Welcome to our New Friends!

Last evening we were delighted to welcome some wonderful folks for an introduction to the life and mission of Saint John’s Seminary.  I am very grateful to all who made this evening possible, especially Sandy Barry and Sr. Jeanmarie Gribaudo.  It is always good to make new friends and to share the great good news of what’s happening at Saint John’s Seminary!

Congratulations to Deacon John Paul!

Here some of our seminarians congratulate Brother John Paul, O.S.B. after he was ordained to the Diaconate by Bishop Joseph Gerry, O.S.B. at Saint Anselm’s Abbey.  Brother John Paul, who took solemn monastic vows this past summer, is currently in his final year of theological studies at St. John’s Seminary.

We beseech you, Lord:

look with favor on this servant of yours

who will minister at your holy altar

and whom we now humbly dedicate to the office of deacon.

Saint John's versus Blessed John in Softball

St. John's Seminary played the Blessed John XXIII Seminary Relics in our Annual Softball Game at Regis College this afternoon.  Saint John's took home the Trophy for the second year running with a score of 12-3!

The game was made possible by the Knights of Columbus and New Balance of Brighton who provided team uniforms.  Thanks to all who came out to cheer the teams from our brother seminaries on a rainy October afternoon and congratulations to the Saint John's Seminarians who worked so hard in training for this game.

Francis Prays for Peace

"Saint Francis began the Canticle of the Creatures with these words: Praised may you be, Most High, All-powerful God, good Lord… by all your creatures.

"Love for all creation, for its harmony. Saint Francis of Assisi bears witness to the need to respect all that God has created and as he created it, without manipulating and destroying creation; rather to help it grow, to become more beautiful and more like what God created it to be. And above all, Saint Francis witnesses to respect for everyone, he testifies that each of us is called to protect our neighbour, that the human person is at the centre of creation, at the place where God – our creator – willed that we should be. Not at the mercy of the idols we have created! Harmony and peace! Francis was a man of harmony and peace. 

"From this City of Peace, I repeat with all the strength and the meekness of love: Let us respect creation, let us not be instruments of destruction! Let us respect each human being. May there be an end to armed conflicts which cover the earth with blood; may the clash of arms be silenced; and everywhere may hatred yield to love, injury to pardon, and discord to unity. Let us listen to the cry of all those who are weeping, who are suffering and who are dying because of violence, terrorism or war, in the Holy Land, so dear to Saint Francis, in Syria, throughout the Middle East and everywhere in the world.

"We turn to you, Saint Francis, and we ask you: Obtain for us God’s gift of harmony, peace and respect for creation!"

Pope Francis, in Assisi

4 October 2013

Francis in Assisi

"Let us all remember this: one cannot proclaim the Gospel of Jesus without the tangible witness of one’s life. Those who listen to us and observe us must be able to see in our actions what they hear from our lips, and so give glory to God! I am thinking now of some advice that Saint Francis of Assisi gave his brothers: preach the Gospel and, if necessary, use words. Preaching with your life, with your witness. Inconsistency on the part of pastors and the faithful between what they say and what they do, between word and manner of life, is undermining the Church’s credibility."

Pope Francis, Basilica of Saint Paul Outside-the-Walls

14 April 2013

An Invitation to Help!

Alongside the fresh autumn breezes, excitement still hangs in the air here at Saint John’s Seminary, with our full roster of young men studying for the priesthood and the recent completion of Phase I of the Our Lady of the Presentation Campus.  While we are very proud of this milestone as proof of our commitment to the community, there are still miles to go.  Today we write to ask for your help with Phase II of the Our Lady of the Presentation Lecture Hall and Library.  This phase will include:

Securing the Envelope: Restoration of the roof, stonework, upper level windows and exterior doors.

Interior Enhancement: Completion of new security and fire systems, sound system, passing of pews and initial work on heating and air conditioning.

The Rectory: Painting of exterior and renovation of the first floor to include Conference Rooms, Kitchen, and a residential area.

You can join us in a number of ways:

Become a 

FRIEND OF MONSIGNOR BRODERICK

with a gift of $100-$499

This gift is in honor of the alumnus and former Rector of Saint John’s Seminary and Pastor of Our Lady of the Presentation Parish.

Become a 

FRIEND OF BISHOP BOLES

with a gift of $500-$999

This gift is in honor of the retired Auxiliary Bishop of Boston and son of Our Lady of the Presentation Church.

Become a 

FRIEND OF BISHOP D’ARCY

with a gift of $1,000+

This gift is in honor of the former parishioner of Our Lady of the Presentation Church, alumnus of Saint John’s Seminary and Bishop of South Bend/Fort Wayne.

You can make your gift today by visiting www.sjs.edu/gift.html

Great News for our OLP Campus!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

SAINT JOHN’S SEMINARY RECEIVES FLATLEY FOUNDATION GRANT 

Funds to benefit Phase II of construction on the Our Lady of the Presentation Campus in Oak Square

Brighton, MA – October 2, 2013 – Saint John’s Seminary announced today that it is the recipient of a $250,000 grant from the Flatley Foundation, for continuing work on the Our Lady of the Presentation Lecture Hall, Library, and Residence. SJS recently celebrated the completion of Phase I of the project with a ribbon cutting ceremony on September 16, 2013.

The Oak Square former church was closed in 2004, much to the dismay of its loyal parishioners. When Saint John’s Seminary became owners of the property in 2012, Monsignor James P. Moroney vowed to restore the presence of the Catholic church to the Oak Square neighborhood. At last month’s ribbon cutting, Msgr. Moroney proclaimed, “…For Our Lady of the Presentation and Saint John’s are now one, as a part of the largest and oldest Seminary in New England. Having formed more than three thousand Priests since the days those front doors first opened, under the patronage of Our Lady of the Presentation, we will continue this good work for the Church for decades to come.”

The grant is timely, as Phase II begins this month. Plans are shaping up now that will include the restoration of the former Rectory into a residence for Saint John’s use, as well as a first-class conference facility, in which conference rooms will be named for Bishops John D’Arcy and John Boles, both of whom hail from the Presentation parish.

Said Msgr. Moroney, “Thanks to the generosity of the Flatleys, seminarians, priests and all who are dedicated to the Church will hear exciting presentations in this new Lecture Hall for years to come. It is a great blessing made possible by these good Catholic folks.”

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Saint John’s Seminary prepares Roman Catholic seminarians for ordination to the Priesthood through programs of human, pastoral, spiritual and academic formation. It is governed by a Board of Trustees, chaired by the Archbishop of Boston. While primarily in service to the Bishops of New England, Saint John’s Seminary also enrolls seminarians from other (Arch)Dioceses, Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life in its several degree programs. The Seminary’s Theological Institute prepares laity, deacons and religious for ministry and service to the (Arch)Dioceses of the region.