Pathway to the Future Campaign for Blessed John XXIII National Seminary
Fiy Years of Service Fiy years ago, a man over the age of 30 who found himself called to serve God as a priest had very few options. Seminaries for mature men were few. And if that man previously had a career and family, his options were even more limited. Blessed John XXIII National Seminary changed all that.
In 2014, Blessed John will celebrate five decades of service as the only American seminary for mature candidates administered by diocesan priests. With the help of donors like you, more than 140 dioceses and 21 religious orders have entrusted the formation of their candidates (age 30 to 60) for priesthood to our Seminary. e town of Weston, Massachuses, has long been our home, but our reach is global. Blessed John alumni, more than 600 strong, serve in significant ministerial roles across the United States and in Australia, Puerto Rico, Guam, Bermuda, Canada, and Honduras. ey are Pastors, Vicars General, and Bishops, managing multiple parishes and complex assignments.
When our graduates go out into the world, Blessed John National Seminary lives in their work and in their hearts. Does Blessed John live in you?
Keeping Our Promise
We invite you to join us as we honor our past, but now is also a time to look forward with renewed dedication and clear vision. To continue our mission,
we must enter the next 50 years in a position of strength. Our resolve is unwavering, but many of our physical spaces are not up to the task. For this reason, we are launching the second phase of Pathway to the Future: Campaign for Blessed John XXIII National Seminary. is unprecedented $10-million fundraising effort will allow us—with your help—to continue to fulfill the mission set forth by Cardinal Cushing in 1963.
ere is much work to do, and we have already made great strides. Perhaps you have seen our beautifully renovated Chapel and welcoming new front entrance. is is the first major renovation in our history, made possible by an outpouring of support from our alumni—men who would not be priests without Blessed John. anks to their generous gis, we raised more than $700,000 for this project. We’re pleased to note that we kept our promise and completed this first phase responsibly, on time and within budget. In fact, we’ve already raised over $2-million toward our overall $10-million goal. Now, we’re ready to move forward, and secure Blessed John’s place in the future. But we can’t succeed without you. As we embark on this next phase of the campaign, please stand with us.
Show the world that Blessed John lives in you.
Before & Aer We rededicated our Chapel in October 2012. We have dramatically improved both the comfort and capacity of the “heart of our seminary” with new upholstered pews; before new flooring, heating and cooling systems; enhanced acoustics; a handicap-accessible sanctuary; new statues of Mary and Child and Saint Joseph; and a transparent balcony wall, offering improved visibility and additional seating for 40.
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Blessed John Lives in… Kevin Mulligan ’15
Archdiocese of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania For nearly 30 years, Kevin Mulligan was a respected sportswriter, covering the Philadelphia Eagles and major golf tournaments like the Masters for the Philadelphia Daily News. A golf instructor, he felt fortunate to report for so many years on the game he loved to play. At the end of 2007, Kevin made a momentous transition and began working in the Communications Office of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. When asked why he wants to become a priest, Kevin answers simply, “because God has personally invited me to be one, and because the happiest people I have known are the priests in my life.” “Having heeded His call,” Kevin adds, “I now look forward to the day when I can bring communities closer to the Eucharist, rekindle the sacraments in their prayer lives, connect with all ages, minister to the less fortunate and the sick, energize our youth to keep Christ in their lives, spread the Gospel and bring the once-faithful back to the Catholic Church, using the many gis given me by God.”
Ronald Caany ’13
Archdiocese of Denver, Colorado
Like any “good Italian Catholic boy,” Fr. Ron Caany considered the priesthood at the age of 8, but decided to follow another path. e grandson of Colorado pioneers, Ron was educated as an engineer and economist. During his 35-year professional career, he was a staunch champion of Colorado’s natural resources. Four Colorado governors looked to Ron for advice on minerals and energy. For 20 years, he served as one of three Natural Resource Trustees, most recently as Director of Colorado’s Division of Reclamation, Mining and Safety along with former Interior Secretary Ken Salazar. Ron was a lead negotiator on some of the biggest environmental cleanup cases in Colorado history. Ron never married but was active in community non-profit and parish life. He also cared for his parents, who lived to nearly 100 years of age. When he became an Extraordinary Minister of the Eucharist at Denver’s Presbyterian/St. Luke’s Medical Center, his life changed. “I asked the Lord what he wanted me to do with my life,” Ron says. “As I visited these people in extraordinary circumstances, they actually ministered to me. In their faith, I felt the Lord drawing me closer to Him. During my discernment, I realized that God has a perfect plan for our lives—if we just listen. For the first time, I truly understood Who walks beside me, Who lives within me, and how much the Lord wants to help each of us every day…if we just ask.”
