The Pope St. John XXIII National Seminary community is committed to our founding mission: the human, spiritual, academic and pastoral formation of candidates aged 30 and older. Our unique institution is the only American seminary for these mature candidates administered by diocesan priests. For more than five decades, candidates have been accepted from various professional backgrounds; such as law, medicine, business, teaching, sales, banking, social work and military service. The diversity of life experiences shared by these mature seminarians enriches both the Seminary community and their future ministries in the Church.