The CSAF funds tuition, room, and board for all Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis seminarians studying at The Saint Paul Seminary (SPS). Read the testimonial below from Deacon Brandon who is currently attending SPS and studying to become one of our future priests.
“One of the biggest things that led me to seminary and priesthood was I wanted to do something that was going to change and impact lives. I was in seminary previously at Saint John Vianney for 3 years and then I took 2 years off. In those 2 years, I finished up at the University of St. Thomas and then I worked at a bank for a year. [After that time,] I realized that I wanted a job that could change people’s lives or impact people’s lives on a day to day basis. Ultimately, I realized I was happiest when I was in seminary.
The role of a priest is to be the spiritual father to thousands of people and it’s no easy task. It takes many years of preparation to lead the people in the correct direction, a nice, holy direction so that they can have an experience and a relationship with Christ. The education that we receive at SPS is so crucial and important in our formation as spiritual fathers. The seminary is a place that allows us to grow in our skills if it be as a priest, as a preacher, as a leader, as one who leads business meetings for the parish council or the finance council, whatever it may be. It is a place for us to nourish ourselves with spiritual life, but also humanly in formation, too.
I think it’s important for a lot of the parishioners at all these various parishes to see young priests or young seminarians. To see these [men] gives [people] hope because they are the future, the future leaders of the Church.”