Through this most recent deal, the remainder of the Brighton property, save St. John’s Seminary, will belong to Boston College. Bishop Peterson Hall, which is attached to St. John’s Seminary, is intended as the future home of the Weston Jesuit School of Theology.

It is expected that BC will remove the Chancery and Creagh Library buildings and will build new facilities, including undergraduate student housing, a parking garage, a baseball stadium and softball fields, academic offices, classrooms, a museum and an auditorium.

Although the archdiocese will maintain ownership of St. John’s Seminary, Boston College has agreed to oversee building maintenance and capital improvement as well as provide security, telephone, Internet and food services at cost. The college will also maintain St. John’s Seminary library, a separate building located next to the seminary. Seminary faculty and students will still have access to that building.

Cardinal O’Malley reiterated his long-standing commitment to St. John’s Seminary in the statement.

“The future is bright for St. John's, strengthened by the participation of dioceses from throughout our region,” he said. “The Church has been blessed with a significant increase in the number of young men who have expressed interest in priesthood and religious life. Earlier this year close to 100 men attended discernment retreats.”

Additionally, the cardinal thanked Boston College for assisting in rebuilding the local Church.

“On behalf of the archdiocese, I wish to express my gratitude to Boston College, which has been a good friend and neighbor to the archdiocese,” he said.

Boston College president William P. Leahy, S.J. called the transaction a “win-win” for the archdiocese, the seminary, BC and the neighborhood.

“A strong and healthy Archdiocese of Boston can better serve not only the Catholic community, but also wider society,” he said.