Mar 27, 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.
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.
Jan 30, 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.
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.
Jan 30, 2025 | Alumni, News
Sr. Naomi Zimmerman at Mass at the Tomb of Christ.
Sister Naomi Zimmermann, FSE, is a woman whose calling has brought her to many places with the objective of providing missionary services to others. Of all her work, the longest time spent has been in the Holy Land, a beautiful and historic area that many people wish to visit but some choose to avoid due to the many conflicts that have occurred. Instead, Sr. Naomi has returned time and time again to work with those in need.
Sr. Naomi grew up in Southington, Connecticut, a town that neighbors the Meriden motherhouse of the Franciscan Sisters of the Eucharist. After receiving a degree in education, she entered the postulancy in September 1988. Working for several years as a teacher in both Oregon and Minnesota, she then returned to Connecticut and became a student at Holy Apostles, earning a Master of Arts in Moral Theology in 1996. Sr. Naomi explained, “It was a valuable time for me because I was already a teacher but had grown up in the public school system. I remember thinking that I needed to know more theology to integrate it into my work as a teacher.”
Working with the children in the Holy Child Program, a unique educational and psychological treatment center in the Bethlehem area.
Her first trip to the Holy Land took place in 1996, shortly after graduating from Holy Apostles. She worked at The Holy Child Program, a unique educational and psychological treatment center in the Bethlehem area, and found the experience wonderful preparation for entering her final vows.
Returning to the motherhouse in 1997 to take her final vows, Sr. Naomi remained in the U.S. for two years. In August 2000, she returned to the Holy Land to continue at the Holy Child Program, this time as deputy director and educational consultant.
Because of her love of both the Holy Land and the people within the Palestinian society, which is where the Holy Child Project was located, acclimating to life in this land was not as hard as one would think. She was very involved in the daily lives of the Palestinian people and the Arab-speaking Church. In September 2000, however, the second Intifada started an intense time that lasted until February 2005. In the midst of that came the tragedy of September 11, 2001, and the fighting in the Middle East that followed, bringing increased tension and security issues.
In 2006, when the Franciscan Sisters of the Eucharist decided to start a center in Jamaica, Sr. Naomi worked there for four years. In 2011, she returned to Jerusalem but gained a completely different perspective working in the Old City Jerusalem with the Franciscan Custody, while also consulting for the Holy Child Program.
Sr. Naomi looking out on the Old City Jerusalem.
In 2017, the sisters moved closer to the heart of Jerusalem, to the compound of the Capuchin Friars, which is in the heart of a Jewish neighborhood. Her work, first in the Secretariate of the Custody, and now in the Christian Information Center has enabled her to build relationships with more Israeli people, allowing for a fuller understanding of the people and land where she has lived for so long. As she said, “Both the Palestinians and the Israelis are diverse people with ancient histories and immense talents.”
Language continues to be difficult for her to master. She has learned some Arabic for basic communication, Hebrew, and basic Italian, but joked, “I provide entertainment when I attempt to speak Arabic and Italian comes out.” Simple sentences usually work, and phone translators have proven to be amazing tools.
The war that began on October 7, 2023, has reignited the divisions and suffering between Palestinians and Jews. Living in Jerusalem, Sr. Naomi explained,
“Most of the time we can forget that there is a war around us. But it is eerily quiet, people are tense, things are extremely expensive. Every once in a while, a rocket is sent this way, and we have sirens. And your heart rate spikes, and you go to your protected area until you get the signal that you can go out again. And you pray for the people who have experienced this 10 times a day for months, and who have left their homes. And you pray for those who took no part in what happened in Gaza on October 7 but are suffering the consequences.”
The sisters, Sr. Naomi and Sr. Maria David – also a graduate of Holy Apostles – stayed because they felt that they were not in danger, but also because they want to be hope for the Christian communities, who feel they are caught between other people’s conflicts.
Sr. Naomi’s experiences have given her a new perspective on what being a missionary means. “It is about the people we serve and what they need at a particular moment, not what we have to offer them.” She feels that this 2025 Jubilee Year of peace and hope will offer strength to the Christian communities in the Holy Land.
Dec 5, 2024 | News
It was a celebratory night at the TPC River Highlands on Saturday, October 26, when alumni and friends of Holy Apostles College and Seminary gathered for a special evening to benefit the Holy Apostles Seminary Scholarship Fund.
Proceeds from the event will provide important funding to support vocations to the priesthood.
(l to r) Fr. Rooney, Fr. Ray Introvigne, and Fr. Peter Kucer
During the evening, President-Rector Fr. Peter Kucer presented the Holy Apostles Leadership Award to Fr. Ray Introvigne for his many years of service to the Catholic Church. Fr. Ray, who grew up in Stafford Springs, Connecticut, celebrated his 60th year as a priest this past May and graduated in the first class of Holy Apostles in 1960. He was appointed in 1977 to be the full-time director of Charismatic Renewal in the Norwich Diocese and continues with the Spiritual Renewal program to this day.
In his acceptance speech, Fr. Ray explained that he had not planned on the priesthood, and if not for Holy Apostles it may not have happened. He recalled that, before World War II, if a boy did not go to both Catholic grammar school and high school, they could not become a priest.
However, with the help of his pastor — and the Holy Spirit — Fr. Ray went to Boston to catch up on his Latin, French, English, and religious studies. Upon his return to Connecticut, Fr. Eusebe Menard, M.S.A. called and asked Fr. Ray to come and help him open the new Holy Apostles Seminary to which Fr. Ray agreed. As he said, “Holy Apostles is a gift of the Holy Spirit.”
