The Vianney Way

A person with vision overcomes challenges and accomplishes what may seem impossible. St. John Vianney was a man with such vision—he had a deep desire to become a priest, yet he faced significant obstacles, including a limited formal education that left him unprepared for seminary.

Despite struggling with Latin lectures, he never gave up. His vision of becoming a priest led him to seek private tutoring, and after much perseverance, he was finally ordained.

Throughout his life, St. John Vianney was called to accomplish "impossible" tasks. As pastor of the parish in Ars, he encountered a community that was indifferent and comfortable in their ways. His unwavering vision led him to sacrifice greatly, enduring long fasts and sleepless nights to guide and inspire others.

With Catherine Lassagne and Benedicta Lardet, he founded La Providence, a home for girls. Only someone with such a strong vision and trust in God's providence could have believed that He would provide for the spiritual and material needs of everyone at La Providence.

One of St. John Vianney’s most remarkable achievements was his work as a confessor. In the winter, he spent 11 to 12 hours a day reconciling people with God; in the summer, this increased to 16 hours a day. His dedication to this calling shows the incredible devotion he had to his vision of priestly service.

Many people look forward to retirement, hoping to relax and enjoy the things they missed earlier in life. Not St. John Vianney. As his reputation grew, he continued to dedicate more hours to serving God's people, without ever thinking of stepping back.

In 1929, Pope Pius XI declared St. John Vianney the patron of parish priests worldwide. His life is a powerful reminder to our students and our community that with vision and trust in God, anything is possible. As a Catholic community, we are committed to living our faith and developing independent thinkers, just as St. John Vianney did. When we say, "it's the Vianney way," we are referring to a life led by faith, service, and excellence—principles we live by each day at St. John Vianney Regional School.