Saint John Vianney College Seminary St. Paul, Minnesota news Fall 2015 ome REXPERIENCE THE What’s Inside 2 Letter from the Rector 3 A New Year Begins 12 Spanish Immersion 15 Spotlight on Alumni 1 e t a d p U ’s r o t c Re Roman Friends the Trevi Fountain in Several years ago, I strolled into a gelato shop near lla, my favorite flavor. Rome, just in time to purchase the last stracciate down the counter, we While the manager mopped his floor and wiped l Kamakawiwo’ole, listened to “Somewhere over the Rainbow” by Israe to hear English words in which I learned was his favorite song. It was nice the midst of foreign voices. Fr. Michael Becker Rector distant friendship, as we It turned out to be a moment of joy in a new but In that moment, I came to understand there is a much both appreciated the small blessings of the day. us, and indeed by all humanity, which includes a deeper language of the heart shared by the two of ed eternal life. I smiled at the manager, and he wish longing for happiness, companionship, peace, and me a wonderful stay in his homeland. Vianney seminarians each semester have been able For more than 10 years, approximately 15 Saint John o. the Italians much like I had with the man selling gelat to study in Rome, enjoying daily encounters with ious delic of often talking throughout an entire meal They value relationships with family and friends, and the meal are full of flavor and meaning. pasta, wine, espresso and dessert. The conversation and culture, rich in faith, family, romance, history, art Rome, just like Italian cuisine, is a symbol of the with nd have the privilege of studying in Rome, expa architecture. The souls of our seminarians, who ch, re, wisdom from learning in the heart of the Chur new friendships, appreciation of a different cultu and observing a broader vision of humanity. “ecclesial holy trinity.” First, they are able to visit And, they are blessed to experience what I call an ving inspiration and courage to live their own life the churches and graves of countless saints, recei rience the universality of the Church, seated in as a sacrificial offering of love. Second, they expe il, brothers from Belgium, priests from Africa, and classrooms at the Angelicum with sisters from Braz the Holy Father Pope Francis, observing his love for laity from Australia. Third, they are close to our poor and God’s people. Experience” is tangible in these young men as they After a semester in the Eternal City, the “Rome experiences will no doubt inform many future discern their vocation. The accumulation of these our s to God that our Saint John Vianney seminarians, homilies when they are ordained. We give thank future priests, would be blessed in this way! 2 | Vianneynews onthecover r Riese enjoy the Seminarians Josh Billing and Tyle Rome. in s view during their walk to clas A New Year Begins The 2015-2016 academic year is in full swing at Saint John Vianney College Seminary with 136 undergraduate men enrolled representing 19 dioceses. Fr. Becker and the SJV staff welcomed the new and returning men, who hail from Alaska to Alabama. Wherever they call home, they share one thing in common: they seek to know the Lord’s will for their future. SJV BY THE NUMBERS SJV is the largest college seminary in the United States, 10 percent of all college seminarians enrolled with approximately 39 men are in the freshman class 27 15 SJV alumni were ordained SJV seminarians graduated in 2015; 22 continued on toward major seminary to the priesthood in 2015 29 SJV seminarians will study in Rome during the 2015-2016 academic year 3 Saint John Vianney College Seminary 2015-2016 Welcome Fr. Steven Borello Fr. Steven Borello, from the Diocese of Joliet, joined the SJV staff this fall as a formator and spiritual director. After completing his formation at Mundelein Seminary in Mundelein, Illinois, Fr. Borello was ordained in 2011. He served as an associate pastor in two large parishes in Clarendon Hills and Naperville, Illinois, before Bishop R. Daniel Conlon granted him permission to serve college seminarians discerning their priestly vocations. In addition to providing formation and spiritual direction, Fr. Borello will be helping with January Term retreats and celebrating Masses in local parishes on the weekends. While at SJV, his goals include helping the men deepen their relationship with Jesus while enjoying the gift of their undergraduate years. “It is a privilege to work with these men and help them discover their spiritual ‘sonship,’ ” Fr. Borello says. “SJV is a joyful house. I am blessed to be a part of this fraternal life.” Fr. Borello earned undergraduate degrees in Chemical Engineering