Friday, May 2, 2008

Winona's Seminary Vacancy Filled - Long Wait is Over!

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After what seemed like an interminable delay of two days, Winona has filled their seminary rector vacancy. Wouldn't it be nice if Rome could act like that?


Rev. Andrew Beerman has been appointed rector of Immaculate Heart of Mary Seminary in Winona, effective July 1, 2008. He succeeds Rev. James Steffes, who has been appointed to a post with the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops in Washington, D.C.
Bishop Bernard J. Harrington announced the appointed May 1 during a gathering at Immaculate Heart of Mary Seminary.
Father Beerman is a native of St. James Parish in St. James, Minn. He attended Immaculate Heart of Mary Seminary and then completed his post-graduate studies at the Pontifical North American College in Rome, specializing in Moral Theology at the Angelicum University.
He was ordained a priest for the Diocese of Winona on June 18, 1996 by (Arch)bishop John G. Vlazny at the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart in Winona.
Since then, he has served as parochial vicar of St. John the Evangelist and Resurrection parishes in Rochester, pastor of St. Catherine’s Parish in Luverne and St. Mary’s Parish in Ellsworth. In 2004, he was appointed Dean of Formation and Academic Dean at Immaculate Heart of Mary Seminary by Bishop Bernard J. Harrington.
Father Beerman also serves as Director of Apostolic Ministries, providing ongoing formation and education for diocesan clergy. He also directs the Totus Tuus Program for young people in the Diocese of Winona and serves as chaplain for the Teens Encounter Christ retreat program (TEC). He is also the advisor to Bishop Harrington on medical moral issues.
Immaculate Heart of Mary Seminary, founded in 1948 by the Diocese of Winona, provides seminary, priestly formation for young men pursuing a vocation to the priesthood. Seminarians from the Diocese of Winona and several other dioceses receive their formation at IHM while pursuing an undergraduate degree at St. Mary’s University of Minnesota. Father Beerman is the ninth priest to serve as rector of IHM.
For more information on Immaculate Heart of Mary Seminary, go to www.ihmseminary.org.

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

Fr. Beerman is as solid as they get. Good news for IHM Seminary.

Dave

The Ironic Catholic said...

And he knows of the Ironic Catholic (the blog and real person behind the blog) and has not spontaneously combusted. That speaks to his character.

He's a very good man. Best wishes to both IHM and Fr. Beerman....

Fr. Andrew said...

Congratulations to Father Beerman and IHM!