“I have decided with God’s help, the approval of the Holy See, and with the aid of generous benefactors, to build that Seminary in the Archdiocese of Boston as a National Seminary for older men endowed with the necessary educational and spiritual qualities who have been called by God to his Holy Priesthood.” —His Eminence Richard Cardinal Cushing, 1963
Cardinal Cushing in Veterans’ Day Parade - Boston, 1946
Our Proud History
Our namesake, Blessed Pope John XXIII, became Pontiff in 1958. Born in northern Italy to a family of farmers,
his pontificate lasted less than five years. Meek and gentle, he carried out the Christian duties of the corporal and spiritual works of mercy—visiting the imprisoned and sick, welcoming those of every nation and faith, bestowing on all his exquisite fatherly care. e faithful called him “the good Pope.” When he died in 1963, Pope John XXIII le a legacy we treasure to this day.
In that same year, Cardinal Cushing saw the need for a Catholic Seminary for mature candidates. In 1964, Blessed John XXIII National Seminary, with the encouragement and explicit blessing of Pope Paul VI, became the first seminary in North America established for the formation of men answering the call to priesthood at a later time in their lives. Since then, in response to the worldwide need for priests, the Seminary has grown and expanded. In 1972, Blessed John Seminary was chartered by the Commonwealth of Massachuses to grant the Master of Divinity degree. In 1983, the Seminary became an accredited member of the Association of eological Schools. In 2007, we introduced a new optional Pre-eology Program for candidates whose Bishops or religious superiors deem it appropriate.
“Our family has been blessed by the priest alumni of Blessed John. We had Fr. Bill Minigan ’86 and currently have Fr. Tom Powers ’94 as our parish priests. ey have ministered to us in good and bad times. Fr. Minigan was with us during a long illness with my grandmother and celebrated her Rite of Christian Burial. Fr. Powers administered the sacraments of Baptism, First Holy Communion, and Reconciliation to our children. We became donors to the Seminary because of these two men—their life experiences combined with their formation at Blessed John make them the fine priests our Church needs today. We need more priests like these two men!” —Pam and Chris MacDonald, of Lynnfield, Massachuses
Fulfilling Our Mission
In 2008, nearly 50,000 parishes worldwide had no resident priest pastor. Today, the number of diocesan priests
in the United State is the lowest since our founding. It is good news indeed that our Seminary is vibrant and enrollment is steady. We continue to transform men’s lives and help them answer the call to serve. In a time when the need for priests is at an all-time high, Blessed John is making a real difference. Blessed John students come from many walks of life. ey bring with them to our Seminary a multitude of experiences, both personal and professional. ey sacrificed much to enter Blessed John and embrace their formation. Many le behind families, homes, and careers. It is a challenging transition. ey were veterinarians, test pilots, social workers, engineers, federal judges, physicians, business owners, educators and more. e diversity of life experiences shared by these mature seminarians enriches both the Seminary community and their future ministries in the Church. ey might come from different backgrounds, but one common thread they share is the desire and motivation to serve Jesus Christ and His people and make a difference in the world. Blessed John Seminary is making that possible.
But we can’t continue to educate these vital, experienced men for priesthood without modern educational facilities and resources. is is why we need your help.
Learning Center
$3.5 million
Blessed John’s library was built in the 1960s. As you can imagine, it is hardly suited for the type of education our students need today. Over the years, we have found ways to adapt and make do. However, within our current footprint, we have run out of space. e Blessed John XXIII Seminary reconstruction of our existing library will transform the facility into a modern Learning Center and double our usable space to 10,000 square feet. Enrollment is healthy at Blessed John, but we would like to welcome more seminarians into the fold. Another benefit of this new plan is the ability it will give us to convert the old library space into much-needed faculty offices. is in turn will free up dorm rooms currently used as faculty offices to house more seminarians.
e new space will also accommodate: • Improved use of technology to support teaching and communication • Expanded space for meetings and group study • Distance learning applications to expand the academic program • A welcoming place for community outreach and public events • Continued accreditation by the Association of eological Schools
Learning Center side view
Endowment
$2 million
Blessed John’s endowment is only $5 million, relatively small for an organization of its size. We have a $3 million budget, but a full 50% comes from fundraising—from generous donors like you. Even with your support, each year we break even—nothing is le over. We always strive to be fiscally responsible, but this situation puts the Seminary in a precarious position. In these challenging economic times, some seminaries have had to close. At Blessed John, our program is robust. We’re looking to the next 50 years with optimism and hope. A larger endowment will not only ease pressure on our operating budget, but also offer us the financial flexibility to respond to both emergencies and new opportunities for our students and the seminary community. It will provide financial stability and deeper resources to fulfill our mission.
