Archive Posts
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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…
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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… -
How Is the Eucharist the Real Presence of Christ?
Faith and MissionHow can Catholics say what looks like bread and wine is actually Jesus Himself? What is the Eucharist? The better question: Who is the Eucharist? The Catholic Church teaches that the Holy Eucharist – the bread and wine transformed into Jesus’ Body and Blood at every Mass – contains the whole spiritual good of the… -
Chalice Stories
Faith and MissionEvery priest has a vocation as unique as the cup he uses to consecrate the Blood of Christ When Barbara Kratt was growing up in the Twin Cities, she and her family’s favorite pastor was Father Francis Pouliot. The late priest spent his final years at the Leo C. Byrne Residence for retired clergymen adjacent… -
VIDEO: Why Do Priests Wear Black with a White Collar?
Quotes from the QuadThere is a long history behind why Catholic priests wear a black clerical suit with a white collar. "It was a gradual process," says Father Evan Koop, dean of men at the St. Paul Seminary, which sits on the south campus of the University of St. Thomas. He says originally, priests wore the same clothes… -
Seminary Supports Local Synod Implementation via Formation, Reflection, Evangelization
Faith and MissionPatty McQuillan fit the stereotype of a rock-solid, Upper Midwestern Catholic. Full-blooded Irishwoman. Devoted wife with a faithful husband. Six kids. Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis office of vocations coordinator – essentially a third arm and a second brain for Director of Vocations Father David Blume. Frequent Bible study, prayer group and apostolate participant.…