Mar 1, 2024 | News
Article by Fr. Jeffrey “Skip” Thompson, MSA
March is “Fr. Menard Month” for the Missionaries of the Holy Apostles to honor the priest who founded our MSA and the seminary that bears its name. Back in 1943-46, the first ministry of the charismatic young Franciscan priest Fr. Eusebe Menard were retreats that attracted “a few good, older men” to discern priestly vocations. To facilitate his unique mission Fr. Menard built a retreat house and seminaries with significant help from a faithful layman: Mr. Hector Durand.
Fr. Menard and Mr. Durand co-founded the “Missionaries of the Holy Apostles” in Montreal, Canada in 1951. Their apostolate expanded into the U.S. with the help of Br. Joseph Barabie, a former real estate man, who founded the site that in 1957, eventually became Holy Apostles College and Seminary in Cromwell, CT.
Br. Barabie later moved out to California to live and serve with the Camaldolese Benedictine monks, who had just founded New Camaldoli Hermitage in the magnificent Big Sur region on the central California coast as a place of retreat. One eventual retreater was Jeffrey “Skip” Thompson who went there from 2003 to 2006 and reverted to his childhood Catholic faith.
During one of Skip’s retreats in 2004, however, Br. Barabie died and Skip was invited to assist the monks move his body. He stayed for Br. Barabie’s funeral mass and noted his last words on his program, not anticipating how Barabie’s MSA identity as one of Menard’s men would guide his future vocation. In 2008 he began to discern the priesthood and flew east to meet MSA vocation director, Fr. Brad Pierce of happy memory. When he learned about Skip’s retreats to New Camoldoli. Fr. Brad recalled that Br. Barabie went out to live in that same place. He asked Skip if he met Br. Barabie and when he learned that 4 years earlier he had helped bury Fr. Menard’s old assistant he declared it “providential.” Fr. Brad concluded, “You can’t make that happen! You belong with us.” It was a moment of amazing grace!
After his ordination in 2015, the new Father Skip worked for 5 years at HACS as Dean of Seminarians along with several other Provincial jobs. What was also providential was his opportunity to return to California to pursue a Menard-like ministry of retreats in 2020. In 2022, he met with Auxiliary Bishop Robert Barron. They agreed on operating a retreat house and a contract was struck with MSA Provincial Fr. Martin Rooney and the good bishop to run the new Retreat House at the Santa Clara Parish in Oxnard, CA, for the Archdiocese of Los Angeles. Another thing you can’t make happen! Bishop Barron’s comment to Fr. Skip was: “It’s all grace!” Indeed. Amazing.
Fr. Skip moved into the retreat house on Menard Day, March 26, 2022, and since then has partnered with laymen to support retreat offerings there and God-willing, help a few good men to discern their particular calling to the priesthood.
Reflecting on the value of retreats, Fr. Skip observes that they “involve one’s deliberate choice to make time to be with Jesus Christ in prayer and reflection. And that’s what allows grace to flow to hear his call to follow him!”
“Draw close to God and he will draw close to you.” James 4:8. Call the house at 805.330.8260 or email: retreathouse@santaclaraparish.org. Fr. Skip would love to hear from you. Get thee to a retreat house!
Nov 28, 2023 | Alumni, News
Caption: Very Reverend Daniel Reehil,
V.F. and President Rector Fr. Peter
Kucer at the Boston Marian Conference
Very Reverend Daniel Reehil, V.F., is the Pastor of St. Catherine of Siena Church in the Nashville area and has a fascinating story about his journey to the priesthood.
As a Wall Street banker in Manhattan in the 1990s, he was invited to take a trip to Medjugorje in 1998 after being away from the church for twenty years. During confession, the priest told him that he believed he had a vocation. This life-altering pilgrimage began a transformational conversion for him.