and Chemistry from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. In his free time, he enjoys reading, walking, playing golf, and spending time with his niece and three nephews. A New Look Online Saint John Vianney College Seminary launched a new and improved website this fall, featuring updated information and user-friendly features. Visit our site to get information on events happening at the seminary, learn more about formation at SJV, see our photos and recent videos, or catch up on previous issues of Vianney News. This is a great place for potential seminarians and their families to get to know more about life at SJV. Don’t forget to “like” us on Facebook, too! WWW.VIANNEY.NET WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/SJVSEMINARY 4 | Vianneynews Spring Mass and May Crowning Marian devotion is a hallmark of the month of May and springtime for the Church. On May 3, friends, family, and benefactors gathered for the Second Annual Spring Mass and May Crowning to celebrate this tradition. Following Mass, guests gathered for a brunch featuring seminarian testimonials, a performance by the SJV Schola, and entertainment from “Big Spence and the Gents.” The 3rd Annual Spring Mass and May Crowning DATE Sunday, May 1, 2016 SAVE THE Owen and Olivia Dries, along with their parents Mark and Theresa, carry the crown to be placed on the statue of Mary during the annual Spring Mass and May Crowning. Mark and Theresa Dries, along with their children, Olivia and Owen, placed a crown on a statue of Mary. This beautiful expression honors Mary as Queen of Heaven and Earth. Take Me Out to the Ballgame Typically played as a pick-up game among neighbor kids in backyards, whiffle ball is elevated to the big league during SJV’s spring Whiffle Ball Tournament. In fact, SJV’s Whiffle Ball League looks a little like Major League Baseball with American and National League teams, a commissioner, umpires, managers, loyal fans, and disputed calls. Played on a small patch of grass between intersecting campus sidewalks, otherwise known as the “God Quad,” these games are no ordinary study breaks. Practices and games begin as soon as the weather permits. The Red Sox and the Troy Trojans made it to the championship game on May 14. After the National Anthem and an opening prayer, it was “game on.” Both teams fought hard to the final inning before the Red Sox won 7-6. Root beer floats and peanuts were served before the players and fans returned to their rooms to study for finals. Spring training is just around the corner. 5 11th Annual Vianney Cup a Success On the greens and fairways of Midland Hills Country Club, more than 100 golfers gathered on September 21 for the 11th Annual Vianney Cup to raise essential funds for Saint John Vianney College Seminary. Rector Fr. Michael Becker welcomed and prayed with golfers before they set out on the course. The 2015 golf outing featured Super Bowl champ Matt Birk; three-time bowl champ and former NFL quarterback Brooks Bollinger; and Hobey Baker Award winner and former Gopher and NHL center Brian Bonin. Generous sponsors, donors, and golfers made this event a success, raising funds to support the mission of providing essential training today for tomorrow’s priests. Golfers and guests gathered at the end of the day for dinner and a program featuring more than 130 seminarians who sang and gave witness to the powerful work of God taking place at SJV. Seminarians Ben Baker, Diocese of Des Moines, and David Lewandowski, Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis, shared their inspiring testimonies. SAVE THE DATE Super Bowl champ Matt Birk tees up on Hole #1 at Midland Hills Country Club in September. The 12th Annual Vianney Cup Monday, September 19, 2016 Papal Pilgrimage a Blessing Nine SJV seminarians, accompanied by Formator and Spiritual Director Fr. Jon Kelly, made a pilgrimage to Washington, D.C., to see Pope Francis during his historic visit to the United States in September. The men saw the Holy Father up close during his procession into the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception for the Canonization Mass of St. Junipero Serra, patron of vocations. For Christian Smith, Diocese of Bismarck, the moment was impressive. “There was definitely a feeling that he cares for each of his spiritual children,” Smith said. Alex Kramer, Diocese of Des Moines, and Robert Ernest, Diocese of Joliet, pose near the papal chair before the Canonization Mass of St. Junipero Serra in Washington, D.C. 6 | Vianneynews In addition to the Mass, the seminarians walked the National Mall and prayed the rosary alongside the reflecting pool. The significance of the