Almost half the seminarian population at The Saint Paul Seminary hopped on a bus bound for Milwaukee on Friday morning.
A handful of the potential future priests competed against 12 other seminaries in the annual De Sales Invitational basketball tournament over the weekend. The rest, including several priest faculty and staff, were there to cheer them on in the fourth annual event.
“The De Sales Invitational was a great experience of faith and friendship,” Rector Fr. Joseph Taphord said. “Underneath the experience of sport and healthy competition was a spirit of brotherhood that reminds the seminarians that they are preparing to join a fraternity much larger than any one seminary, that of the priesthood of Jesus Christ. It’s worth investing in a weekend like this; it strengthens our own sense of fraternity at The Saint Paul Seminary and our men are better for having encountered God and brother seminarians from across the country in prayer and in recreation.”
The Saint Paul Seminary fell in the quarterfinals after losing last year’s title game.
The event is hosted each year by defending champion St. Francis de Sales in St. Francis, a Milwaukee suburb near Lake Michigan.
Those interested can learn more and view the full tournament bracket.