08/28/2026
For the past two weeks, our 15 new seminarians from 11 dioceses and one religious community have been immersed in orientation at Pope St. John XXIII National Seminary.
These first days have been filled with opportunities to build community, learn about Seminary life, and begin getting to know the men who will walk alongside them throughout their formation. They have enjoyed outings into Boston, including a visit to the Cathedral of the Holy Cross and a trolley tour of the city, a trip to a WooSox game, movie nights, shared vocation stories, and time with our formation faculty as they begin to learn more about the journey ahead.
They have also had the opportunity to put their faith into action. As part of their orientation, the seminarians traveled to Lawrence for the first of our monthly service trips, where they served dinner to people experiencing homelessness, substance use, and food insecurity. It was an opportunity to begin experiencing firsthand the importance of being present to others and seeing Christ in those we are called to serve.
They have also experienced one of the most important aspects of Seminary life: prayer and reflection. Today, they begin a silent retreat that will continue through the weekend, giving them time away from the activity of orientation to listen more deeply for God’s voice and reflect on His call in their lives.
On Sunday evening, the upperclassmen will return to campus for dinner, welcoming the new seminarians into the larger Seminary community as they prepare to begin the academic year together.
These two weeks have been just the beginning of a journey of being formed in mind, heart, and spirit to serve Christ and His Church as priests.
Please join us in praying for these 15 men as they continue to discern and respond to God’s call to the priesthood. May God bless them abundantly as they begin this important chapter of their vocation.