The Alumni of Blessed John XXIII National Seminary continue to enjoy a unique relationship with the institution, its faculty and current seminarian community. This relationship is characterized by a special spirit of warmth, outreach and concern that the community has for each alumnus as a person and for the quality and success of his priestly ministry. For a list of the dioceses and religious orders served by our Alumni, please click here.
Alumni are frequent and welcome guests at the Seminary, returning throughout the year for retreats and visits. It is not unusual for graduates to audit individual classes on these occasions. Their input is a real stimulus, educationally and psychologically, to those presently preparing to be their colleagues in the priesthood.
The alumni have their own national association and constitution and members hold informal meetings on a regional basis. The annual meeting for this association is held at the Seminary in conjunction with Alumni Days, a special event held annually. Alumni Days includes opportunities for spiritual renewal, theological updating and social relaxation. The Seminary sponsors Alumni Days, which is considered an important event during the academic year. Alumni are kept informed of current events at the Seminary through informal "notes" circulated by the alumni association and by the Blessed John XXIII National Seminary Newsletter.
Bishop of Sioux Falls, SD
Alumni Days 2008
A total of 70 alumni from 25 dioceses and four religious orders returned to Blessed John XXIII for Alumni Days on October 21 and 22, 2008. “This was our largest group of returning alumni ever,” Father Peter J. Uglietto, Rector, announced with a smile at the closing banquet.
Alumni Days began with a Keynote Presentation by Father James Massa, Executive Director for Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs at the U. S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. Fr. Massa served on the Seminary faculty for five years. In his address, Fr. Massa cataloged the bishops’ ecumenical and interreligious dialogues.
The Alumni Days event included two receptions at which returning alumni, faculty, and seminarians mingled. Father Paul Miceli, Director of Spiritual Formation at Blessed John XXIII, also gave a presentation on the privilege and practice of priestly prayer.
Other highlights included the Rector’s Report to the alumni by Fr. Uglietto and the Annual Alumni Mass in remembrance of all deceased alumni. The principal celebrant and homilist was Most Rev. Paul J. Swain, ’88, Bishop of Sioux Falls, SD. Returning alumni and faculty served as concelebrants.
The event concluded with the Annual Banquet in the Refectory, with returning alumni, faculty, staff and seminaries enjoying the evening together.