General Posts

Set apart for the sacred: Saint Paul Seminary Class of 2025 prepares for priestly ordination

This spring and summer, thirteen men formed at The Saint Paul Seminary will be ordained to the priesthood in five dioceses across the Upper Midwest and East Coast. These ordinations mark the culmination of years of formation and the beginning of a lifelong mission: to serve Christ and His Church through the sacraments, preaching, and pastoral care. As public signs of hope and renewal, these sacred moments celebrate the transformative call to act in the person of Christ.

Group of seminarians standing together and smiling

11 seminarians from The Saint Paul Seminary to be ordained transitional deacons this spring

This spring, 11 seminarians from The Saint Paul Seminary will take a major step toward becoming Catholic priests as they are ordained transitional deacons. Representing six dioceses across the Upper Midwest, these men are entering the final stage of their formation and preparing to serve the Church in a new and deeper way.

Statement from Saint Paul Seminary rector on election of Pope Leo XIV

This moment calls each of us to renewed prayer, unity and evangelization. It also renews our seminary’s commitment to forming joyful, Catholic leaders who will serve the Church in communion with the successor of St. Peter. As seminarians, deacon candidates, lay leaders, faculty and staff gather in our chapel, classrooms, and offices, we do so with a sharpened awareness of the times in which we live — an era that demands courage, holiness and hope.

professor for seminary

Dr. Mark Giszczak joins Saint Paul Seminary faculty

The Saint Paul Seminary is pleased to welcome Dr. Mark Giszczak (“GEESE-check”) as its new professor of Sacred Scripture. A seasoned Biblical scholar and author, Giszczak brings more than a decade of teaching experience and a deep passion for helping Catholics engage with God’s Word. His arrival marks an exciting step forward in the seminary’s mission to form faithful, theologically grounded leaders for the Church.

fr scott padrnos mass cambodia

2022 Saint Paul Seminary alumnus spreads Catholic faith — at home and halfway across the world

Fr. Scott Padrnos balances his ministry in Minnesota with missionary work in Cambodia, sharing the Gospel with those who have never heard the name of Jesus.

deacon candidates processing in for ordination mass

How to discern a vocation to the Catholic diaconate

Discerning a vocation to the diaconate is a profound journey of faith and service, requiring prayerful reflection, guidance, and active involvement in your faith community. 

Leaders serving leaders: How The Saint Paul Seminary forms priests long after ordination

Fr. Jim Livingston sits at his desk and glances at the stack of papers sandwiched between the Church of St. Paul’s wedding liturgy guide and the Rite of Christian Burial book. He started his day at breakfast with two parishioner couples, discussed some important internal topics with his parish staff, and hosted a local deanery meeting in the afternoon. He’s preparing for a funeral tomorrow and his homily at Mass this Sunday. He’ll celebrate Mass and hear confessions this evening.

fr joseph taphorn saint paul seminary rector

Saint Paul Seminary rector: Empowering priests to lead and serve in a changing world

As we begin a new year of forming leaders for the Church, we are incredibly blessed to have welcomed 91 seminarians, representing 19 different dioceses and religious orders. The fact that so many are responding to the Lord’s call is a great blessing as we acknowledge the need for many strong and faithful priests in the Church today.

Watch: Saint Paul Seminary alum Fr. Mike Schmitz on the Eucharist, his seminary days and liturgy

Fr. Mike Schmitz, host of the Bible in a Year and Catechism in a Year podcasts and a contributor to Ascension, served as a keynote speaker at the 2024 National Eucharistic Congress in Indianapolis. Before that, he met with reporters to answer questions ranging from how to minister to youth online to how to celebrate the Catholic liturgy.

fathers john, frankie and louie floeder

Meet the Floeders: Fr. Frankie Floeder becomes third priest in a family full of religious vocations

When Deacon Francis “Frankie” Floeder became Fr. Frankie in May, he followed in the footsteps of his uncle Fr. John, director of human formation and the propaedeutic stage program at The Saint Paul Seminary, and older brother Fr. Louie, a fellow seminary alumnus and pastor of the Church of St. Dominic in Northfield, Minnesota.