Vianney Visits
If you are in high school or college (age 16-22) and have ever considered the priesthood, you might be wondering about your next steps.
The priests and seminarians at Saint John Vianney College Seminary invite you to take a closer look at seminary life. Beginning on Thursday night and concluding Saturday morning, a Vianney Visit offers an ideal look into our spiritual, academic, and fraternal life.
There is nothing like visiting SJV yourself. You will hear testimonies from current seminarians, attend spiritual conferences with SJV priests, pray with the community, and tour the University of St. Thomas. You may also have the option to meet individually with priests on staff or the rector. And, you won’t leave without having some fun!
First, contact your vocation director. Then complete the registration form to join us for our next Vianney Visit on November 14-16, 2024 or February 13-15, 2025.
Vianney Visit At-a-Glance
Thursday
3:30 PM Registration Opens
Saturday
10:00 AM Depart
Young men discerning seminary life will stay overnight at SJV. Parents in town for a visit have plenty of accommodation options to choose from, including several close to the University of St. Thomas. Please bring:
- Business casual clothes for Holy Mass.
- Gym clothes for open gym.
- A sleeping bag and pillow if you are not traveling by air.
- An open mind and an open heart.
There is no charge for the event, and all meals are provided.
Please note: During normal food preparation at Saint John Vianney College Seminary, cooking utensils, equipment, and preparation areas are shared. As a result, SJV cannot guarantee that any food item is completely free of allergens (egg, fish, milk, peanuts, shellfish, soy, tree nuts and wheat). If you have an extreme food allergy, we recommend you bring your own food to eat during your Vianney Visit weekend. Limited gluten-free food options are available at each meal. Some meals are eaten at the University of St. Thomas. Please visit their Dining Services page for more information.
Private Guest Room Use
SJV has limited guest room space reserved for bishops, vocation directors, and clergy involved in official SJV seminary formation.
Other priests coming on official SJV business should work through their local Bishop's Office or Diocesan Vocation Director to contact Mary Frame, Student Services & Office Support Specialist, at mframe@vianney.net or 651-358-3368.
Due to the formational and communal environment of the seminary and our facilities, we are unable to host other guests overnight, but we are always happy to welcome guests for tours and prayer in our beautiful new chapel during normal office hours.
Other Prospective Seminarian Visits
We encourage prospective seminarians to attend our Fall or Spring Vianney Visit weekends which offer special events to highlight seminary life at SJV.
Outside of Vianney Visit weekends, we will evaluate requests based on the seminary calendar. All overnight visits of prospective seminarians should be coordinated through your diocesan Office of Vocations.
Hospitality toward guests is an important aspect of formation, and SJV seeks to promote vocations in every way, though SJV is primarily a formation environment for existing seminarians. Hosting prospective seminarians impacts our environment and involves a significant time commitment from the current seminarians who help host the visitors. Thank you for understanding our best efforts to accommodate guest requests within these limitations.