It sounds like the beginning of a Catholic inside joke.
“So a rector, two priests, a seminarian and a propaedeutic year aspirant sign up for a race … ”
There’s no punchline here, though. The rest of the statement is much more human than humorous.
They run. They run a long, long way.
Saint Paul Seminary Rector Father Joseph Taphorn continued what’s become something of a tradition Sunday, running in the Twin Cities marathon alongside two men currently discerning priesthood at The Saint Paul Seminary and three more SPS alums who now serve as parish priests in the Saint Paul-Minneapolis Archdiocese. Saint John Vianney College Seminary member Bailey Peterson, SPS propaedeutic year aspirant Dominic Wolters, Fr. Luke Marquard (Good Shepherd, Golden Valley), Fr. Paul Hedman (Church of St. Peter, Forest Lake) and Fr. Kyle Kowalczyk (St. Maximilian Kolbe, Delano) joined Taphorn in the 26.2-mile race in Minneapolis and St. Paul.
It was Taphorn’s fourth marathon and second Twin Cities race where he’s joined fellow priests and seminarians. At the age of 50, he finished in 4 hours, 28 minutes and 11 seconds.
Fr. Taphorn also celebrated Mass will fellow runners before the race at St. Olaf Catholic Church in Minneapolis.