Nov 4, 2025 | News
Earning a college degree is a special moment in a person’s life: the culmination of years of hard work. It’s especially exciting to have two members of your family graduating with you. This was the case this past April 26, when sisters Mary, Sara, and Elizabeth Shopa traveled from Georgia to Connecticut to attend Holy Apostles College and Seminary’s 67th Commencement and Baccalaureate Mass and, together, received their diplomas after earning Bachelor of Arts degrees in English in the Humanities. In attendance to see his sisters graduate was their older brother, Steven, himself a 2020 graduate of Holy Apostles with a Bachelor of Arts degree with double majors in History in the Social Sciences and Philosophy.
Visiting the campus had additional significance for Steven since his commencement exercises were cancelled because of the pandemic. Not about to miss the event, he and the remaining members of the family of twelve traveled up from Georgia with the graduates to make it a very celebratory occasion.
The Shopa family initially discovered Holy Apostles thanks to their mother, Melinda, who served as their instructor in homeschooling. While visiting friends, she noticed a Holy Apostles advertisement in a publication at their house. The fact that Holy Apostles, through a partnership developed with their homeschool provider, offered the opportunity to earn college credits while in high school caught her attention and she showed her son, Steven.
Steven jumped at the opportunity to complete enough courses in high school to earn a bachelor’s degree one year after graduating. With a goal of attending law school, he wanted an education that could prepare him for the critical thinking necessary to succeed. The courses at Holy Apostles challenged his mind and readied him for the task.
After his positive experience, Steven recommended Holy Apostles to his sisters. Sara, Elizabeth, and Mary chose Holy Apostles for several reasons. First, as with Steven, the opportunity to work toward a bachelor’s degree while in high school was incredibly appealing. Like their brother, they appreciated the opportunity to work on coursework early and graduate after one year in college. They also witnessed how the education helped their brother achieve his goal of becoming a lawyer.
Another reason for the decision was, in Mary’s words, “The fact that we could do the coursework online made everything easier, and the low-cost tuition compared to other colleges was also a plus. Holy Apostles allowed my sisters and me to graduate debt-free, unlike what would be the experience in most other institutions. Being free of debt after college removed a lot of stress from our shoulders.”
Since earning his degree, Steven achieved his goal of becoming an attorney – he attended and graduated from law school and now practices law. Now that Sara, Mary, and Elizabeth have graduated, they are looking toward the future. Mary and Elizabeth are studying for their LSAT test and are also considering a few other careers that combine their interests and abilities. As Mary explained, “The only problem I find with having a bachelor’s degree is deciding from all the opportunities it opens up.” Sara is working on a master’s degree in creative writing with the intent of becoming a bestselling author and movie screenwriter.
Reflecting on her time at Holy Apostles, Mary shared how it impacted her: “It challenged me intellectually and forced me to really think about what I was reading and writing. It is a special college with God at its center, and this has helped deepen my relationship with Him.”
Nov 4, 2025 | News
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.
Rev. David F. Zercie, M.S.A.
Reverend David Zercie, M.S.A., 87, died peacefully on October 10, 2025, after a period of declining health. He was born in Norwich, Connecticut, on April 23, 1938, to Adrian and Alice Zercie. Fr. Dave, as he was known to many, attended Providence College and in 1961 entered Holy Apostles Seminary in Cromwell. He was ordained at St. Patrick Cathedral in Norwich, Connecticut, in 1969, and soon after travelled to southern Brazil where he remained for several years. From Brazil, he was sent to the Order’s Mission in Peru, serving the people in the very remote high Andean villages.
After returning to the U.S., Fr. David served at St. Dominic Church in Southington, Connecticut, and later began a Spanish-speaking mission at St. John’s Church in Middletown. For many years he also helped his friend Fr. Thomas Gaffney at St. Joseph’s Church in New Britain. At Holy Apostles, Fr. Dave took on the role of Spiritual Director for seminarians for the priesthood.
