Saint John Vianney College Seminary Chapel opened its new chapel with a dedication mass at the University of St. Thomas on Thursday, April 20.
The new building, which started construction in March 2022, is an addition to the existing building, built in 1982. There is additional space above the chapel which includes living space for priests, rooms for visiting clergy and high schoolers interested in joining the seminary.
“Formation requirements for seminarians have changed a lot in the last 40 years,” the Rev. Jonathan Kelly, the rector at the seminary, said, “(the requirements include) additional office space, additional living space and also a focus on more human formation and spiritual formation.”
Formation requirements for seminarians were updated in 2022 to include one priest per 15-20 seminarians, which warranted the demand for additional space, according to Kelly.
The chapel was intentionally constructed to shape the character of seminarians with seven different attributes. Some of these include sturdiness in character, symbolized by large pillars and authenticity in the building materials.
“It’s authentic, meaning that if it looks like stone, it’s stone, if it looks like wood, it’s wood, if it looks like marble is marble,” Kelly said.
The building was funded by 16 dioceses of multiple states and their benefactors.
“The fact that there was so much investment in the program is really exciting,” Kelly said.
Matthew Giorgio, a third-year seminarian, is also excited about the added space. The old chapel, also built in 1982, was torn down and replaced by this newer and larger building.
“It was just kind of cramped,” Giorgio said, “we’d have to have people in the lobby and some people in the chapel so it just didn’t work out great.”
Construction was loud and forced the seminary to move their daily masses to the Chapel of St. Thomas Aquinas while their new chapel was being built, according to Giorgio.
“There was a huge claw a few feet away from my window.” Giorgio said, “It was pretty cool to watch.”
Despite all of the challenges, he expressed that his excitement and gratitude outweighed it all.
“Whatever way I can … I want to give back in love,” Giorgio said, “that’s the only response you can give when you’re given a gift freely.”
The chapel’s opening marks increased construction on campus alongside the Schoenecker Center, set to open spring semester 2024, and the Lee and Penny Anderson Arena, where construction is set to start in 2024.
“To do a project like this shows great, tremendous support in our program, which I’m happy about,” Kelly said.
Maddy Orr can be reached at orr04506@stthomas.edu.