Kenrick-Glennon Seminary

“May we know what this new teaching is that you are presenting?” – Acts 17:19
Every year, each class of transitional Deacons takes a pilgrimage in January before returning for their final semester at the seminary. This year, Fr. Charlie Samson, Assistant Professor of Biblical Theology, is leading the men across Greece and Rome in the footsteps of Sts. Peter and Paul. Joined by Fr. Paul Hoesing and Fr. Shane Deman, our Rector and Vice-Rector, the men receive a conference-style lecture at each location followed by a silent holy hour.

Pictured above, the men are gathered outside the Areopagus in Athens where St. Paul preached the Gospel to the great philosophers of the time. After seeing around Athens altars to an “unknown God,” Paul proclaimed, at this location, the person of Jesus Christ (Acts 17). Please pray for the men as they continue their journey on this apostolic pilgrimage!

We are truly grateful for our friends of Kenrick-Glennon Seminary who support the mission of priestly formation. During this season of receiving anew the gift of the Incarnation, please know of our prayer for you and your loved ones. May God bless you abundantly with the graces of his Nativity.

“Kenrick-Glennon Seminary is not merely a place but a set of relationships meant to elicit the deep richness of the Church’s resources for healing the wounds of isolation.”

“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations.” – Matthew 28:19
Kenrick-Glennon Seminary opened the 2024-2025 year of formation with a two-day symposium on evangelization and pastoral accompaniment. Presenters from around the country shared their wisdom and expertise with the seminarians. The call to respond to the missionary mandate of the Church was contextualized for us within the content of priestly formation.
Our presenters included:

Dr. Mary Healy, Professor of Sacred Scripture at Sacred Heart Major Seminary in Detroit and bestselling author and international speaker.
Dr. Healy presented on The Holy Spirit and Evangelization

Julianne Stanz, Director of Evangelization and Discipleship in the Diocese of Green Bay.
Julianne shared with us the importance of proclaiming the core message of Christ, repent and believe in the Gospel.

Jim Jansen, Director of the Parish Support Team for the Archdiocese of Omaha.
Jim’s focus helped the seminarians concretize evangelization within the mission of the parish.

Also presenting and moderating many of the sessions and small groups was Jen Ryan, Director of Pastoral Education here at Kenrick. Jen also spearheaded the development of all the parish case studies used during the symposium.

BE THE LIGHT
The SEEK Conference, hosted annually by the Fellowship of Catholic University Students, welcomed 20,000 Catholics to St. Louis at the beginning of the month. The men of Kenrick-Glennon Seminary, whose registration was covered by generous donors on Giving Tuesday, had profound opportunities to make a gift of themselves throughout the week. Some men were charged with guarding the relics and the Blessed Sacrament in the 2,000-seat adoration chapel. Others served Holy Mass with bishops and cardinals. Still more accompanied young people from their dioceses and pastoral assignments, offing wisdom and a fatherly presence to further the work of God in each of their lives. Regardless of where the men found themselves throughout the conference, the words of St. Francis of Assisi rang true: “For it is in giving that we receive”.