By Carl Bunderson
Over the course of its 25 years, half of the priests formed at St. John Vianney Theological Seminary have served dioceses other than Denver. Among the creative ways of providing for those seminarians’ tuition is the Diocese of Gallup’s V8s for Vocations program.
Since its 1999 founding, St. John Vianney has formed 203 priests: 103 for the Archdiocese of Denver, and 100 for other dioceses and orders. The cost of secular college and graduate education has increased substantially, and seminary tuition has faced similar pressures.
Deacon Aaron Alford, who was ordained for the Gallup diocese April 5, has been studying theology at St. John Vianney since autumn 2020, and will return for one more year before he is ordained a priest. He is currently assisting at All Souls parish in Englewood.
“I can hardly express how good SJV has been for me, what a great experience it’s been to be there,” he said. “There’s a real joy there among the seminarians and the faculty, it feels like a place where you can grow in your relationship with the Lord and with your brothers, develop those relationships that will last throughout your priesthood, even if you’re not in the same diocese.”
His seminary tuition and housing, and that of Gallup’s other seminarians, is fundraised through V8s for Vocations: raffling off classic muscle cars that have been either purchased or restored by a priest of the Gallup diocese, with the help of seminarians and local car lovers. The money from each $25 raffle ticket goes to support seminarian education.
A mission diocese, Gallup is the nation’s poorest. It spans northern New Mexico and Arizona, and has a large indigenous population, including the Navajo Nation.
Father Matthew Keller, now pastor of St. Teresa parish in Grants, N.M., began V8s for Vocations after a parishioner donated a beat up 1972 Chevrolet Chevelle SS in 2014.
He grew up with a love for fixing up cars, and expected he would have to put that behind him when he discerned a vocation to the priesthood. But as he prayed and reflected, he realized God had let him develop those skills to use them for the sake of the Kingdom.
With the donation of the Chevelle, he saw a way to reach out to the unchurched in Gallup. From there, a friend realized the potential to support vocations through the fraternity of mechanics.
Deacon Alford said it’s great “to see how connected everybody is” to V8s for Vocations in Gallup. “One of the guys who Fr. Keller connected with in restoring the last couple vehicles, he was just received into the Church at Easter.”
“It’s very humbling to know what people are doing to make this program happen,” he reflected. “They’re volunteering their time, and it’s been really special, it’s very perfect for our diocese, the way it came together with Fr. Keller’s vision, how connected he is with his community.”
While Gallup seminarians sometimes work on the restorations, Deacon Alford said that “You probably wouldn’t want me to work on any of the cars. But I’ve had the chance to sit in them and drive a couple of them … I really shouldn’t go near the engines, but I sure have appreciated them.”
Among the cars that have been raffled through V8s for Vocations are a 1969 Pontiac Firebird convertible, a 1978 Pontiac Trans Am, a 1957 Ford Thunderbird, a 1967 Chevrolet C-10, and a 1970 Mercury Cyclone Spoiler.
This year’s prize? A 1956 Ford Thunderbird hardtop convertible. It has a 312 cubic inch Y-block V8 engine, a 3-speed Ford-O-Matic Transmission, Continental Kit, and is dressed in Buckskin Tan paint with matching Saddle Brown Interior. They will also “Pay the Taxes.”
The raffle will be held June 1 during the Sacred Heart Spanish Market at Gallup’s Sacred Heart Cathedral. Winners need not be present.
You can also support seminarian education inside the Archdiocese and celebrate the 25th anniversary of St. John Vianney Theological Seminary by donating to the Annual Seminaries Appeal.