User:Darth Stabro/SJV

St. John Vianney Seminary (often referred by its initials of SJV) is a Roman Catholic college seminary located on the campus of the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minnesota. The seminary's mission is "to provide basic training today for tomorrow's Catholic priests." Seminarians undergo a four-year program of spiritual conferences and individual spiritual direction in order to help them grow strong in their Catholic faith and vocational discernment.

History
The seminary was founded in 1968. The current rector of the seminary is the Very Rev. Michael Becker. Fr. Becker was appointed rector in 2010 by Archbishop John Nienstedt.

As of 2013, the seminary is the largest college seminary in the United States with over 130 seminarians and 27 sponsoring dioceses. The seminarians at SJV represent about 10% of all seminarians in the United States.

Since its founding, over 400 alumni have been ordained to the Catholic priesthood.

Rectors
The seminary has had eight rectors since its founding.


 * Bishop John Roach (1968-1971)
 * Fr. Kenneth J. Pierre (1971-1981)
 * Bishop Richard Pates (1981-1987)
 * Fr. Kevin McDonough (1987-1990)
 * Fr. Dale J. Korogi (1990-1992)
 * Fr. Peter F. Christensen (1992-1999)
 * Fr. William J. Baer (1999-2010)
 * Fr. Michael Becker (2010-present)

Building
The seminary building is on the north campus of the University of St. Thomas, just northwest of Ireland Hall and east of Flynn Hall.

The basement contains the Pope Benedict XVI Room (often abbreviated to the Pope Benedict Room) where then-Cardinal Ratzinger met with then-Rector Richard Pates. A zucchetto of Pope Benedict XVI is on display in the room. The zucchetto was given to a seminarian from SJV who visited Rome and extended a new one to the Pope as he passed by; the Pontiff then exchanged the new one for his own.



The ground floor has offices for the in-house priests and academic and administration staff, as well as guest rooms. The Saint John Vianney Chapel is also on the first floor. Last Chance Mass is offered in the chapel every Sunday night.

The remaining four floors are residence floors.

Last Chance Mass
Last Chance Mass is an outreach offered by the seminary to the students of the University of St. Thomas and the surrounding community. Every Sunday night at 9pm, Mass is offered in the SJV chapel to the general public by Fr. Michael Becker, with refreshments following.

Sponsoring Dioceses
• Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis

• Diocese of Biloxi

• Diocese of Bismarck

• Archdiocese of Denver

• Diocese of Des Moines

• Diocese of Duluth

• Diocese of Grand Rapids

• Diocese of Green Bay

• Diocese of Joliet

• Diocese of Lafayette (Indiana)

• Diocese of LaCrosse

• Diocese of Lansing

• Diocese of Lexington

• Diocese of Marquette

• Archdiocese of Mobile

• Diocese of New Ulm

• Archdiocese of Omaha

• Diocese of Owensboro

• Diocese of Rockford

• Diocese of Saginaw

• Diocese of Savannah

• Diocese of Sioux City

• Diocese of Sioux Falls

• Diocese of St. Cloud

• Diocese of Superior

• Diocese of Tulsa

• Diocese of Wichita