Archbishop Vigneron Names New Rector and President for Sacred Heart Major Seminary

November 24, 2020

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

For over one hundred years, Sacred Heart Major Seminary in Detroit has been, in a very real sense, the heart of our local Church. It has formed priests, deacons, and laypersons to be heralds of the Gospel and missionaries of the New Evangelization in southeast Michigan and beyond. I write to you today to share the news that Monsignor Todd Lajiness has accepted my request to make himself available for an assignment to a Family of Parishes in the Archdiocese of Detroit and thus will complete his term as Rector and President of Sacred Heart on June 30, 2021. In addition, I have appointed Father Stephen Burr as the next Rector and President and Father Charles Fox as the next Vice-Rector.

More information about these appointments is available on the seminary’s website.

While the details of Monsignor Lajiness’ upcoming parish assignment will be announced at a later date, I am confident that he will bring the same sure and steady leadership to a Family of Parishes as he has shown during his eight years as Rector and President at Sacred Heart. In both Father Burr and Father Fox, we have two prayerful and dedicated priests who will continue the great mission of Sacred Heart of preparing the next generation of priests, deacons, and lay ministers for our archdiocese.

I am profoundly grateful for the ministry of all three of these disciples and for their having embraced these new roles in service of the mission of the Archdiocese of Detroit. Please join me in offering prayers of thanksgiving for their lives, as well as for the work done and the work to be done. In the words of Blessed Solanus Casey, let us thank God ahead of time for the many fruits that will flow from these appointments.

Sincerely yours in Christ,

The Most Reverend Allen H. Vigneron

Archbishop of Detroit