Holy Apostles was the first seminary in the country to accept men with delayed vocations. As a result, many graduates of Holy Apostles are priests in dioceses across the country and in various religious orders both nationally and internationally.
Another guest speaker of the evening was recent graduate, Fr. Daniel Valente, M.S.A., who received his Master of Divinity degree from Holy Apostles in December 2023 and his Master of Arts in Sacred Scripture in May 2024.
Fr. Dan is now the Parochial Vicar at the Cathedral of Saint Joseph in Hartford, CT. He spoke to the guests about the support he received at Holy Apostles, and how important that was to his success in becoming a priest. Each day he tries to share the values he learned at Holy Apostles with his parishioners, centered in the Eucharist and the word of God.
Fr. Valente asked all to support the men at Holy Apostles studying for the priesthood, through prayers, time, and resources. As Fr. Valente said, “forming healthy, balanced priests who can
Cristi Shaw, Danielle Cutting, and Sr. Renee Marek, FSE.
meet the needs of the Church today is all our business. It costs money, it takes time, and it takes love. Love for God. Love for our Church. And for every single person’s respective vocation.”
The evening was an opportunity to mingle, enjoy delicious cuisine and listen to uplifting music from the Hosmer Mountain Boys.
We are very thankful for all who supported this important event. If you would like to make a gift to assist the seminary, you can do so at Make a Donation.
Oct 3, 2024 | Alumni, News
Several months ago, my daughter and I attended a retreat at our parish with her 9th grade religious education class. I had seen the speaker, Sean Forrest, previously with my son, and was impressed by his excellent manner of engaging parents and teens as he spoke about his journey of faith progressing from openly demonstrating contempt for religion to identifying Catholicism as the one true faith.
Sean is an alumnus of Holy Apostles College and Seminary, and the Catholic teaching he intertwines with stories about his life are clearly traditional Catholic lessons that anyone at Holy Apostles would recognize. His ability to speak accurately and persuasively about the Catholic faith and evangelize to students and parents, who many times don’t want to be there, is remarkable. He has been the invited speaker for this retreat at our parish for roughly 24 years for that reason.
Sean speaks openly about his progression to Catholicism. He enjoyed a successful career in music– writing songs and playing in large nightclubs, and ski and beach resorts. He played to audiences that included Billy Joel, Christie Brinkley, Alec Baldwin, and Jennifer Garner and played on stage with artists like Vince Gill and The Marshall Tucker Band. He had no use for religion and described his past self as an angry atheist. Although he seemingly had everything anyone could want, he felt something was missing. Over time, using faith and reasoning, he encountered Christ and began on a new path.
His new journey led to the role of youth minister at St. James Church in Stratford, Connecticut, and a few speaking engagements at different parishes. He began sending letters to other parishes, offering to speak about his conversion, and by year three he was booked two years in advance. In his speaking engagements, Sean explains the evidence of God’s existence to others using the same reasoning that helped him come to believe. Sean has been praised by the Most Rev. Peter A. Rosazza, D.D., Auxiliary Bishop Emeritus of the Archdiocese of Hartford as “an outstanding witness to Jesus and to the church and her heritage,” and by the Most Rev. William E. Lori, Archbishop of Baltimore, who stated, “With song, humor, stories, and serious teaching, Sean exemplifies the New Evangelization to which the Church calls each of us.”
During this time, Sean continued with his music– producing, writing, and recording nine CDs. There was still more to the journey, though. Sean realized he was not helping the poor. With God’s grace, he chose to travel to the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere, Haiti, to minister to those who had nothing. The trip left him profoundly moved, and he prayed that if it were God’s will, he would be able to build an orphanage. God responded, and the orphanage was built, and the organization Haiti180 was founded. Sean serves as co-founder, president, and mission leader.When the orphanage was completed, Sean and Haiti180 built a chapel as a reminder for everyone to keep Christ at the heart of everything. After that came a school with 350 students who will speak three languages upon graduation.
Sean next wanted to help the lonely elderly, who many times die alone in their huts. With God’s help, Haiti180 built a home for them, and they and the children began developing grandparent-style relationships. In 2020, Haiti180 completed a state-of-the-art medical facility that will help thousands with urgent care, maternity, dental and eye, cardiology, radiology, and lab work. Women are able to give birth in a safe place instead of their huts and people do not have to walk for hours to receive treatment.
In addition to the speaking engagements, music writing and production, and mission work, Sean enrolled at Holy Apostles College and Seminary in 2006. “I truly just wanted to keep knowing more about this amazing faith. Holy Apostles was a great choice because it was solidly Catholic, and the instructors were so engaging.” In May 2011, he earned a BA in Theology. Sean’s journey is one of a man who had everything the secular world says is important: money, a condo on the beach, boats, and cars. And yet he recognized he was missing something. Once he embraced God and trusted His plan, he was able to do so much for so many. As he said, “Through God’s grace all this work has happened”. Sean’s family works on the Haiti180 mission with him, and his son plans to eventually take Sean’s place as president.
The message Sean Forrest effectively brings to teenagers – and adults – is that, without Christ, the secular world may make you rich but will not satisfy you inside. Being Catholic is hard, but it is the one true Church that God gave us, and the payoff is great.
Holy Apostles College and Seminary www.holyapostles.edu is a NECHE and ATS accredited college with a mission of preparing and educating seminarians, consecrated and lay students for the New Evangelization through undergraduate and graduate programs. Students have access to faithfully Catholic, truly affordable, and fully online programs as well as residential religious programs in historic Cromwell, Connecticut. As a pioneer in online learning, Holy Apostles is one of the first theological schools to offer 100% online graduate programs. Alumni and faculty of the institution include internationally recognized leaders and experts in apologetics, philosophy, and theology.
