More than 1,000 future priests, deacons and lay leaders in formation as Church moves through Jubilee Year themed ‘Pilgrims of Hope’
Briefly
- 106 seminarians from 17 dioceses and religious orders mark the seminary’s highest enrollment in over a decade; only one other time since 1979 (2013) has the institution began a year with this many men in formation for the Catholic priesthood.
- More than 1,000 future priests, deacons and lay leaders will receive formation through The Saint Paul Seminary in 2025-26.
- The seminary’s mission aligns with the Catholic Church’s Jubilee Year of Hope, a time of grace, forgiveness and spiritual renewal.
The Saint Paul Seminary began the 2025-26 academic year with a milestone 106 seminarians, matching the largest 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.
Once again, more than 1,000 men and women will receive formation this year through the seminary’s various offerings.
The year also coincides with the Church’s Jubilee Year, a global celebration of mercy and renewal called by the late Pope Francis and continued by Pope Leo XIV under the theme “Pilgrims of Hope.”
“There’s an incredible sense of purpose in being formed for the priesthood at this moment in the Church. With everything going on in the world, it’s exciting to be part of a generation ready to proclaim Christ with clarity, charity and conviction.” — Deacon Cullen Gallagher, Diocese of Winona-Rochester seminarian
“Forming future priests, deacons and lay leaders is arguably the most important work of our time,” seminary rector Fr. Joseph Taphorn said. “We aspire to the greatness of our mission and give our all to serve the Church with dignity, full of trust in God’s grace and confidence in His promises.
“None of this happens by accident; we are blessed with a great team and the gift of stewarding this sacred mission together.”
Formation by the numbers
This year’s enrollment includes:
- 106 seminarians representing 17 dioceses and religious orders, which is near capacity for the seminary’s current campus setup
- 800 expected registrations for the seminary Institute for Ongoing Clergy Formation’s events for current priests and deacons
- 19 candidates and aspirants (plus 19 wives) in formation through the Institute for Diaconate Formation
- 388 students enrolled in the Catechetical Institute’s Pillars program, held across 12 parishes
- 78 lay students pursuing a Master of Arts in Theology, a Master of Arts in Pastoral Leadership or a Certificate in Catholic School Leadership
“Forming future priests, deacons and lay leaders is arguably the most important work of our time. We aspire to the greatness of our mission and give our all to serve the Church with dignity, full trust in God’s grace and confidence in His promises.” — Fr. Joseph Taphorn, Saint Paul Seminary rector
“There’s an incredible sense of purpose in being formed for the priesthood at this moment in the Church,” said Deacon Cullen Gallagher, a seminarian from the Diocese of Winona-Rochester set for priestly ordination in spring of 2026. “With everything going on in the world, it’s exciting to be part of a generation ready to proclaim Christ with clarity, charity and conviction.”
Why the increase?
In recent years, more bishops throughout the Upper Midwest have chosen to send men discerning a priestly call to The Saint Paul Seminary. At the same time, several of their dioceses have experienced an influx of priestly vocations.
[RELATED: Saint Paul Seminary celebrates ordination of 12 new Catholic priests.]
There’s also a geographic trend at play. According to Georgetown University Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate (CARA) data reviewed by the National Catholic Register, priestly vocations are growing in the Midwest (and the South) while they’ve fallen flat or decreased in other parts of the country.
They’re also booming in rural communities, which are heavily represented in The Saint Paul Seminary’s current group of seminarians.
A Jubilee of Hope
The Church’s 2025 Jubilee Year (a Catholic custom rooted in ancient Jewish tradition) is a designated Holy Year of grace, forgiveness and spiritual renewal. Under the theme “Pilgrims of Hope,” the Jubilee invites Catholics around the world to embrace a renewed encounter with Christ, reconciliation through the sacraments and active participation in the life of the Church.