Father Taphorn named new rector of St. Paul Seminary

The St. Paul Seminary School of Divinity has named Father Joseph Taphorn of Omaha, Nebraska, as its 15th rector.

He succeeds Msgr. Aloysius Callaghan, who served in the role for 13 years until his recent transition to emeritus status. The seminary board of trustees approved Archbishop Bernard Hebda’s appointment of Father Taphorn for the position, announcing it July 16.

Father Taphorn, 47, is the founding pastor and director of the St. John Paul II Newman Center at the University of Nebraska at Omaha, where he has served since 2016. He will begin his term as rector of the seminary Jan. 1, 2019. He plans to make extended visits to the seminary in the meantime to get to know seminarians, faculty, staff and leaders. Bishop Cozzens, a longtime friend of Father Taphorn, will serve as interim rector in the meanwhile.

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