Holy Apostles was proud to learn that one of our alumni participated in the first Mass of the newly elected Pope Leo XIV. Sister Mary Mercy Lee, FSE, MA ’11, PMC ‘17, proclaimed the first reading in English at the Mass that took place on May 9 in the Sistine Chapel.
Sister Mary Mercy received her Master of Arts in Theology at Holy Apostles prior to discerning her vocation as a religious sister. At that time, her given name was Robyn Lee. In 2016, she entered the novitiate of the Franciscan Sisters of the Eucharist in Meriden, CT, and professed her perpetual vows in May 2024. During discernment and while in the novitiate, she studied at Holy Apostles and received her Post Master’s Certificate in 2017.
After her profession of vows, Sister Mary Mercy was assigned to work at the Vatican, where she serves in the English language section at a Vatican office. As relayed in a Facebook post by the Franciscan Sisters of the Eucharist, Sister Mary Mercy considered it a privilege to proclaim the first reading at the Holy Father’s first Mass for the cardinal-electors.
At Holy Apostles, we share the excitement about our new pope. As President-Rector Rev. Peter Kucer, MSA, stated in his email of joy upon Pope Leo’s election, “We welcome him with hearts full of hope and prayers, trusting that the Lord will continue to guide His Church through the humble service of the Vicar of Christ.”
Watch Sister Mary Mercy as she proclaims the first reading at Pope Leo XIV’s first Mass.
Holy Apostles held its 67th Commencement Ceremony on April 26, 2025, at Queen of the Apostles Chapel on the campus in Cromwell, CT. Attending either in person or via livestream were 160 students representing 30 states and four countries. At the event, President-Rector Very Rev. Peter Kucer bestowed an honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters (L.H.D.), honoris causa, upon Mr. James Wahlberg in recognition of his notable contributions to society.
Left to Right: Very Rev. Peter Kucer, Mr. Jim Wahlberg, and Dr. Kristina Olsen
The weekend began with a Friday evening gala that brought together faculty, staff, graduates, guests, and friends. We were honored to have as special guests: The Most Reverend Christopher J. Coyne, 6th Archbishop of Hartford, and keynote speaker Mr. Wahlberg.
In his commencement address on Saturday, Mr. Wahlberg, an author, speaker, and award-winning filmmaker, spoke about receiving the mercy and grace that only God can provide. For him, it came in the form of a priest, Fr. James Freitas, who was there for him at the lowest point in his life and to whom Jim dedicated his speech.
Speaking at the podium in the Holy Apostles Chapel, Jim thanked the seminarians, priests, and all the religious, “for your ‘Yes’ to Our Lord. You see, the things that you learn here at Holy Apostles will arm you, so that when the time comes, you will be Fr. Freitas for somebody else… He was a reflection of Jesus Christ… And you will have that opportunity, and you will be armed with the facts. You see, love is the most important thing. But then it has to be followed up with a message of depth and weight.”
Jim ended by reciting the Apostles’ Creed as a testimony of his beliefs. His final words encouraged the graduates with the statement, “Be bold in your faith. The world needs you.”
Both the undergraduate speaker, Carla Martinez, and the graduate speaker, Sr. Hoa Ngoc Thi Nguyen, SJP, spoke of finding solace and strength from God through prayer during the stressful times in their educational journey. Sr. Nguyen went on to explain that at Holy Apostles, she gained knowledge, but also learned a valuable lesson of love from the patience, thoughtfulness, and kindness of her professors, as well as from the religious and lay students with whom she studied and worked. As for the future, she reminded those in attendance, “No matter what the future holds, we are never alone because God is always with us.”
Alex Smith joined Holy Apostles as a graduate admissions counselor in July 2023, but the college and seminary had an indirect impact on his life even prior to that time.
Alex was born and raised in Ringgold, Georgia, a city close to the northern border of the state, near Chattanooga, Tennessee. He grew up in a Southern Baptist church, with his family actively participating in the services: his father acted as choir director and played the drums, his grandmother played piano, his grandfather played the bass, and his great-grandfather was the pastor.
Alex’s great-grandfather was originally Catholic but did not follow his parents’ lead as far as practicing the faith. After serving in WWII, he met his future wife and embraced her Baptist faith, becoming a minister and a guiding force for his family and congregation.
