St. Ben’s Vianney Hall restorations

Baton Rouge Bishop Robert Muench was a New Orleans seminarian at St. Joseph Seminary College in St. Benedict in 1960, and for some odd reason, he seems to remember August the most.
In St. Pius X Hall where he lived, there was no air conditioning.

“Nothing, nothing!” Bishop Muench said with a laugh, recalling those days of mortification. “When the article was written (in 1960) by the Covington newspaper about the new buildings that were opening, the reporter wrote, ‘These buildings are too modern for air conditioning.’”

Imagine Bishop Muench’s delight Feb. 12 as Benedictine Abbot Justin Brown blessed the completely restored and modernized Vianney Hall, which will serve as the living quarters for 40 seminarians, a large portion of the seminary’s 111-member student body, and two priests.

“If I had been in a facility like this, I’d be a priest today,” Bishop Muench said, smiling. “But you know what? These are conveniences we take for granted today. Homes were not air conditioned then.”

First large project since 1960s
The $4.9 million restoration of Vianney Hall – the first, large capital project at the abbey since the early 1960s – is the first part of a $25 million master plan to upgrade facilities at St. Joseph’s Seminary College. Design plans are underway to construct a large seminarian chapel behind Vianney Hall, said Vanessa Crouere, director of development for St. Joseph’s Abbey.

Two nearly identical buildings adjacent to Vianney Hall – Borromeo Hall and the Rouquette Library – also will be restored in the future, Crouere said.

Vianney Hall lay dormant for about 25 years and became a storage area for whatever needed to be tucked away. The two-story building had a “barracks-style” dormitory on the second floor, with beds next to each other in an open floor plan.

The restoration, designed by VergesRome Architects, provided large private rooms, each with its own bathroom.

“The interiors of the rooms were designed so that everything had its place, while allowing each seminarian to still be able to personalize his own space,” said architect Steve Rome.

Voelkel McWilliams Construction was the general contractor. The 1960s-era buildings actually were listed as historic landmarks due to their “modernist” design. A French publication called them “simple, clear, perfectly adapted to young people.”

Except, they forgot the air conditioning.

Comfortable amenities
Carlos Lucito, a Baton Rouge seminarian, was all smiles about his new home.

“It’s pretty lush compared to last year,” Lucito said. “The rooms are pretty spacious, and it’s really nice to have your own bathroom.”

Msgr. Frank Giroir, pastor of St. Anselm Parish in Madisonville, said seminary formation has changed from the time when he began studying for the priesthood.

“When we went into the seminary, we were all from high school,” Msgr. Giroir said. “Most of these guys are second-career guys who have been in the world. That’s the difference.”

In his prayer of dedication, Abbot Justin said: “God’s kindness has brought us together to bless this remodeled dormitory, the gift of his generosity. Let us therefore ask the Lord that this building may be a place of prayer, of rest, of relaxation and of study, so that the students it receives may return to you as devoted pastors and as our colleagues and coworkers in the sacred ministry.”

The abbey’s 125th anniversary celebration (1889-2014) will continue Feb. 23 at 3 p.m. with a French organ concert by Thomas Kientz in the Abbey Church. The public is invited. Benedictine Father Sean Duggan will perform a piano concert March 9 at 3 p.m. in Benet Hall.

Peter Finney Jr. can be reached at pfinney@clarionherald.org