Dr. Derrick Crim recently completed a year as scholar in residence at The Saint Paul Seminary. A longtime adjunct professor at the seminary, Crim has spent the 2023-24 academic year spearheading efforts around cultural empathy and preparing future priests, deacons and lay leaders to minister to those facing traumatic situations.
Catholic Rural Life – and, in many ways, The Saint Paul Seminary – exists to make rural ministry easier. The organization with offices in the seminary’s Archbishop Ireland Memorial Library is celebrating its 100th anniversary this spring, a century of equipping Catholics in rural America to know, love and serve Christ while leading their neighbors to do the same.
Justin Shay, principal at Ave Maria Academy in Maple Grove, Minnesota, has been hired as program director for the seminary’s Certificate in Catholic School Leadership. The certificate program alumnus will replace Dr. Pamela Patnode, who has overseen significant growth and impact since joining the seminary in 2021.
Saint Paul Seminary Rector Fr. Joseph Taphorn joins seminary instructor and renowned catechist Jeff Cavins on his “The Bible in a Year and More” show by Ascension to offer insights on navigating the trials that come with life this side of eternity.
Bishop Robert Barron recently visited The Saint Paul Seminary to share biblical perspectives on the Catholic priesthood. “The central theme of Scripture is right praise,” he told the seminary community, and priests “knit together the universe” by leading this right praise.
Josh French walks into Cottage Grove Ice Arena, a black and purple Minnesota State hockey bag slung over his shoulder. It’s one of the many Twin Cities rinks the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis seminarian frequented while he grew up. Today, the former Division I hockey player and professional prospect is meeting his older brother for an early-afternoon skate and a trip back — and forward — in time.
Jesus is quoted in the Gospel of Matthew as saying “I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, a stranger and you welcomed me (chapter 25, verse 35).” It’s these type of humbling, sometimes uncomfortable situations that have become a key component of early seminarian formation – aimed at bringing a man outside of himself so he can become better disposed to discern whether God is calling him to the priesthood.
Matt Birk grew up just over a mile down Cretin Avenue from The Saint Paul Seminary. Yet the former NFL center turned Minnesota renaissance man never thought he’d be spending much time inside the seminary’s walls.
Any honest leader will admit it’s a gig that comes with stress. Fr. Joseph Taphorn found one way to manage it: running the various paths and trails Memorial and Elmwood Park in Omaha have to offer.
Sixteen players, 24 seminarian fans and five priests made the five-hour drive to St. Francis de Sales Seminary in Milwaukee for the fourth annual De Sales Invitational Feb. 9-11. The event has become one of the seminary’s favorite traditions in a short time.