Dear Alumni, Friends, and Supporters:

As we begin the 2026–2027 year of formation at Notre Dame Seminary, we do so under the patronage of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. In this year marking the renewed consecration of our nation to the Sacred Heart by the bishops of the United States, we are reminded that the Church’s mission begins with hearts conformed to the Heart of Christ. At Notre Dame Seminary, we are privileged to participate in that mission by forming shepherds after the Heart of Christ, your future priests who will faithfully serve God’s people.

Every year, young men from across the Gulf South and beyond answer God’s call to discern the priesthood. They arrive at Notre Dame Seminary seeking to deepen their relationship with Jesus Christ and to prepare for a life of service to His Church. Our seminarians are challenged to grow in virtue and maturity, deepen their life of prayer, engage in rigorous theological study, and gain practical experience serving in parishes, schools, hospitals, prisons, and ministries throughout our region. Each step of this journey is designed to help them become shepherds who reflect the love, compassion, and sacrificial heart of Jesus, the Good Shepherd.

This vital mission is only possible because of faithful supporters like you. The actual cost to educate and form one seminarian this year is approximately $50,000. While tuition, room, and board cover a significant portion of that expense, there remains a gap of nearly $9,000 per seminarian that must be bridged through charitable support. With 145 seminarians enrolled this year, that represents a total funding gap of more than $1.3 million. Your generosity helps provide opportunities that are essential to priestly formation, including pastoral field education, leadership development, mission experiences, and academic resources.

As we launch our 2026–2027 Annual Appeal, we invite you to prayerfully consider making a gift to support the formation of future priests. Your investment helps ensure that these men receive the education, spiritual guidance, and pastoral experiences they need to become faithful shepherds after the Heart of Christ. More than that, your generosity helps strengthen the future of the Church in the many dioceses that entrust their seminarians to Notre Dame Seminary. The men you support today will one day celebrate the sacraments, preach the Gospel, accompany families through life’s joys and challenges, and provide spiritual leadership in parishes and communities across the country. Through your support, you are helping shape the faith lives of countless Catholics for generations to come.

Thank you for your continued prayers, generosity, and belief in the mission of Notre Dame Seminary. May God bless you abundantly for your support and draw you ever closer to the Heart of His Son.

In Christ’s, peace,

Very Reverend Joshua J. Rodrigue, S.T.L.
Rector/President