In January 2024, seminarians from St. John Vianney Theological Seminary were reportedly woken during a ski retreat and brought one by one into a staged ceremony featuring a person in a yeti costume, a dagger and an apparent bloodied prop. The Archdiocese of Denver reportedly concluded that it was an inappropriate prank—not a real oath or evidence of a “Yeti cult.” The exorcist detail came from separate reporting attributed to a priest familiar with the incident.
What reportedly happened at the retreat?
The incident took place during a January 2024 ski retreat involving seminarians from St. John Vianney Theological Seminary. In its July 2025 investigation, The Pillar reported that seminarians were awakened at night and individually invited into a staged “blood oath” scene. The scene involved a person in a yeti costume, a dagger and what appeared to be blood. The Pillar said it had viewed video of part of the incident. The accessible reproduction of The Pillar’s report is dated July 17, 2025.
Reporting put the number of seminarians involved at approximately 15. That is The Pillar’s reported count, not an official statistical release from the Archdiocese. Yahoo News’ July 19, 2025 coverage also summarized the incident.
Did the Archdiocese find that an oath or bodily harm occurred?
No, according to the Archdiocese’s findings as quoted in The Pillar’s report. The Archdiocese reportedly described the episode as a farce and said: “It was, however, part of a deeply imprudent and inappropriate prank.” The same reported statement said its investigation found “that no oath had taken place, and at no time was there risk of bodily harm.” These are the Archdiocese’s words as reproduced in reporting; the incident-specific statement itself was not directly available for independent verification.
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That distinction matters: the staged scene was described as an apparent blood ritual, but the reported investigation did not substantiate a real oath, a cult, or a risk of physical injury. The available reporting concerns one retreat incident and does not establish a recurring group or broader pattern.
Why did reports say an exorcist was involved?
The exorcist account has a different source from the Archdiocese’s reported investigation findings. Coverage said a priest familiar with the events told The Pillar that an exorcist prayed with the seminarians and that they formally renounced the purported oath. Futurism’s July 19, 2025 report covered that account.
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That reported pastoral response does not mean the Archdiocese concluded that a supernatural oath or “Yeti cult” existed. In the account quoted by The Pillar, the Archdiocese’s investigation found that no oath had taken place.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What consequences for seminary leadership were reported?
The Pillar’s reporting described changes to leadership roles after the incident. It said priest John Nepil was removed from a formator or house-father role and later served as vice-rector through the end of the 2024–25 academic year. The report also said the seminary rector was replaced earlier than planned. Nepil was quoted as saying he had “acknowledged [his] imprudence, apologized to the archbishop and the seminarians involved.” These personnel details come from reporting, rather than a directly verified Archdiocesan announcement.
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