St. John Vianney College Seminary

Saint John Vianney College Seminary is a theological educational institution established in 1968 in St. Paul, Minnesota. It is one of the largest college seminaries in the United States, representing dioceses throughout the country and hosting around 100 undergraduate men each year. The institution focuses on providing the foundations for young men to pursue a priestly vocation and succeed in major seminary. They work to form integral Christian character and discipleship, provide a traditional Catholic program of spiritual growth, and a strong liberal arts education. Their alumni work to build up the Catholic Church throughout the world, with more than 600 of their alumni serving as ordained priests and numerous others serving as lay leaders in their parishes and communities.

In 2022, EverGreene’s Sacred Space Studio was retained by Studio io and the St. John Vianney Design Committee to aid in the design of the liturgical artistry program for the St. John Vianney College Seminary. The artistry program follows a multi-million dollar renovation to the property, the pinnacle of which was the brand new chapel. EverGreene was entrusted with the design of two new mosaics on the exterior of the building, as well as the interior design of the new chapel. The two exterior tympanum mosaics portray the integral stories of the Crucifixion and the Ascension. The chapel was delicately decorated with several murals, with a heavy focus on color and pattern in the Sanctuary. The designs implemented at St. John Vianney College Seminary were made in the Beuronese style; a 19th century religious artistic style, which emphasized tranquil and often muted scenes which used geometry as an integral part of creating proportions.  EverGreene’s in-house team of designers, conservators, and artists have engaged in numerous projects which focus on the Beuronese style, being nationally recognized as experts in the conscientious preservation of existing Beuronese works and faithful stewards of the aesthetic principles Beuron in the creation of new works.

Work was completed by early 2023, with the chapel was dedicated by Archbishop Bernard Hebda in April of that year. From the colors on the walls to the creation of each figure and stencil, EverGreene’s Sacred Space Studio used a combination of ancient techniques and cutting edge technology to support religious and spiritual growth.