The experience led him to re-evaluate his life, and so after 9/11, he moved to Boston to begin his formation under the mentorship of Fr. Tom Dilorenzo. Later, Fr. Dan attended Holy Apostles College and Seminary and completed his MDiv in 2014. During that time, he also spent five years in a contemplative hermitage
Along with his busy pastoral responsibilities and his role as Treasurer of the Diocesan Bank of Nashville CCIL, Fr. Dan also leads an engaging radio broadcast at 9:00 am CT called Battle Ready on Radio Maria USA, discussing a variety of topics relevant to our times and to advancing the Gospel.
Fr. Dan is also a well-known exorcist of the Diocese of Nashville. In fact, he was featured this past October on Fox News warning of the dangers of Ouija boards.
In 2018, he received his exorcism training at Ateneo Pontificio Regina Apostolorum in Rome and completed intensive spiritual warfare training with the Intercessors of the Lamb in Omaha. He has seen unusual paranormal experiences and strange manifestations in his role of exorcist but remains undaunted.
“As I approach the 10th anniversary of my ordination to the priesthood, I am continually thankful for the solid, orthodox formation I was afforded at Holy Apostles Seminary and College. The strong work ethic and mission to serve, coupled with an excellent academic formation and a dedicated discipline of prayer and adoration have given me the tools to cultivate a rhythm of life to faithfully serve the parish and various ministries I shepherd,” said Fr. Reehil
“I have also maintained many solid friendships with the men I befriended at Holy Apostles Seminary; friendships that have grown into a brotherhood and relationships I am so grateful to have formed while in seminary.”
Fr. Reehil is in demand and travels extensively for speaking engagements worldwide. This fall, he was a guest speaker at the Boston Marian Conference in Quincy, Massachusetts. At the conference, he shared stories about the importance of following the leading of the Holy Spirit as we live out our Christian calling.
“As pastor of St. Catherine of Siena Parish in Columbia, TN, and as the Exorcist of the Diocese of Nashville, Fr. Dan Reehil is placing his many gifts at the service of the Church in a truly Christ-centered manner, “said Fr. Kucer. “Holy Apostles College & Seminary is blessed to have formed Fr. Reehil at our seminary. May Fr. Reehil and his ministry be blessed abundantly and flourish in accordance with God’s will.”
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.
Nov 28, 2023 | News
On Thursday, October 12, we gathered in our chapel for the Mass to celebrate Blessed Carlo Acutis on his feast day and as a reminder of the passion, powerful mystery, and gift that receiving the Eucharist is for us all.
A plaque was placed in the chapel to honor Reverend Douglas Mosey, C.S.B. for his years of service to Holy Apostles College & Seminary followed by an outdoor Eucharistic procession.
We ended the evening with Eucharistic adoration led by Reverend Jeffrey “Skip” Thompson, M.S.A., who presided and gave reflections on “How Jesus Taught His Real Presence in the Eucharist.” Father Thompson has been featured on ETWN’s The Journey Home program.
It was a beautiful day to celebrate with our community and friends!
Click images below to view at full scale.
Oct 31, 2023 | Alumni, News
Pictured: President Rector Fr. Peter Kucer, MSA and Very Reverend Chis Alar, MIC at the National Shrine of The Divine Mercy in Stockbridge, MA, standing in front of the weeping image of Divine Mercy.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 30, 2023
Congratulations to the Very Rev. Chris Alar, MIC, on the news that he is the newly elected Provincial Superior of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of Mercy Province of the Marian Fathers of the Immaculate Conception in the United States and Argentina. Currently, he is also the Director of the Marian Helpers on the grounds of the National Shrine of The Divine Mercy in Stockbridge, Massachusetts.
Fr. Chris Alar received his Master in Divinity degree in 2014 from Holy Apostles College & Seminary in Cromwell, CT.
