Vianney House Chapel Upgrades

Vianney House Chapel Upgrades

Thanks to generous donor support from many across the diocese, the Vianney House - a former Dominican convent on the campus of St. Joseph Church in Wichita - recently became the third residence at the St. Joseph House of Formation. After extensive renovation work was completed to the living spaces of the building over the summer, the Vianney House opened its doors for the fall 2024 semester, and is now home to twelve seminarians and one priest - with space to comfortably accommodate up to 14 people. While renovations were made to the living and common areas of the Vianney House, the chapel space was largely kept intact. Thanks to the generous support garnered from last year's Giving Tuesday, we were able to have three new stained glass windows made for the chapel. They are expected to be installed in May 2026. Thank you!

In our next phase, we plan to focus on the sanctuary. Our main goal will be to purchase a tabernacle worthy of the seminarians' devotion to our Lord in the Eucharist. We also hope to improve our sacred space through an attractive tabernacle stand, a new sanctuary lamp, altar candles and crucifix, matching statues of Mary and Joseph as well as work towards a more beautiful and substantial altar.

To this end, with your generous support we hope to raise $30,000 to bring these much-needed renovations to life. Together, we can provide a serene, uplifting place for those young men discerning God's call to the priesthood. 

This Giving Tuesday, we invite you to help us enhance a sacred space that will foster spiritual growth and discernment! All gifts to support the remodel and update of the Vianney House chapel will help continue strong formation for years to come.

About the St. Joseph House of Formation

Following its dedication in the fall of 2017, the St. Joseph House of Formation is currently home to 41 college-age seminarians, all of whom are philosophy students at Newman University. The seminarians live in one of three facilities: the Borromeo House, a former rectory named after St. Charles Borromeo, the patron saint of seminarians; the Hennessy House, a nearby former convent named after Bishop John J. Hennessy, the first bishop of the diocese; and the Vianney House, a former Dominican convent named after St. John Vianney, the patron saint of priests. All three houses are on the campus of St. Joseph Church in central Wichita.