setting was not lost on Smith: “I see so much more of a need to pray, first of all for the Pope, but for our political leaders as well. They are all leaders with a public burden.” Knights of Columbus Grows on Campus The Knights of Columbus is the largest Catholic Fraternal organization in the world, and a group of SJV seminarians is doing its part to keep it that way. “We have about 100 men in the council at the University of St. Thomas and more than half are seminarians,” said Daniel Williams (Diocese of La Crosse). Williams held the position of Grand Knight before graduating in May 2015. Members are working to increase the Knight’s profile on campus. “We do a lot of work with pro-life organizations, and we want to do other work that promotes human dignity and issues that are pertinent to college students,” Williams added. Seminarians join the council for various reasons. In addition to service opportunities, the men often say they get involved so that one day, as priests, they can be chaplains of the Knights of Columbus councils in their parishes and interact with their brother Knights through service. State Deputy Joe Konrardy (second from left) presents UST Grand Knight Daniel Williams (second from right) with the State Officer’s Award. Also pictured are Deputy Grand Knight Matthew Goldammer (left) and Past Grand Knight Kyle Salonek (right). The University of St. Thomas council was recognized for significantly increasing its membership. William Beardmore, a seminarian from Lafayette, Indiana, says that his participation in the council has helped him to better understand the mission of the Knights. “We are an international, non-profit organization; we are distinctly composed of practicing Catholic men; we focus on helping others; we donate time, labor, and money, among other things, to those who need it. I joined the Knights because I knew they would have a legitimate impact on my current community, and because I knew I could continue with them even after graduation, regardless of where God takes me.” Knights of Columbus members enjoy a beautiful fall day in an apple orchard. Pictured left to right: Daniel Williams (La Crosse), Joshua Bot (New Ulm), Tanner Thooft (New Ulm), David Kirsch (Saint Paul and Minneapolis), and Nick Smith (Des Moines). The Knights of Columbus council at the University of St. Thomas is now under the direction of Grand Knight Matthew Goldammer, a senior at SJV. 7 ome REXPERIENCE THE SJV alumni and seminarians, along with Fr. Joseph Carola, S.J. (far right) and Fr. Justin Kizewski (third from right), are pictured near a canal in Venice during an excursion. All roads lead to Rome. This may only be an ancient metaphor, but for a Saint John Vianney seminarian, it is true. After completing his first two years of formation on campus, a young man’s journey along the road of discernment will likely include a semester abroad in the heart of the universal Church. Now in its seventeenth year, Catholic Studies in Rome is an opportunity for a seminarian to spend a semester in the Eternal City while working toward his degree at the University of St. Thomas. This is done with a group of 25-30 brother seminarians and fellow students. Most importantly, he continues his discernment and formation immersed in more than 2,000 years of Catholic culture. Some call it the “Gift of Rome;” others call it the “Rome Experience.” Whatever the title, Rome is its own classroom, and seminarians are the students with their hearts, minds and eyes wide open to the city’s gifts of spiritual, academic and cultural formation. Tony Klein (Sioux Falls), Clayton Forner (Saint Paul and Minneapolis), and Josh Billing (Joliet) are all smiles as they wait for the Holy Father in St. Peter's Square on Easter Sunday. 8 | Vianneynews Spiritual Formation Whether on campus in St. Paul or in Rome, prayer is the foundation of a seminarian’s schedule. Each day includes Holy Hour, Mass, Rosary, Morning and Evening Prayer, opportunities for regular confession, and spiritual conferences. So what is different about their spiritual formation in Rome? “We are literally in the center of the Church,” says Jack Reichardt, a seminarian for the Diocese of Rockford. “Churches and saints seem to be around every corner; we attend a Pontifical University; we can walk to the Vatican and attend an audience with the Pope; the list goes on and on. Just being in Rome provides additional formation.” Much like having the rector, priest formators and spiritual directors at SJV, this continuum of formation is made possible in Rome by a chaplaincy team focused on the seminarians during their semester abroad. The team, which includes a chaplain, an