Saint John’s Seminary Begins 2025–2026 Academic Year with Mass, Retreat, and New Seminarians

Brighton, MA — On Wednesday, August 27, the Saint John’s Seminary community joyfully gathered to begin the 2025–2026 academic year with the traditional Opening Mass of the Holy Spirit, followed by a festive barbecue. Seminarians, faculty, staff, alumni, family, and friends joined together in prayer and fellowship, marking the start of another year of formation for future priests.

That same evening, the seminary community entered into its annual opening retreat, which concludes Sunday, August 31. The retreat was led by Fr. Michael Berry, who offered a rich and profound reflection on the spiritual life and its essential connection to the life of charity.

Drawing on the insights of the great Carmelite saints—St. Teresa of Jesus, St. John of the Cross, St. Thérèse of the Child Jesus, and St. Elizabeth of the Trinity—Fr. Berry highlighted how their wisdom speaks powerfully to the priesthood today. He emphasized the importance of self-knowledge, reminding seminarians that without truly knowing ourselves, we cannot know God or meaningfully serve others. “We have to get over ourselves,” Fr. Berry noted, “moving aside to let God act. Only God can help us get over ourselves.”

Fr. Berry also stressed that this self-knowledge is discovered and formed within community life, where seminarians are shaped in the ways of holiness. Echoing St. Teresa of Jesus, he underlined the humanity of Christ as the source of healing, showing how prayer makes us more fully human and how humility enables us to walk in the Truth, who is Christ. This encounter with Truth, he reflected, draws us ever deeper into the communion of the Church.

This year, Saint John’s Seminary is also pleased to welcome 14 new seminarians, representing the following dioceses:

• Archdiocese of Boston

• Diocese of Fall River

• Diocese of Providence

• Diocese of Springfield

• Diocese of Rochester

As the new academic year begins, Saint John’s Seminary invites all the faithful to keep our seminarians and students in prayer. Together, may we entrust them to the guidance of the Holy Spirit as they grow in knowledge, holiness, and pastoral charity, preparing to serve the Church with faith and dedication.