By Florida Catholic staff - Florida Catholic
Archbishop Thomas Wenski prepares to bless the new refectory and audio visual hall at St. John Vianney College Seminary Oct. 17, 2019, after celebrating a Mass of the Holy Spirit with the seminarians, seminary staff and friends.
Plaque on the new refectory notes its blessing and construction on the 60th anniversary of the founding of St. John Vianney College Seminary.
St. John Vianney seminarians share a meal with Archbishop Thomas Wenski after he blessed their new refectory.
Photography: IZZY RENNELLA | FC
MIAMI | After decades of sharing a cafeteria with St. Brendan High School next door, seminarians at St. John Vianney have a new place in which to eat and gather.
Archbishop Thomas Wenski blessed the college seminary’s new refectory Oct. 17, after celebrating a Mass of the Holy Spirit with all the bishops of Florida, the seminarians, and their friends, guests and donors.
The new building — which has been described as possessing “understated elegance” — occupies about 9,800 square feet and is joined to St. Raphael’s Chapel by a covered walkway.
According to David Prada, senior director of Building and Property for the archdiocese, the new refectory includes a state-of-the-art kitchen, banquet facilities, and audio-visual technology, as well as a large maintenance shop and storage space.
It is also “hurricane hardened,” which means its state-of-the-art generator, powered by natural gas, can keep the lights on, and the kitchen and freezers functioning, after a storm.
Prada said the new refectory is part of the “overall master plan for the property.” St. Brendan High is also in the midst of building new facilities, including a 26,000 square-foot Innovation Center, dedicated in August 2016; and new athletic fields for football, baseball, lacrosse, soccer and track, with synthetic field turf and LED lighting.