An increased endowment will provide: • New programs and educational opportunities for students • Immediate ability to respond to emergencies • Increased faculty education and professional development • A strong financial future, into the next 50 years
Safe, Compliant Infrastructure
$1.5 million
Each day at Blessed John, we deal with the realities of our half-century-old buildings and infrastructure. Over the years, we have been frugal and responsible in how we manage our property and finances. It is time, however, to increase our capital spending, as facilities improvements have escalated from ‘wants’ to ‘needs’. An investment in our infrastructure now will ensure a safe, compliant, and accessible campus for everyone who enters here in the future. We need expanded access for the disabled, reliable sprinkler systems and updated heating and plumbing. With your help we can make Blessed John the welcoming and secure environment our future priests and dedicated faculty deserve.
Blessed John Lives in… Ken Gill ’14
Archdiocese of Washington, DC Ken Gill considered the priesthood in college, but his pastor advised him to think about it while studying and working. Who knew it would take twenty-five years for him to make up his mind? Aer college, Ken worked in Washington, DC, in the fields of neurophysiology, information technology, and business development in the private sector and for the federal government. He served as a technology advisor on intelligence and information sharing for the US Department of Justice. In 2007, Ken was on a pilgrimage to the Holy Land, to walk in the footsteps of Jesus, when he heard the call once again. “Praying at the tomb of our Lord in the Holy Sepulchre, I offered my life to serve our Lord, if that is what He desired for me. is was confirmed for me the following year when, on a pilgrimage to Assisi, I encountered an inscription on the wall outside of the Basilica which said in part ‘on October 4, 1962, the Feast of St. Francis, Pope John XXIII celebrated Mass here.’ at is the exact day, month, and year I was born, and I knew the seminary I would more than likely aend was Blessed John XXIII Seminary. So for me this was like a confirmation from heaven.”
Blessed John Lives in… Lawrence Love ’14 Diocese of Tyler, Texas
Larry Love came to Blessed John in August of 2010. Married for 39 years, the father of two, Larry served in the US Air Force as a flight surgeon and ophthalmologist for 13 years. He concluded his military career at Andrews Air Force Base outside Washington, DC, and went on to build up a successful private medical practice. Larry became a grandfather of 10 and made a home in Paris, Texas, serving the Church as a Knight of Columbus and a Knight of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem. He was already considering a vocation as a permanent deacon when he lost his wife to Alzheimer’s disease in 2007. “I was ready to give up a successful medical/surgical practice, if that’s what the Lord wanted me to do,” he says. “And He prey much made it known that’s what He wanted me to do.” Larry heard the call loud and clear in 2009. “I really had almost like an epiphany on Divine Mercy Sunday, the Sunday aer Easter. e Gospel tells the story of Jesus commissioning the apostles, telling them to go out and preach the Gospel, and also that they can forgive the sins of people or hold their sins back, and it just sort of struck me between the eyes that this is the highest thing a man can aspire to…and it seemed the Lord was calling me to do that.”
Paul Sullivan ’08
Archdiocese of Boston, Massachusetts Fr. Paul Sullivan thought about priesthood in high school and college. “I just didn’t feel I was ready for it yet,” he says. Instead, Fr. Sullivan spent 17 years working in admissions at his alma mater, Magdalen College in New Hampshire. All the while, he was drawn to campus ministry events and programs with the students. ere were a few events that led him to answer his call. One was World Youth Day, where he was moved by the words and example of Blessed Pope John Paul II. Another was a funeral for a priest. “At the funeral, I thought to myself, who is going to replace these men?” When Cardinal Seán O’Malley took the reins as Archbishop of Boston in 2003, he asked the people of Boston to help him renew the Church. Fr. Paul asked himself whether God was calling him to help that renewal. e next year he answered the call and entered Blessed John XXIII National Seminary. “It was hard for me to give up the possibility of marriage and family life,” he says, but, as a priest, “in a sense, we are given a new family.” e parish becomes the family and the “spiritual fatherhood is a beautiful and profound calling.”
How You Can Help
For 50 years, Blessed John has given mature men the opportunity to serve God and make a difference in the world. We could not have accomplished this without the support of our many loyal donors. When you give to a seminary like Blessed John, your gi has a profound effect. Your support helps us prepare a priest for service, and that priest leaves here and touches many lives. ink about how oen you have turned to a priest for comfort and guidance. Imagine what your life would be like without a priest to go to. From baptisms and weddings to last rites and funerals, your family’s most important moments are presided over by a trusted priest. Help us continue to prepare mature seminarians to respond to a call to priestly ministry.
Now, on this day, we invite you to join us. Make a gi to the Pathway to the Future Campaign. Invest in a vision that began with Cardinal Cushing in 1964. Invest in a partnership with Jesus Christ to advance His mission and prepare priests for His Church. Invest in the future of our church.
e future of Blessed John lives in you.
Blessed John XXIII National Seminary
558 South Avenue Weston, MA 02493 781.894.4910 www.blessedjohnxxiii.edu
On the front cover: Following his ordination Rev. John Healy, class of 2012, blesses his classmate Rev. Ed Rama