Father Beerman presents Last Lecture Series on April 13

Father Andrew Beerman will present “The Evidence for Life After Death” as part of the Last Lecture Series on Tuesday, April 13, at 7:30 p.m. in the basement lounge of Hillside Hall.

“The Evidence for Life After Death” will examine the evidence for the immortality of the human being — from the fields of science, philosophy and religion. An open discussion will question if it is important to know whether there is life after death.

Father Andrew Beerman is the rector of Immaculate Heart of Mary Seminary. Refreshments will be provided.

The Office of Residence Life sponsors the Last Lecture Series, and it was created because SMU students were asked to nominate and recognize fantastic teaching faculty and staff by awarding them the opportunity to give what would be their last lecture ever.

Father Steffes accepts position as executive director

Father James P. Steffes, rector of Immaculate Heart of Mary Seminary, has been named executive director of the U.S. Bishops’ Secretariat for Clergy, Consecrated Life and Vocations. The new appointment becomes effective August 1.

In 2002, he was named rector of the Winona seminary, where he had been director of spiritual formation since 1997.

In accepting the position, Father Steffes said “I am deeply humbled and honored to have this opportunity to support the bishops of our country in this key area of ministry as they shepherd the people of God toward salvation. I have been blessed to work in vocation and formation ministry for the past 12 years and feel God deepening a call in me to continue this now in a new and special way through this office.”

Father Steffes was ordained a priest for the Diocese of Winona in 1993, after completing seminary studies at the Gregorian University in Rome. After ordination he taught at Loyola High School in Mankato, Minn., and was parochial vicar at St. Joseph the Worker Parish, Mankato, Minn.; Holy Family Parish, Crystal Lake, Minn.; and at the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart in Winona. He served as diocesan vocations director and director of seminarians from 1996-2002.

He has been sacramental minister at Saint Mary’s from 1996 to the present.