When Alex was in middle school, this man who was the beloved preacher of his family and community died. Around that time, Alex and his parents’ attendance at services changed to occasional visits. After graduating from high school, Alex attempted to return to regular participation but again found himself falling away, not from God but from his church. He began to question what it meant to be Baptist.
Growing up, there were no available answers to the questions he asked about his faith. He began looking into other Protestant religions, including Methodists and Seventh Day Adventists, and didn’t find answers that were sufficient for him. A former teacher taught him about Jehovah’s Witnesses, but he declined when he better understood some of the beliefs, one of which was that they did not believe in the Trinity.
In 2020, during the onset of the pandemic, Alex met his future wife, Stephanie, a practicing Catholic. In the course of getting to know each other, they discussed the topic of religion, and Stephanie explained truthfully that she only saw herself marrying a Catholic. While both agreed that this could not be the reason for conversion, Alex made it clear that she was important enough for him to at least look into the faith. It was his soul in the balance, though, so he needed to make the decision based on what he believed was right.
Continuing his search for answers, this time in the Catholic faith, Alex took to the internet. He found “Catholic Answers,” a website that answers questions and allows you to read, listen, or watch content about Catholic topics. He also visited several YouTube channels: “The Counsel of Trent” with Trent Horn (MA Philosophy, ’18), Matt Fradd (BA Philosophy ’15 and MA Philosophy, ’18) in “Pints with Aquinas,” and “Catholic Truth” with Bryan Mercier (MA Theology ’16). Only later, when working for Holy Apostles, did he discover that these YouTubers are alums of Holy Apostles.
The information, particularly the history behind the Catholic faith, interested him greatly. His enthusiasm was palpable when he explained that the answers and understanding found from these approved sources were the ones he had been looking for all along. The deciding factor for him was the Eucharist and his research of Eucharistic Miracles.
He enrolled in RCIA at Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Chattanooga, with Stephanie as his sponsor. His mother, Sherrie, attended the sessions with him out of curiosity and found herself liking what she learned, as did his father, Jody, who was originally skeptical. All three of them were initiated into the Catholic faith at the Easter Vigil service in 2022, with Stephanie as sponsor for all three.
In addition, Alex surprised Stephanie by proposing in the church after being confirmed at the Easter Vigil service. Word had spread of his intentions, and a lot more people than usual stayed after Mass to witness the event. They were married in Stephanie’s parish, St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Mystic, Connecticut, on July 7, 2023, and now call Connecticut home.
After his move up north, Alex began working at Holy Apostles, interestingly, the same college attended by those who answered questions for him via their social media presence. He feels its positive impact, explaining, “Working at Holy Apostles has had a tremendous influence on my faith and provided a continued learning experience. The seminarians and religious sisters currently on campus come from as near as North America and as far away as Africa and Asia, which serves as a reminder of the vastness of the Catholic faith.” As for the answers for which Alex was searching, “I can proudly say I’m Catholic because I know what I believe and what the Catholic Church is and have learned to defend my faith. I have an identity in my faith, which I didn’t have before.”
Alex’s story represents the journey and the homecoming of the Catholic faith in his family, from his great-grandfather to him.
We commemorate our deceased members of the Holy Apostles family and request that you keep them in your prayers. Eternal rest grant unto them O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them. May their souls and the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.
Fr. Michael Edward Suchnicki, O.F.M.Cap., 86, died on Friday, February 20, 2025, two days before he would have celebrated 68 years as a professed religious. Born in 1938, he attended Catholic grammar and high school and then spent four years in repertory theatre in New York and New England. Realizing he did not want to spend the rest of his life playing the role of someone else, he entered the Capuchin Brothers Training Camp in Maryland. He was invested as a novice and on February 22, 1962, took his first vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience.
In 1982, he entered Holy Apostles Seminary and was ordained a priest on April 29, 1988. He served in Kansas and Colorado, spending 25 years in Samaritan House in Denver, and was an untiring advocate for homeless men, women, and children in need. Wherever he served, Fr. Mike was beloved by his parishioners.