In recent years, Fr. Zercie’s faithful, friendly, and uplifting manner, even as he dealt with health issues, was an example for those who encountered him. He will be missed at the Holy Apostles campus.
He is survived by his sister, Duane (Zercie) Hallgren; his four nephews, Tim Hallgren, Tom Hallgren, Dave Hallgren, Anders Hallgren, and their families.
Click to watch a Memorial Tribute.
Reverend Monsignor John J. Bevins
Reverend Monsignor John J. Bevins, 93, a lifelong resident of Waterbury, Connecticut, and longtime friend of Holy Apostles and the Missionaries of the Holy Apostles, died peacefully on October 13, 2025. Monsignor Bevins was ordained in 1958, and his first assignments were in Litchfield and Hartford. He then served as a chaplain in the U.S. Navy until 1990. Following his service, upon his return to Connecticut, he was assigned as temporary Administrator at the Cathedral of St. Joseph in Hartford, Connecticut, in 1991. Later that year, he was named pastor of the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception in Waterbury, where he served for 24 years, retiring in 2015. In 2015, Pope Francis bestowed on him the title of Monsignor.
Monsignor Bevins worked tirelessly in his efforts to have the title of Saint bestowed on Waterbury’s own, Blessed Michael McGivney, and now leaves that effort to his brother priests. He is survived by his nieces and nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews, and great-grandnephew and great-grandniece.
Oct 1, 2025 | News
At Holy Apostles, one of our greatest strengths is our faculty — both full-time and adjunct. Many are nationally recognized speakers, authors, and experts in their field. Graduates have shared how exciting it was to learn directly from instructors they have long admired outside the classroom.
Dr. Stacy Trasancos, MA ‘14, MA ‘24, is one of our distinguished adjunct faculty members. For her, the road to Holy Apostles did not follow a straight line, but like many winding paths, the trip proved worthwhile. Her impressive background has been a tremendous asset to the college and seminary.
Her professional journey began in 1991 as a chemistry teacher in Texas. Eager to understand more about the subject, she applied and was accepted into the graduate program at Penn State, where she earned her PhD in chemistry. After completing her studies, she went on to work as a senior research chemist at DuPont.
Though raised a Baptist in Texas, Stacy lost her belief in God during high school. In 2003, she began to rethink her decision and initiated a journey to the Catholic faith. The teacher-turned-chemist became a stay-at-home mother, homeschooling her children — who she humorously describes as highly complex composite systems with rational souls — while teaching online high school classes.
In 2014, after receiving an M.A. in dogmatic theology from Holy Apostles, she began teaching online classes in a range of subjects, including chemistry, physics, mathematics, and theology (Reading Science in the Light of Faith and Evolution and Catholic Thought). As a professor at Holy Apostles, she was able to incorporate her scientific brain with her Catholic faith and enlighten students on how science and religion are not enemies. In fact, science was born out of religion.
Never one to stop learning, she earned an M.A. in systematic philosophy from Holy Apostles in 2024. She is currently pursuing a doctorate in philosophy at St. Patrick’s Pontifical University in Ireland.
Dr. Timothy Smith, Dr. Matthew Ramage, Dr. Kristina Olsen, and Dr. Stacy Trasancos
Recently, Dr. Trasancos was appointed to the position of Undergraduate and Dual Enrollment Program Director at Holy Apostles. In this leadership position, her key responsibilities include curriculum development, course scheduling, academic advisement, enrollment and retention oversight, and program assessment. With experience as both a student and a professor, Dr. Trasancos brings a unique dual perspective to the position, allowing her to understand and serve the needs of both students and faculty.
In addition to her academic work, she is also an author of several books, her latest of which is IVF is Not the Way: The False Promises of Artificial Procreation, which looks at this topic through scientific, philosophical, and theological lenses. Dr. Trasancos has also contributed to Relevant Radio, Catholic Answers, and EWTN, to name a few.
Beyond her professional achievements, Stacy is a devoted mother of seven and grandmother of seven. She considers this her proudest and most important role.
