayer and liturgy, receive guidance from priests and formation staff, and study alongside other University of St. Thomas students. The institution has also developed public-facing activities, including the Sunday evening Last Chance Mass, which serves university students and the surrounding community during the academic year. Enrollment was comparatively low during much of the 1980s and 1990s, but increased substantially after William J. Baer became rector in 1999. Under Michael Becker, the seminary was described in 2013 as the largest college seminary in the United States, with more than 130 seminarians and 27 sponsoring dioceses. More recent descriptions identify more than 100 men in formation annually and more than 750 alumni serving as ordained priests. In 2020, construction began on an expansion that added a new chapel, guest rooms, priest suites, and a rooftop terrace. The renovation was completed in early 2023, and the new chapel was dedicated on April 20, 2023. In addition to its formal formation work, the seminary is known for its close relationship with University of St. Thomas campus life. Seminarians have supported the university's football program since Coach Glenn Caruso's arrival in 2008, including through a student fan group known as Caruso's Crew. The seminary remains an active Catholic formation institution rather than a conventional consumer-facing brand.

Saint John Vianney Seminary was established in 1968 as part of a restructuring of Catholic priestly education in the Twin Cities. Before the seminary existed, candidates followed a "6-6" educational arrangement involving Nazareth Hall Preparatory Seminary and The Saint Paul Seminary. A 1959 feasibility study commissioned by Archbishop William O. Brady examined a broader "4-4-4" structure: four years of secondary education at Nazareth Hall, four years of college at the College of St. Thomas, and four years of theology at The Saint Paul Seminary. Although the proposal initially received strong support, post–Second Vatican Council enrollment declines made the full plan impractical. Catholic leaders instead pursued a college seminary at the University of St. Thomas and the closure of Nazareth Hall. The new seminary first operated from Loras Hall and Cretin Hall near The Saint Paul Seminary. In 1972, its residential community moved to Brady Hall on the College of St. Thomas campus. Planning for a dedicated building began in January 1982, and construction started that year on the north campus of the University of St. Thomas. The building included administrative and formation offices, guest rooms, a chapel, and four residential floors. Its basement recreation area later received the name Pope Benedict XVI Room, recalling Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger's visit to the seminary in the 1970s and preserving related memorabilia. Enrollment remained modest through much of the 1980s and 1990s. The appointment of Father William J. Baer as rector in 1999 was followed by a period of enrollment growth. Father Michael Becker became rector in 2010, and by 2013 the seminary was identified as the largest college seminary in the United States, with more than 130 seminarians and 27 sponsoring dioceses. The seminary's student body represented approximately one-tenth of the country's college seminarians according to the contemporary description. More recent institutional descriptions state that over 100 men participate in formation annually and that more than 750 alumni are serving as ordained priests. The seminary's educational model is residential and integrative. Candidates study in a liberal-arts university environment while participating in prayer, sacramental life, spiritual direction, pastoral preparation, community activities, and human formation. The program is intended to prepare students for a subsequent stage of major seminary rather than to provide a complete theological curriculum by itself. Sponsoring dioceses use the institution as an early formation setting for men discerning and pursuing diocesan priesthood. Saint John Vianney Seminary also participates in the wider University of St. Thomas community. Its Last Chance Mass is a Sunday evening liturgy offered during the academic year to university students and the surrounding public, followed by refreshments. The outreach originally served University of St. Thomas football players. Seminarians have also supported the university's football team since Glenn Caruso became coach in 2008. The informal Caruso's Crew group became known for attending home and away games in work-themed costumes and for its enthusiastic support. A major physical renewal began in 2020. The project added a new chapel, guest rooms, priest suites, and a rooftop terrace. Renovations concluded in early 2023, and the chapel was dedicated on April 20 of that year. The seminary continues to operate from the University of St. Thomas campus as a national Catholic college-seminary community serving multiple U.S. dioceses.

• 2023

  New chapel dedicated

  [1]Saint John Vianney Seminary (Minnesota)en.wikipedia.org

  The renovation was completed in early 2023, and the new chapel was dedicated on April 20.

• 2020

  Expansion project began

  [1]Saint John Vianney Seminary (Minnesota)en.wikipedia.org

  Construction began on an expansion incorporating a chapel, guest rooms, priest suites, and a rooftop terrace.

• 2020

  Jonathan Kelly became rector

  [1]Saint John Vianney Seminary (Minnesota)en.wikipedia.org

  Father Jonathan Kelly was appointed rector by Archbishop Bernard Hebda.

• 2010

  Michael Becker became rector

  [1]Saint John Vianney Seminary (Minnesota)en.wikipedia.org

  Father Michael Becker succeeded William Baer as rector.

• 2008

  Caruso's Crew relationship began

  [1]Saint John Vianney Seminary (Minnesota)en.wikipedia.org

  After Glenn Caruso became University of St. Thomas football coach, seminarians began organizing regular support for the university team.

• 1999

  William J. Baer became rector

  [1]Saint John Vianney Seminary (Minnesota)en.wikipedia.org

  Baer's appointment began a period during which enrollment reached an institutional high.

