Archdiocesan priest named rector/president of Kenrick-Glennon Seminary

Father Paul Hoesing has been named the next rector and president of Kenrick-Glennon Seminary in St. Louis, effective July 1. He will replace Father James Mason, who has held the post since 2015.

Father Hoesing joined the seminary’s faculty in 2015 as dean of seminarians and director of human formation. He became vice rector for formation in 2019. 

“Father Hoesing will bring his experience and unique gifts to this important work of leading a major U.S. seminary,” said Archbishop George J. Lucas. 

“Many dioceses, including the Archdiocese of Omaha, depend on Kenrick-Glennon for the formation of our future priests,” he said. “Since Father Hoesing is one of our Omaha priests, I know that we will be well served by his leadership, as will every seminarian, faculty member and diocese.

Seven seminarians from the Omaha archdiocese are currently enrolled at Kenrick-Glennon Seminary.

A native of Menominee, Father Hoesing earned a bachelor’s degree in biology from the University of Saint Thomas in St. Paul, Minnesota, and a baccalaureate in sacred theology and a licentiate in dogmatic theology, both from Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome.

He was ordained a priest of the Archdiocese of Omaha in 2002. He served three years as assistant pastor of St. Bernard Parish and chaplain at Roncalli Catholic High School, both in Omaha. He then served two years as associate pastor of St. Patrick Parish in O’Neill with teaching duties at the parish’s St. Mary High School.

In 2008, Father Hoesing was appointed to direct the archdiocese’s vocations office and oversee campus ministry activities at the University of Nebraska-Omaha and Wayne State College. He was elected president of the National Conference of Diocesan Vocation Directors in 2013. He is also on the faculty of the Institute for Priestly Formation in Omaha.

“While returning to serve the parishes of the Archdiocese of Omaha is my great desire,” said Father Hoesing, “Archbishop Lucas’ gracious permission to continue the mission of accompanying and forming men who will serve many parishes in the region is a privilege and calling that has informed my work as seminary formator and vocation director for the past 14 years.”