Sep 1, 2025 | Alumni, News
Alex Soucy, a 2023 graduate, is an example of someone living the missionary charism of evangelization that is the vision of Holy Apostles College & Seminary. Alex is the co-founder of Crossroads 4 Christ (C4C), an organization that brings young adults together to form communities of missionary disciples. Crossroads 4 Christ enables young adults to gather and discuss Christ in an environment that seeks to better their relationship with the Lord.
Alex was born into the Catholic faith but considered it simply one of the many facets of his life. Then, in his senior year of high school, he attended an impactful retreat that changed him. For one thing, prayer became part of his daily routine.
In college, Alex became part of a faith community. Upon graduating, however, he experienced the lack of a solid community of young adults at the parish level. After traveling to see Pope Francis in Philadelphia during the Holy Father’s 2015 U.S. visit, Alex and his friend, Travis Moran, formed Crossroads 4 Christ, taking to heart the pontiff’s call to be missionary disciples and servant leaders.
On October 1, 2015, they held the first C4C meeting at the Willimantic Brewing Company with two other people. After some time for discussion of faith, everyone traveled to St. Thomas Aquinas Chapel in Storrs for a Holy Hour of Eucharistic Adoration, which served as the focal point of the evening. The group only grew from there.
Before they knew it, they had 25-30 young adults attending at the first chapter in Columbia, Connecticut. Then came a chapter in New Haven in January 2017. There are now seven chapters throughout Connecticut and all three dioceses are interested in increasing that number. There has also been extraordinary interest regionally. Launching each new chapter, however, takes training, work, and time.
The mission of C4C is to develop communities of young adult missionary disciples, and the payoff is that young adults are encountering the Lord. As Rev. Anthony Federico, the Vocations Director of the Archdiocese of Hartford, wrote in a letter about Crossroads 4 Christ, “It is not a stretch to say that C4C is the brightest and most promising initiative in the Archdiocese of Hartford today.” He went on to say that “a disproportionate number of young men from C4C are coming forward to discern a vocation to the priesthood.” That news is exciting.
After years of self-study about the Catholic faith, Alex felt the desire to further this spiritual formation in a formal setting. He was somewhat familiar with Holy Apostles through its hosting of Catholic Underground in years past. When examining further, Alex explained, “I started to hear about some of the fantastic alumni of Holy Apostles, like Matt Fradd, Trent Horn, and Fr. Chris Alar, MIC, and thought, ‘This college is 10 minutes away from me, and people who are really well-respected, well-known leaders in the Catholic world in the U.S. have received amazing formation from Holy Apostles.’” He also learned that it was very affordable, truly faithful to the Magisterium, and on the Newman Guide, which added to the selling points for him.
Finally, he felt that the online asynchronous format with its flexible schedule was a good fit, and he enrolled.
In 2023, Alex received his Master of Arts in Pastoral Studies with a concentration in Youth and Young Adult Ministry, which he feels strengthened him personally in his faith and equipped him to be the leader that the Lord is calling him to be at C4C.
Regarding Holy Apostles, Alex explained, “The Lord gave C4C an effective model of young adult ministry that so many parishes and dioceses are searching for. But at Holy Apostles I learned more at a macro scale that there was need throughout the nation for more of this, so that was helpful.”
When asked to reflect on his 10-year journey with C4C, Alex paused. “There is a mystery behind who the Lord calls for specific roles. Sometimes I think, ‘Wow, Lord, you called me to be one of the co-founders and executive director of now what is the largest parish-based Catholic, young adult ministry in New England…’ It’s humbling. But I think the saying, ‘The Lord doesn’t call the equipped, he equips the called’ is spot on.” Alex went on to say, “Calling myself, calling Travis, calling over 100 servant leaders, at this point, over the past 10 years to step up and be a part of this revival in the state of Connecticut. That’s been a great honor and blessing.”
Sep 1, 2025 | News
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.
Rev. Thomas F. Egan
Reverend Thomas F. Egan, 82, of Worcester, Massachusetts, died on Friday, July 18, 2025, after a brief illness. Fr. Egan was born and raised in Woonsocket, RI, where he graduated from Woonsocket High School. In 1967 he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Holy Apostles.