assistant chaplain, transitional deacons and seminarians, has been led, for the last 10 years, by Fr. Joseph Carola, S.J., Professor and Moderator of the First Cycle of Theology at the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome. On top of his rigorous academic schedule, Fr. Carola sets aside Wednesday evenings as Community Night with the students. This is an opportunity to combine what he is already doing – celebrating Mass, meditating, praying the Divine Office, having dinner – with men who are discerning the priesthood. Combine this with individual spiritual conferences, as well as large group formation, and formation abroad can be especially fruitful. Matthew Goldammer (Saint Paul and Minneapolis) is shown inside St. Peter's Basilica in Rome. SJV seminarians catch a glimpse of Pope Francis in St. Peter's Square following Palm Sunday Mass. In addition to the regular Wednesday night gatherings, Fr. Carola leads the seminarians and students on pilgrimages, day trips and weekend excursions to spiritually and historically significant locations throughout the city of Rome and mainland Europe. Past trips have included Lyon, Lourdes, Ars and Paray-le-Monial in France; Krakow, Poland; and Siena, Assisi and Venice in Italy. And, there are the popular formation nights with pizza and a “review of graces,” when the men look back on the past week and share their highs and lows with their peers. “Their time in Rome is a real blessing,” says Carola. “They never step out of formation while they are abroad.” journey 9 Academic Formation Also uninterrupted by the more than 4,000-mile divide between St. Paul and Rome is academic formation. SJV seminarians and students from the University of St. Thomas take a full course load at the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas, otherwise known as the Angelicum. Students are also accompanied by a faculty member from the University of St. Thomas. The spring 2015 semester was led by Dr. Matthews Grant, Philosophy Department Chair, his wife Kristen, and their daughters Elizabeth and Cecilia. Dr. Grant taught CATH 401: Church and Culture, The Social Dimensions of Catholicism. “The relationship of the early Church to the culture of the Roman Empire gave us a lot to think about,” Grant said. learning Cecilia Grant, daughter of Dr. Matthews and Kristen Grant, is shown with Fr. Joseph Carola, S.J., and SJV seminarians after receiving her first Holy Communion at the Church of Santa Cecilia in Trastevere. In addition to learning from Dr. Grant, the seminarians and students took Art History with renowned Catholic art historian Dr. Elizabeth Lev; Moral Theology with Fr. Wojciech Giertych, theologian of the Papal household; Spiritual Literature with Fr. Paul Murray, former spiritual director of Blessed Mother Teresa; and conversational Italian. Some classes are just offered for UST students; others are with fellow Angelicum students from all over the world. “And of course, the city of Rome is a classroom unto itself,” Grant said. “Students learn more from their courses because of the city, and students get more out of the city because of the classes they take.” Cultural Formation With spiritual and academic formation to guide them, seminarians set out on their semester abroad for cultural formation as well. Seminarians and students are blessed to share this experience under the thoughtful guidance of Thanos Zyngas, Bernardi Campus Director. For the past 13 years, he has provided students with a home-away-from-home in Rome. A view of St. Peter’s Square from the Dome of St. Peter’s Basilica. 10 | Vianneynews For several months before their arrival, Zyngas is busy planning events, classes, excursions, and orientation materials. There is a lot to do behind the scenes to create the Rome Experience. “It takes courage and good effort for students to go outside their comfort zone and try new things,” he said. “I want to make sure they get as much out of their semester as possible.” He starts by encouraging all participants to communicate with the Italians, to try new foods, to accept differences, and to travel to new places. He also encourages them to ask a lot of questions and to read about where they are going and what they are doing. Experience tells him that there is a cycle to each semester, so he is not worried when a student hits a low point and misses home. And he knows that not every student wants to participate in all of the activities all of the time, so he makes sure there are several options available to keep people engaged in the culture. He plans cooking classes, tours of the largest food market in Rome, and trips to the theater, to name a