Every Catholic priest has a chalice. And every chalice has a story. Newly ordained priests Fr. Nathaniel Daubner (Diocese of St. Cloud, Minnesota), Fr. Timothy Welch (Diocese of Winona-Rochester, Minnesota), Fr. Randall Skeate (Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis) and Fr. Benjamin Peters (Diocese of Winona-Rochester) share theirs.
This spring and summer, 12 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.
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.
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.
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 balances his ministry in Minnesota with missionary work in Cambodia, sharing the Gospel with those who have never heard the name of Jesus.
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.
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.
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.
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.