• 1982

  Dedicated seminary building planned and construction begun

  [1]Saint John Vianney Seminary (Minnesota)en.wikipedia.org

  Planning meetings began for a separate facility, followed by groundbreaking for a purpose-built seminary building on the university's north campus.

• 1972

  Residence moved to Brady Hall

  [1]Saint John Vianney Seminary (Minnesota)en.wikipedia.org

  The seminary moved its residential community to Brady Hall on the College of St. Thomas campus.

• 1968

  Seminary founded

  [1]Saint John Vianney Seminary (Minnesota)en.wikipedia.org

  Saint John Vianney Seminary was established as a Catholic college seminary associated with the College of St. Thomas and the Twin Cities archdiocese.

• 1959

  Feasibility study for a reorganized formation model

  [1]Saint John Vianney Seminary (Minnesota)en.wikipedia.org

  Archbishop William O. Brady commissioned a study of a proposed 4-4-4 pathway linking secondary education, college, and theological formation.

A residential Catholic college seminary combining liberal-arts university education with spiritual, human, pastoral, and communal preparation for diocesan priesthood.

• Priestly formation · 1968

  College seminary formation

  The seminary's central offering is an undergraduate-stage formation program for men discerning diocesan priesthood. Students combine university study with structured spiritual, human, pastoral, and community formation. The program is designed to help candidates develop habits of prayer, Christian character, intellectual maturity, interpersonal responsibility, and vocational clarity before advancing to a major seminary.

• Residential education · 1968

  Residential seminary community

  Students live together in a dedicated seminary residence on the University of St. Thomas campus. Residential life supports common prayer, liturgical participation, meals, recreation, mentoring, and relationships among seminarians and formation staff. The community setting is intended to make personal and vocational development part of everyday life rather than a separate academic activity.

• Catholic worship and outreach

  Last Chance Mass

  Last Chance Mass is a Sunday evening Mass offered during the academic year in the seminary chapel for University of St. Thomas students and members of the surrounding community. A priest from the formation staff celebrates the liturgy, which is followed by refreshments. The outreach was originally associated with the needs of university football players and has become a public-facing part of seminary life.

• 2008Caruso's Crew

  Saint Paul, Minnesota · University of St. Thomas football venues

  Seminarians organized sustained support for the University of St. Thomas football team after coach Glenn Caruso asked them to attend games. A subgroup became known as Caruso's Crew and adopted distinctive construction-worker costumes and props.

  Outcome. The group became one of the team's most visible fan sections and traveled to some away games.

  Source
• Last Chance Mass

  Saint Paul, Minnesota

  A recurring Sunday-night liturgical outreach intended to serve University of St. Thomas students and the local community, with a particular historical connection to university football players.

  Outcome. It became an established public ministry associated with the seminary's chapel and formation staff.

  Source

• 2020

  Campus expansion and chapel renewalOther

  Background

  The seminary pursued updated facilities for worship, hospitality, residential formation, and staff accommodation.

  Action taken

  An addition was constructed with a new chapel, guest rooms, priest suites, and a rooftop terrace.

  Aftermath

  The work was completed in early 2023 and the chapel was dedicated on April 20, 2023.

  Source

• 1982

  Construction of a dedicated seminary residenceStrategy

  Background

  After operating in shared or adjacent facilities, the seminary sought a building designed specifically for residential and formative needs.

  Action taken

  Construction began on a purpose-built facility on the north campus of the University of St. Thomas.

  Aftermath

  The building consolidated residential, administrative, chapel, and community functions in a dedicated setting.

  Source

• 1968

  Creation of a college seminaryStrategy

  Background

  Declining enrollment and changing post-conciliar conditions made the earlier multi-institution formation plan less feasible.

  Action taken

  Catholic leaders established Saint John Vianney Seminary at the University of St. Thomas as a dedicated college-level formation community.

  Aftermath

  The institution became a pathway for diocesan candidates before major seminary and later served dioceses across the United States.

  Source

• 2023

  Seminary expansion and chapel renovation completed[1]Saint John Vianney Seminary (Minnesota)en.wikipedia.org

  Other

  An expansion begun in 2020 was completed in early 2023, adding a chapel, guest rooms, priest suites, and a rooftop terrace. The chapel was dedicated on April 20, 2023.

• 2020

  Jonathan Kelly appointed rector[1]Saint John Vianney Seminary (Minnesota)en.wikipedia.org

  Leadership change

  Archbishop Bernard Hebda appointed Father Jonathan Kelly as rector of Saint John Vianney Seminary.

• 2013

  Saint John Vianney Seminary reported as the largest U.S. college seminary[1]Saint John Vianney Seminary (Minnesota)en.wikipedia.org

  Other

  The seminary was described as serving more than 130 seminarians sponsored by 27 dioceses, making it the largest college seminary in the United States at that time.

1. 1Saint John Vianney Seminary (Minnesota)en.wikipedia.org
2. 2Saint John Vianney College Seminaryvianney.net