Archive Posts
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PHOTOS: Our Lady of Guadalupe Celebration
Faith and MissionThe Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, celebrated on Dec. 12, drew a large crowd at the University of St. Thomas for a bilingual Mass at the Chapel of St. Thomas Aquinas. The annual tradition on the St. Paul campus was followed by a procession with a framed image of Our Lady of Guadalupe to…
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Renewing the Culture Through Catholic Education
Faith and MissionSomething significant is happening in Catholic education today. In their 2023–24 annual report, the National Catholic Education Association shares that “amidst societal upheaval and educational instability, Catholic schools have emerged as beacons of stability, reversing years of enrollment decline.” Yet tucked inside the positive news, Catholic schools increasingly face the challenge Jesus gave the apostles:… -
Love Thy Students
Faith and MissionExcerpt from Logos: A Journal of Catholic Thought and Culture 27, no. 4 (Fall 2024) I once asked a colleague whether he loved his students. “I love them like I love my enemies,” he replied. That was meant as a joke, of course, but there was also something sincere about his reply. For Christians really… -
Yeast or Frosting: Two Competing Visions of Catholic Education
Faith and MissionThe metaphor of “yeast” can serve as a model for Catholic education. Yeast is an agent of infusion, integration and penetration that transforms the flour into which it is introduced. Frosting, on the other hand, does not penetrate the cake, but only layers itself on top. These two metaphors capture in a simple – but… -
Mary in Rome
Faith and MissionI fell in love with Mary while a graduate student visiting the Uffizi Gallery in Florence. Standing in front of Simone Martini’s “Annunciation,” I was astonished by the role of Mary in the story of salvation. I stared at the painting, studying Mary’s gaze, until the museum closed. After I began teaching at the University… -
PHOTOS: Catholic Studies Summer Alumni Event
AlumniOn Aug. 23, 2024, more than 350 alumni and their families gathered on campus for a class reunion-style event. Bluegrass music, conversation and joy filled the room. This story is featured in the winter 2025 issue of Lumen. -
Saint Paul Seminary Professor Receives Prestigious Henri de Lubac Prize
Faith and MissionSaint Paul Seminary formator and assistant professor of dogmatic theology Father Evan Koop has been awarded the 2024 Henri de Lubac Prize for his doctoral dissertation. The award recognizes Koop’s research into Mary’s participation in Christ’s redemptive suffering on the cross. The award was presented Nov. 22 during a ceremony at Villa Bonaparte, the French… -
19 Saint Paul Seminary Seminarians Take Step Toward Priesthood as Acolytes
Faith and MissionFifteen men were instituted as acolytes at The Saint Paul Seminary, with four others installed in their home dioceses, marking a significant milestone on their path to priesthood. On Monday, Oct. 28, The Saint Paul Seminary celebrated the institution of 15 seminarians as acolytes during a special Mass in St. Mary’s Chapel. Bishop Patrick Neary… -
Saint Paul Seminary Priest Wellness Coordinator’s Client List Doubles in Less Than Two Years
Faith and MissionSusan Torborg has crafted a priest-specific health and wellness program at The Saint Paul Seminary. Leaders at The Saint Paul Seminary have long held that priestly formation doesn’t end at ordination. The seminary has taken a significant step in fostering the well-being of its priests through the role of Susan Torborg, its priest wellness coordinator.… -
Seminary Director of Counseling Services Observes Shift as Priests Prioritize Mental Health
Faith and MissionSaint Paul Seminary director of counseling services and assistant director of human formation Paul Ruff says he has “the best seat in the house” when it comes to priests growing even after ordination. Early during The Saint Paul Seminary’s 30-day renewal retreat for priests this past summer, seminary director of counseling services Paul Ruff asked…