The rendering above shows how planned renovations to the St. John Vianney Seminary will look when completed in 2023. The building at right will continue to be used for seminarians’ dormitories. A new, larger chapel is shown at left, with a choir loft and floors above it that will include rooms for all priests to live in residence, guest rooms and a small, private chapel for visiting bishops and vocations directors, priests’ offices, a high-tech classroom and conference room. The renovated facility will also feature a new entrance.

The rendering above shows how planned renovations to the St. John Vianney Seminary will look when completed in 2023. The building at right will continue to be used for seminarians’ dormitories. A new, larger chapel is shown at left, with a choir loft and floors above it that will include rooms for all priests to live in residence, guest rooms and a small, private chapel for visiting bishops and vocations directors, priests’ offices, a high-tech classroom and conference room. The renovated facility will also feature a new entrance.
COURTESY FINN DANIELS ARCHITECTS and STUDIOIO LITURGICAL DESIGN CONSULTANTS

Construction crews will start final stages of St. John Vianney College Seminary’s renovation project Feb. 21 in St. Paul, with completion expected in about 18 months. The seminary is building a 20,000-square-foot addition, including a new chapel.

New meeting rooms and residences for priests who live and work at the seminary are part of the construction work. Updated residence halls, floor lounges, kitchen and dining areas and restrooms have already been completed.

“The seminary is more than just a building,” the rector, Father Jonathan Kelly, said in a statement. “It’s a home where seminarians grow in discipleship and learn to make a sincere gift of themselves to others. The environment where they pray, study and build community is a central part of their formation and discernment process.”

St. John Vianney is one of the largest college seminaries in the United States, drawing men discerning the priesthood from dioceses across the nation. About 100 undergraduate men are in formation each year.

SJV seminarians are full-time undergraduate students at the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul and live in community on campus. Seminarians can use the university’s resources and benefits, providing them with both a college and seminary experience.

More than 500 SJV alumni serve as ordained priests today. Many more serve as Catholic lay leaders.

The $10 million construction project is being funded by the seminary’s benefactors and sponsoring dioceses. To learn more, visit, semssp.org/joyful.