John Corcoran is a sports fan, and whether it's Harvard, the New England Patriots, or the Boston Red Sox, you can be sure that he is cheering on his favorite teams every weekend. But John also is a fan of another group of men who live in the quiet, small town of Weston. In addition to being the founder and president of Trinity Partners, a global life sciences consulting company, John Corcoran is on the Board of the Catholic Leadership Institute, and for the past two years has been a member of the board for Pope St. John XXIII National Seminary.

John and Julie Corcoran, who live in Essex on the North Shore with their four daughters Rose, Lillian, Clara and Eleanor, are the chairpersons of this year's 35th Annual "Lawn Party" Gala to be held on the grounds of the seminary on Sept. 28 beginning at 6:00 p.m.

John Corcoran has over 20 years of consulting experience in pharmaceuticals and biotechnology. He was graduated from Harvard College with an AB in history, magna cum laude; Northeastern University with an MA; and the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard with an MCRP.

John and Julie Corcoran were called to the vocation of marriage but he has a passion to help men who are called to a different vocation. Despite all the time and treasure he generously gives to his volunteer activities, the most important to him is his work, "in recruiting and educating future priests."

"I can't be more blunt about it," he explained, "I want to increase the visibility of Pope St. John XXIII National Seminary to attract more men to the seminary. It's all about vocations."

Pope St. John XXIII National Seminary, established in 1964 by Cardinal Richard J. Cushing, is the nation's only seminary run by diocesan priests that caters to older, second-career seminarians called to be diocesan priests. Men from all walks of life, including engineers, doctors, servicemen, lawyers, police, financial advisors -- even men with children -- who find themselves single again, have answered God's call. As the parable of the laborers in the vineyard reminds us, some men are called early in the day and others are called later in the day. The seminary boasts nearly 700 graduates who serve all over the world.

The Lawn Party will be hosted by Bishop Robert P. Reed who will introduce the seminary's new rector, Father Brian R. Kiely. Several hundred people will gather inside a huge white tent filled with tables festively decorated for the seminary's annual fundraiser. Cocktails and hors d'oeuvres will be served with music in the background, while donors and benefactors mingle with the seminarians and faculty in an atmosphere of thanksgiving and hope for the future. Proceeds help the seminary keep the costs of educating these future priests affordable.

John and Julie Corcoran are members of St. John the Baptist Parish, but want the world to know about Pope St. John XXIII National Seminary. John Corcoran thinks he has found a winning team and "we don't want to keep it a secret."

For information or tickets to the Lawn Party gala, contact Kate Folan, associate director of Institutional Advancement, at 781-899-5500. The seminary website is www.psjs.edu.