Karen L. Perry, 81, died peacefully on October 10, 2024. Karen was born and grew up in Middletown, Connecticut. A skilled nurse practitioner, she was known for her clinical expertise and compassionate care. She was a big believer in education and received several degrees, including a B.A. from Holy Apostles. She leaves behind her beloved husband, Thomas, her three children, Amy, Matthew, and Zachary, and four grandchildren, Kristin and Eli Hair, and Thomas and Charles Perry.
Kathleen Gilpin, Captain USNR, PhD, 41, died on May 11, 2024, after a long battle with Stage 4 breast cancer. After pursuing her undergraduate degree, Kathleen earned advanced degrees that included an MA in National Security and Strategic Studies from the U.S. Naval War College and an MA in Bioethics/Medical Ethics from Holy Apostles in 2022. She also received her PhD in Neuroscience and began working on her MBA, which the University of Notre Dame posthumously awarded her. She is survived by her husband Seth and two young children, Brigid and Myron.
Michael James Serpiello, 68, died on September 4, 2024, in York, Pennsylvania. Described as a man of great integrity and humility, he was a devout Catholic and an active parishioner at St. Lawrence Catholic Church in Harrisburg, PA. He graduated from Archbishop Ryan High School in Philadelphia and earned his Bachelor of Arts degree from Holy Apostles. He was known for his dedication to prayer and time spent with family. He is survived by his wife, Barbara; his daughter; sister, brother-in-law, and nephew; stepdaughters; son-in-law; and grandchildren.
We commemorate our deceased members of the Holy Apostles family and request that you keep them in your prayers. Eternal rest grant unto them O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them. May their souls and the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.
Deacon William Murphy, 82, died on June 12, 2024. Deacon Bill was an alumnus who was ordained a Roman Catholic deacon in 1981. A lifelong Danbury resident, he was assigned to St. Gregory the Great parish in Danbury, CT, where he served for 43 years. A Marine Corp veteran, Deacon Bill served as the chaplain of the Catholic War Veteran’s Post, as well as the Veteran’s Council. He was also chaplain to the Danbury Police and Volunteer Fire Departments. Those who know him described him as a man of faith who was humble, soft-spoken, kind, and a gentleman always willing to help. He is survived by his wife of nearly 59 years, Pat, as well as his son, William, and daughter, Patricia.
Rev. Chester R. Mrowka, CM, 97, an alumnus who received his MDiv from Holy Apostles in 1981, died on July 5, 2024, at the DePaul Residence of the Vincentian Community in Manchester, Connecticut. Fr. Mrowka served in the Navy in WWII, and following it prepared for the priesthood. His vocation brought him to serve as pastor in parishes in Brooklyn, New York; Ansonia, Connecticut; and Concord, New Hampshire. He also taught for seventeen years in St. John Kanty Preparatory School in Erie, Pennsylvania, and later returned as the Rector, after a brief time studying in Rome. He served as Provincial of the New England Vincentian Community, followed by a position as the Provincial Treasurer. While residing at the DePaul Residence of the Vincentian Community, he regularly helped the nearby Assumption Parish for nearly 15 years, until health conditions required him to retire. This year, Fr. Chester celebrated his 65th year as a priest.
Rev. Frank Joseph Bolling, died Jan. 1, 2025, at the age of 94. He celebrated 20 years of priesthood last spring, after being ordained on May 29, 2004, at the Cathedral-Basilica of the Immaculate Conception in Mobile, AL. Fr. Bolling entered St. Mary’s Seminary in Baltimore in 1950 with the intention of discerning a vocation to the priesthood. However, his father’s death in 1954 led him to withdraw from seminary studies to support his mother and sister. He joined the U.S. Navy Reserves and worked as a tax officer supervisor for the City of Mobile for 25 years. In 2002, after retirement from his civil profession, Fr. Bolling was accepted as a seminarian for the Archdiocese of Mobile and resumed discernment toward the priesthood, earning his Certificate in Theology from Holy Apostles College & Seminary. He was assigned as chaplain to the Sacred Heart Residence of the Little Sisters of the Poor and later filled in for pastors by offering Masses and ministry at parishes throughout the archdiocese.
Alex Smith joined Holy Apostles as a 