President Rector Fr. Peter Kucer, MSA, President-Rector of Holy Apostles College & Seminary, recently visited Fr. Alar at the National Shrine of The Divine Mercy. “The service and evangelization that Fr. Alar is doing for the Shrine and our Catholic faith is truly remarkable. His ministry is reaching many people whose lives have been transformed by his teachings and witness of life,” said Fr. Kucer. “Holy Apostles College & Seminary is truly blessed to have formed at our seminary this exemplary, Christ-centered, inspirational priest who is placing his many gifts at the service of extending the Kingdom of God.”
Like other delayed vocation priests who attended Holy Apostles Seminary, Fr. Chris was a successful business owner living a worldly life before he decided to become a priest. Everything changed after he read the diary of St. Faustina and came to realize God’s infinite mercy, especially with his grandmother’s suicide that had impacted him. This experience led Fr. Chris to write the book After Suicide: There’s Still Hope for Them and You (2019).
“I am very grateful for the formation and education I received at Holy Apostles College and Seminary. It is the foundation of my priesthood, built on a life of prayer that was also fostered in me during my time there. As I give many talks around the world, I often explain what I am teaching is what I learned at HACS, a seminary faithful to the teachings of Christ and His Church”, said Fr. Alar.
Every Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. on EWTN, Fr. Chris hosts Living Divine Mercy, reaching millions of viewers with helpful information about the Catholic faith with inspirational stories. He also travels the globe giving popular talks on the messages of Divine Mercy and relevant teachings for our times.
The National Shrine of The Divine Mercy hosts thousands of visitors yearly at its beautiful chapel and grounds in the Berkshires and promotes the messages and devotions of God’s mercy given to Saint Maria Faustina Kowalska OLM.
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 the areas of apologetics, philosophy, and theology.
Feb 3, 2023 | Uncategorized
The Graduate Pastoral Studies Department is pleased to announce a community-wide rosary initiative, and you are invited to attend via Zoom on February 15, March 15, and April 12 at 7:00 PM Eastern time. Everyone will receive the link; no RSVP is necessary. We will gather for the praying of the rosary, which should only take about 20-30 minutes.
The Rationale
Each Catholic campus, and even more, every seminary, is to be a cenacle of prayer and an oasis where the community can grow in holiness, faith, and charity. Placing ourselves in the Sacred Heart of Jesus through the Immaculate Heart of Mary, the Pastoral Studies Department is pleased to announce this all-new rosary initiative, which contributes toward the spiritual growth and nourishment of the entire academic community, both on campus and online. Our community wide rosary will take place once a month for three months of the semester. All are invited, whether on campus or online, from your area of the world: undergraduates, graduates, alumni, faculty and staff.
The Logistics
Each semester, a student will be appointed as the Rosary Chaplain. He/she will organize and lead a rosary via Zoom for the academic community each month for three consecutive months of the semester. Again, the entire rosary event, will only last about 20-30 minutes. Any student who is interested in serving as the Rosary Chaplain for the spring semester, please contact the Pastoral Studies Program Director, Dr. J. Marianne Siegmund (msiegmund@holyapostles.edu).
When
The dates for the spring rosary are February 15, March 15 and April 12 at 7:00 PM Eastern time via Zoom. Spread the word, and plan on attending the first community wide rosary on February 15!
Benefits
The benefits of praying the holy rosary are many. For example, one can gain at plenary or partial indulgence under the usual conditions. For more, see The Enchiridion on Indulgences #48. The rosary also helps one to grow in peace and in union with our loving Father in Heaven. Bring a greater sense of peace to your life, your family, and your academic endeavors at Holy Apostles by joining us in praying the holy rosary! One need not be Catholic to attend. For additional benefits, see the 15 Promises to Those Who Pray the Rosary.
Join Us!
Shortly before each rosary event, you will receive a Zoom link. Click on it to join your Holy Apostles academic community in this contemplative, peaceful 20-30 minute time of prayer. It is not necessary to have your video camera on. For questions, please contact the Pastoral Studies Program Director, Dr. Siegmund (msiegmund@holyapostles.edu). We look forward to having you join the spring Holy Apostles community wide rosary on February 15, March 15 and April 12 at 7:00 PM Eastern time!