Fr. Egan knew from a young age that he wanted to be a priest. He was ordained in 1975 at Christ the King Church in Worcester, Rhode Island, by Bishop Timothy J. Harrington and celebrated the 50th anniversary of his ordination this past May.
Those who knew him explained that he had a warm, generous spirit and formed lasting friendships throughout his life. He is survived by his siblings Joanne Egan Shea, Kensington, Maryland, Jay A. Egan, Honolulu, Hawaii, and brother-in-law Albert J. Didden, Jr., Kensington, Maryland. He was also an uncle and great uncle to many
whom he cherished.
Rev. Joseph J. Cretella
Reverend Joseph J. Cretella, Jr., 87, of Madison, Alabama, formerly of Wallingford, Connecticut, died peacefully at home on August 9, 2025.
Ordained as a Deacon in June 1978, he served faithfully for many years. After the death of his wife Rose Ann in 2007, he began studies for the priesthood at Holy Apostles Seminary and was ordained on May 15, 2010, at the Cathedral of Saint Joseph by the Archbishop of Hartford, the Most Reverend Henry Mansell. Fr. Cretella retired from active ministry in 2015 at the age of 77.
He is survived by his children, Joseph J. Cretella III and his wife, Melissa Cretella, of Milford, Connecticut; Natalie Hoha and her husband, David Hoha, of Madison, Alabama; his siblings, Thomas Cretella of Clinton, Connecticut, and Joan Marotto of Wallingford, Connecticut; as well as his grandchildren and great grandchildren.
Monsignor Charles P. Coen
Monsignor Charles P. Coen, 91, died on December 26, 2024, at Calvary Hospital in the Bronx, N.Y. Born on April 10, 1933, in Drimnamuckla, Woodford, Co. Galway, Ireland, he was the sixth child in a family of nine children.
He arrived in the U.S. in 1955 at the age of 21 and worked for 4 years in Upstate New York before entering Holy Apostles Seminary and becoming part of the Class of 1962. He completed seminary in Yonkers, New York, was ordained in 1968, and enjoyed many assignments in the New York Archdiocese, where he was assigned pastor and eventually monsignor.
Monsignor Coen retired in 2008 at the age of 75. After retirement, he resided in the Catskill Mountains region (Greenville, NY) and continued to celebrate Mass at churches as far as 50 miles away. In 2017 he moved to the Cardinal Egan residence for retired priests in the Bronx, New York, where he remained until his most recent illness.
He is survived by siblings Sr. Concepta (May), Sr. Patrice (Betty), and Anthony and his wife, Mary; his sister-in-law, Julia; and his brother-in-law, Martin O’Malley.
Holy Apostles gratefully acknowledges the generous gift from Monsignor Coen. We also extend our thanks to Mary Collins for facilitating the disposition of these funds. Their generosity is deeply appreciated and the funds will be used to continue the vision of Holy Apostles to cultivate Catholic leaders for the purpose of evangelization.
Gary Louis Morella
Gary Louis Morella, 78, of Lemont, Pennsylvania, passed away peacefully on August 14, 2025. He was born on Sept 13, 1946, in Pittsburg, Kansas.
During the Vietnam War period between 1968 and 1972 he was a member of the Naval Security Group Command, doing fleet support for the Navy and Marines.
Gary received a Bachelor of Science in Applied Mathematics with a minor in Physics from Pittsburg State University in Kansas and earned a Master of Engineering in Acoustics from Penn State. He worked various engineering positions with companies such as Texas Instruments, Gulf Oil, HRB Singer (Raytheon), and the Applied Research Laboratory at Penn State University, where he retired after 25 years.
His Catholic faith was of great importance to him, and he earned a Master of Arts in Philosophy from Holy Apostles in May 2005.
He is survived by his wife of 55 years Margaret, three sons, Craig, Kevin, and Colin, and his grandchildren.
