On behalf of The Saint Paul Seminary, I wish to congratulate Deacon Michael McGinty, who was appointed by Archbishop Bernard Hebda as the next Director of Catholic Education and Superintendent of Schools for the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis. Deacon Michael McGinty was ordained a deacon in 2023 after completing his formation at The […]
The Saint Paul Seminary is set to begin the 2025-26 academic year with a milestone 106 seminarians, matching the highest enrollment since 1979. This marks a 12-year high for the institution and highlights its growing role as a regional center for priestly, diaconal and lay formation.
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.