Husband and father of eight. Harvard graduate. Super Bowl champion. Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year. NFL executive. Catholic high school founder. Pro-life activist. Lieutenant governor candidate. Professional speaker, author and public speaking coach.
Former Minnesota Vikings and Baltimore Ravens center and St. Paul native Matt Birk has seemingly done it all in his 47 years. But his latest venture, he says, might be one of the most important: helping prepare Catholic seminarians for the priesthood.
Birk recently implemented a course called Methods of Passionate Preaching as part of The Saint Paul Seminary’s pastoral formation work. Sharing experiences from his many leadership roles, Birk guides seminarians in the areas of speaking, preaching and public presence — all of which are essential skills in the life of a parish priest.