few. Tony Klein and Clayton Forner overlook the historic city of Florence, one of several destinations for the seminarians. Zyngas also works closely with the chaplain and the UST faculty member on site. Excursions, which may include the cities of Florence, Siena, Bologna, and Assisi, are highly popular with the young travelers. He thoughtfully plans itineraries that include each aspect of formation – spiritual, academic and cultural – to enrich every experience. When it is time to say goodbye at the end of the semester, Zyngas is very proud of all that the seminarians and students have experienced in Rome. He tells them, “Rome has been here for more than 2,000 years. It is not going away. You should feel at home here.” In 2015-2016, twenty-nine seminarians will study in Rome during the fall and spring semesters. SJV is grateful to the Catholic Studies program and the University of St. Thomas for use of the Bernardi Campus in Rome. Beginning in the fall of 2016, the SJV men will stay on a different campus during their formation experience abroad. How blessed they are to be on the road to Rome. Stephen Zepp (Green Bay) uses his handy travel guide to learn about the ancient ruins of Ostia Antica. experience 11 Spanish Immersion and Formation Seminarian Stephen Zepp barely set foot back on U.S. soil after a spring semester in Rome when he packed his bags for another adventure abroad. The SJV senior participated in an eightweek summer Spanish immersion program in Morelia, Mexico, sponsored by his home diocese of Green Bay. Knowing very little Spanish, Zepp was eager to immerse himself in the language. Although he was in the classroom every morning, he put his Spanish into practice with his host family. “It meant a lot to be able to tell jokes and be lighthearted with them in Spanish,” he said. “I was able to form friendships through easygoing conversations.” Top photo: SJV seminarians Ben Baker (left) and Max Carson (second from right) are pictured in the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe. Ben Baker and Max Carson, Diocese of Des Moines, also spent their summer immersed in Spanish language and culture. Living with 20 seminarians from dioceses across the country, Baker and Carson continued their formation for seven weeks in Mexico City while mastering the language. In addition to prayer, pilgrimages, and sight-seeing, their schedule included Spanish classes, the history of Mexico, and Hispanic ministry. Lower right: Ben Baker and Max Carson hike in Tepotzlan, Mexico. Lower left: Steven Zepp, Diocese of Green Bay, takes in the sites of Morelia, Mexico. Baker was particularly impressed by the emphasis the Hispanic community places on family and parish life, and he hopes to see this in his own diocese, too. “I think Hispanics have a lot to offer the Church in America,” Baker said. “Their faith is so central to their lives, which was incredible to witness. I have a deepened love for the people and their culture.” With a summer of formation and Spanish immersion, Baker, Carson, and Zepp are more prepared to one day shepherd diverse parishes. 12 | Vianneynews Saint John Vianney College Seminary Fr. John Christianson Crookston Fr. Curtis Hecker Wichita Fr. Zachary Pinaire Wichita Fr. Gary Clark Owensboro Fr. Josh Evans Wichita Fr. Brian Feller Sioux City Fr. Peter Hughes Fr. Adam Laski Fr. Edward Looney Fr. Bruno Nwachukwu St. Paul and Minneapolis Superior Green Bay St. Paul and Minneapolis Fr. Paul Solomon Joliet Fr. James Stiles Fr. Gabriel Walz St. Paul and Minneapolis St. Cloud Fr. Darin Schmidt Sioux Falls Fr. David Fons Lansing Alumniordained2015 13 13 A Season of Thanks and Giving Thank you for the many ways you have supported Saint John Vianney! As you can see in this issue of Vianney News, we – and that includes you – have been blessed with this great seminary, the largest college seminary in the United States. We know each of us has a role to play in supporting young men as they progress on their journey of discernment. The priests and staff at SJV are doing all they can to form these men humanly, intellectually, spiritually and pastorally. Whether or not a seminarian continues on the path toward priesthood, it is up to us to ensure he has the best formation possible. While these men are discerning God’s call, they are engaged in the campus, in the community, and in the Church. They are tuned in, not only to their own discernment, but also to the world around them. They know they are being called to serve. Tizoc Rosales The men who continue on to major seminary and the priesthood will witness the marriages of our children, baptize our grandchildren, bury our loved ones, and hear