St. Jogues Seminarian Project

Summer 2025: May 30 - August 8

Actual Schedule Can be Flexible - See Summer Itinerary Below

The St. Jogues Seminarian Project is an intentionally crafted program designed to address the Church's growing need to nurture priestly hearts devoted to the service of Christ. Drawing inspiration from St. Isaac Jogues, the heroic priest martyr of the North American wilderness, the project strives to support vocation directors and seminary formators in cultivating men who are strong, humble, and prayerful—a potent force for Christ in America. Through leadership training, personal development in the backcountry, and practical opportunities for ministry, COR aims to develop physical endurance, intentional brotherhood, mental tenacity, and experiences that facilitate human formation. With the St. Jogues Seminarian Project COR hopes to contribute to the Church by helping to prepare seminarians to embrace the daily self-sacrifice of priesthood.

Principle Elements of the Project

  • Regular Prayer and Sacraments

  • Young adult, high school, and family ministry opportunities

  • Leadership and mental tenacity training

  • Intentional fraternity and deep brotherhood

  • Relational ministry with the poor of Denver

Who is a good fit?

Seminarians promoted by their diocese who desire deep and intentional human and spiritual formation experiences. The summer project is designed and directed towards college seminarians or seminarians entering their first years of formation. Seminarians must be prepared to endure rigorous physical challenges in wilderness environments, practice extreme mental tenacity, and intentionally pursue Christ in their spiritual life.

The Project Namesake

The courageous missionary and martyr of the North American wilderness, St. Isaac Jogues, was born in France and eagerly entered Jesuit formation as a young man. As a young priest his deepest desire was to join his brethren in their evangelization efforts in the New World. Throughout his priestly life, he followed the Lord’s call to dedicate himself to the native peoples of North America, embodying unwavering faith and selfless service.

Despite enduring captivity and harrowing torture, St. Isaac Jogues fearlessly proclaimed the Gospel, leaving an enduring legacy through his resilience, humility, and profound prayer. Inspired by his masculinity, courage, tenacity, and humility, COR dedicates this seminarian project to St. Isaac Jogues in hopes of imitating the North American martyrs who answered the Lord’s call to enter the spiritual wilderness of their time.

“My confidence is placed in God, who does not need our help for accomplishing His designs. Our single endeavor should be to give ourselves to the work and be faithful to Him, and not spoil His work by our shortcomings.” ~St. Isaac Jogues

Summer Itinerary

May 30 - August 8

The St. Jogues Seminarian Project will welcome 6-12 seminarians to the COR Expeditions headquarters here in the foothills of the Wind River Mountains. Following their arrival, these men will form an intentional brotherhood and embark on a 3-week wilderness expedition designed exclusively for the seminarians partaking in the summer project. They will live in community as they join COR missionaries on adventure retreats serving high school students, families, and young adults and attend a week-long mission trip befriending the homeless with Christ in the City. Some elements of the program will have set dates while others are more flexible and can be arranged around other diocesan requirements and seminarian obligations.

  • 3-week wilderness expedition in mountain or desert environments

  • 3 days of wilderness medicine and risk management training in high intensity medical scenarios

  • 1-2 weeks of young adult, high school, and/or family ministry

  • 1-week mission trip serving the poor in Denver with missionaries from Christ in the City

  • 1 week of vacation - optional depending on diocesan and personal needs

3-Week Seminarian Expedition

  • Backpacking 5-8 miles per day with heavy packs in complex terrain, including off trail. Other activities may include rock climbing and desert canyoneering.

  • Training in the wilderness skills necessary to thrive in a backcountry environment

  • Leadership, tolerance for adversity, and decision making training

  • Daily feedback from the instructor team and peers on hard skills, leadership, teaching pedagogy, and risk management

  • Formation and training to assist COR missionaries on future trips with young adults, families, and high school students

  • Opportunity for seminarians to share their story with each other in a deep and intentional environment

Spiritual Formation

  • Intentional discussions surrounding leadership, brotherhood, the role of beauty in evangelization, and identity as beloved sons of the Father

  • Daily Mass and sacramental life

  • Silent retreat day in the wilderness

  • Spiritual direction and conversation with multiple COR chaplains attending trips

  • Deep groundedness in identity formation

The Application Process

Apply online! Applications will be accepted until March 1 or until all spots are filled. Apply early to guarantee your spot! The Application Form will ask a variety of multiple-choice questions about your current stage of formation, what aspects of the Project you are excited for or nervous about, and includes a few short answer questions. After you complete the application form, you will be prompted to send two reference request forms directly from our registration process, one to your Formation Advisor and one to your Vocations Director, and submit contact information for a 3rd reference. Please have their contact information available. A member from the COR team will welcome you to a virtual interview following the submission of your application. If you have questions or want to talk to a member of the COR staff before you apply, please contact us!

Cost of the Program

$5,700 per seminarian

Payment is not required until your application has been accepted. Opportunities for fundraising and scholarships are available. Please inquire at info@corexpeditions.org

  • Are the dates for the Jogues Seminarian Project flexible?

    Due to the backpacking portion at the beginning of the summer, it is easier for COR to make accommodations for schedule adjustments after July 2nd. Please contact a team member about specific scheduling alterations to see whether COR is able to accommodate your needs.

    Do I need experience?

    No prior experience with camping or any of our adventure activities is required for participation in the COR Jogues Seminarian Project. Our professional instructors will teach you everything you need to know to participate in each activity safely and not only survive, but thrive in each wilderness environment.

    Do I need to exercise to prepare for the summer project?

    Although you do not need to be a superstar athlete to participate, it is essential that you come with proper conditioning prior to your trip. Willingness to endure extreme physical demands is necessary, especially if you are coming from a sedentary life-style and/or lower elevations.

    What can I expect for the week with Christ in the City?

    The week will give you the opportunity to dive into life as a CIC missionary. This will include some training/talks given by the missionaries, street walks, lunch with the homeless, daily prayer and mass, opportunity for confession, community meals, and diving into relationships with other mission participants through community night and spending free time with missionaries.

    When is payment due?

    A 20% deposit is required after you have been accepted to the COR JSP. Payment in full is due by May 10th.

    For more frequently asked questions, visit our FAQ page.

  • A comprehensive packing list will be provided once your application has been accepted. In the meantime, you can view our Packing Info page to get an idea of what you will need to bring.

  • For more information about scholarships and financial aid offered, please contact us.