Archive Posts
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In the News: Sister Mary Micaela Hoffmann on the Journey to Her Vocation
In the NewsSister Mary Micaela Hoffmann, theology instructor at The Saint Paul Seminary at the University of St. Thomas, recently shared her insights with The Catholic Spirit on discovering her vocation and discernment within the Church. From the story: “My story starts with my family who were Catholic, and my grandparents, my mom’s parents, with whom we…
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The Saint Paul Seminary’s Newest Permanent Deacons Live Secular Lives, Too
Faith and MissionThe Saint Paul Seminary’s 2023 class of permanent diaconate is one of the largest ever in archdiocese history. Bishop Joseph Williams ordained 18 men in December 2023 as permanent deacons for the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis at the Cathedral of St. Paul. In the Catholic Church, deacons belong to the diaconate, one of… -
VIDEO: What Is Catholic Seminary Actually Like?
Faith and MissionEver wonder what life is like for seminarians? Well, in this video, seminarian J.P. Thornton provides a behind-the-scenes look at the life of a seminarian at The Saint Paul Seminary. Thornton captures a full day at the seminary, from 6:30 a.m. holy hour to when he goes to bed. Within the business of prayer time,… -
Saints Among Us: Saint Paul Seminary Home to Several Rare Relics
Faith and MissionJust a 10-minute walk around the interior of St. Mary’s Chapel at The Saint Paul Seminary can be transformative – especially if you know where to look. Benjamin Peters does. As the seminary’s head sexton, the Diocese of Winona-Rochester seminarian is responsible for many of the physical items inside the chapel. That includes six saintly… -
Faith, Fraternity and Football: The Rector’s Bowl
Faith and MissionThe Saint Paul Seminary and Saint John Vianney College Seminary square off each fall in a game of flag football at the University of St. Thomas’ O’Shaughnessy Stadium. The Rectors’ Bowl is an annual celebration of both seminaries and the bonds that unite their communities as places of formation for men discerning the priesthood. “The… -
Saint Paul Seminary Bucks National Trend With 100 Seminarians in 2023-24
Faith and MissionEven amid reports of declining priestly vocations, The Saint Paul Seminary began the 2023-24 academic year with its largest seminarian enrollment in a decade. Once again, over 1,000 future priests, deacons and lay leaders began formation at the seminary this fall. The 129-year-old seminary on the banks of the Mississippi River at the University of… -
Meet the New Priests Forming the Next Generation of Clergy
Faith and MissionOn an early September day that feels like summer in Minnesota despite school being back in session, Father Nels Gjendahl greets every undergraduate student he meets during a walk across the University of St. Thomas campus. Many of them return his “hello” and smile with a grin or nod of their own. Others have AirPods… -
Saint Paul Seminary Remembers Spiritual Director Father Jeff Huard
Faith and MissionThe Saint Paul Seminary warmly remembers and asks for prayers for the repose of the soul of the Reverend Jeffrey Huard. The seminary spiritual director passed away unexpectedly Nov. 17 at age 68. From 2009 until 2021, Huard served as director of spiritual formation at the seminary; after stepping down from this leadership role, he… -
Dr. Pamela Patnode of The Saint Paul Seminary Shares Insights on Catholic Education
Faith and MissionDr. Pamela Patnode, program director for Certificate in Catholic School Leadership at The Saint Paul Seminary, has provided her perspectives in several talks to the Catholic educational community. She was the keynote speaker for Chesterton Schools Network National Conference (Minneapolis) and a workshop presenter at the Duc In Altum Schools Summit (Washington, D.C.). Patnode also… -
A Time of Renewal: How the Eucharistic Revival Is Changing Local, National Church
Faith and MissionFlorian, Minnesota, doesn’t even show up on Wikipedia’s list of cities in the Land of 10,000 Lakes. The unincorporated town of 400 is 52 miles straight north of Crookston and about the exact same distance south of the Canadian border. Diocese of Crookston Bishop Andrew Cozzens calls it “a little town with a little Church…