our confessions. Those who discern that God is calling them to the married life will be our neighbors, coworkers, and lay leaders in our Church and world. Either way, we need these men to be well formed. I personally invite you to visit the seminary. Come for Mass or come for a visit with your seminarians. Meet the men up close. You will see a vibrant witness of the joy of the Gospel. In this season of gratitude, we give thanks for the gift of SJV and for each of you. Thank you for what you have done to make this a great seminary. Please continue to support the future of our Church, financially and prayerfully. Know that we are praying for you. In Christ, Tizoc Rosales Director of Development 14 | Vianneynews Spotlight on Alumni BY CHRISTINA CAPECCHI When the Diocese of Lansing announced it had hired Craig Pohl to be director of New Evangelization back in 2012, the first fact noted in its statement on Pohl was his attendance at Saint John Vianney College Seminary. Indeed, the former seminarian – now a 38-year-old father of three and a widely admired leader in his home diocese – continues to be informed by the years he spent at SJV. After discerning he was not called to priesthood in 1999, Pohl put his philosophy and Catholic studies degree to work at his home parish, St. Mary’s in Westphalia, Michigan, where he served as youth minister. In 2001 he founded The Ark, a dynamic evangelization program for teens that has fostered religious vocations, including three priests. To Pohl, it is all connected – his time at the seminary and his subsequent lay ministry that has led other young men to priesthood and brought life to a family of his own. “God is calling young men to the priesthood,” he says, “and those young men need someone to point them to that calling. What I learned at SJV helped me understand even more clearly the deep needs that young people have to understand who they are and what they’re supposed to do with their lives. I couldn’t have established The Ark without my time at SJV.” In general, he said, his seminary experience propelled him forward. “Spending three years at SJV helped me realize that there is a youthful vitality to the Church that I had not seen before. That realization gave me the hope that what I experienced there could be brought to other places.” The fruits of his labor and the work of the Holy Spirit are impossible to miss. “The greatest rewards come from watching God renew His Church,” Pohl said. “There is a lot of positive momentum in our diocese, the morale is changing for the better, and I believe our parishes are all beginning to be renewed in Christ.” Alumni News CONGRATULATIONS BISHOP JOSEPH HANEFELDT! Bishop Joseph Hanefeldt, SJV class of 1980, was installed as the eighth bishop of the Diocese of Grand Island, Nebraska, on March 19, 2015. SJV Alumni - We like to hear from you! Please contact Tizoc Rosales, Director of Development: (651) 962-6843 or [email protected] 15 Nonprofit Organization U.S. Postage Saint John Vianney College Seminary 2115 Summit Avenue - Mail 5024 St. Paul, MN 55105-1095 PAID University of Saint Thomas Faith, Football, Fraternity From the classroom to the chapel, formation is integrated into every aspect of a seminarian’s life at SJV. When the seminarians return to campus for fall semester, football is a significant part of that formation as well. Before classes even begin, new men face off against the seniors in the popular Alpha-Omega game on the UST football field. This game of friendly competition kicks off a year of brotherly bonding. SJV seminarian and UST Running Back Jordan Roberts (#23) enjoys enthusiastic support from his brother seminarians on “Caruso's Crew.” After Alpha-Omega comes the annual Rectors’ Bowl, the Super Bowl between the Saint John Vianney College Seminary “JAXX” and The Saint Paul Seminary “Sons of Thunder.” Bragging rights are on the line during the battle for the coveted Rector’s Trophy. Solidarity between the two seminaries is also fostered in this 16-year-old tradition. Finally, SJV seminarians enjoy a unique connection to the UST Varsity Football team. Several seminarians have played for the Division III Tommies, including Running Back Jordan Roberts who currently leads the team in touchdowns and rushing this season. And, during every home game, Roberts and the Tommies are cheered on by “Caruso’s Crew.” Named for head coach Glen Caruso, this enthusiastic group of seminarians puts on their purple and leads the student section in supporting the home team. (651) 962-6825 www.vianney.net Or find us on Facebook! www.Facebook.com/SJVseminary 16 | Vianneynews
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