Sep 1, 2026 | Alumni, News
Renzo Ortega and his wife, Monica, started their podcast, Two Become Family, in 2022. In the wake of COVID-19 and virtual marriage prep, the Ortegas decided to launch their ministry after years of work as marriage preparation coordinators and facilitators. Their ministry is built around sharing the practical applications of authentic Catholic theology within marriage and family life. Besides their weekly podcasts, which aim to “restore confidence in marriage and family life” through accompaniment and their real-life experience of marriage, the Ortegas are also fellows at the St. John Paul II Foundation and travel nationally as speakers for the Together in Holiness marriage conference series.
Today, they have a wide audience in the Catholic sphere and have appeared on features from EWTN and the Knights of Columbus. They have also authored or co-authored three books, including Lovemaking: How to Talk about Sex with Your Spouse and the family devotional Go to Joseph for Children. Renzo is also the author of the forthcoming book Quest for the Male Soul: Discover What Your Life is For, which will be published by Ave Maria Press in January 2027. Their experience of living a Catholic marriage is not only relatable, but also authentically grounded in the perennial truths of the Catholic faith, where they witness the good and the hard coexisting. This hopeful dimension to their work truly makes them Catholic leaders in the New Evangelization. We were happy to sit down with Renzo, who graduated from Holy Apostles in May 2022 with a Master of Arts in Theology (Apologetics concentration), to hear more about his experience as a student and how that impacts his ministry with his wife.
1. How did studying theology and apologetics at Holy Apostles shape the way you think about communicating the Catholic faith—not just academically, but especially in the context of everyday marriage and family life?
Studying theology and apologetics taught me that communicating the Catholic faith is not just about having the right answer. The truth must be communicated clearly, but it must also be communicated in a way that helps people recognize how that truth speaks into the circumstances of their lived experiences.
Many Catholics know that the Church has beautiful things to say about marriage and family life, but they still struggle with the human, day-to-day reality of living out those teachings. There can be a real gap between understanding the theology of marriage and knowing how to live it around the kitchen table.
My education helped me become more confident in entering that gap, because it gave me the theological foundation to remain faithful to the Church while translating complex ideas without compromising their depth. That has shaped everything Monica and I do. We want people to encounter the wisdom of the Church, but we also want them to feel accompanied by people who understand that marriage is beautiful, sacramental, holy, and also deeply human.
2. You graduated from Holy Apostles in 2022, the same year you launched Two Become Family with Monica. How did your experience as a student intersect with or prepare you for the ministry you are doing today?
My studies and the launch of Two Become Family were deeply connected. Monica and I began the ministry because young adults we had previously served in youth ministry were entering serious relationships, discerning marriage, and beginning families of their own. They were asking important questions, and we wanted to remain connected with them and continue those conversations.
Holy Apostles gave me the theological framework to engage those questions responsibly. At the same time, our own marriage gave us the lived experience to recognize that people usually need more than information transfer. They need accompaniment, authentic relationships, and the witness of couples who are willing to speak honestly about both the grace of the sacrament and the very real human formation marriage requires.
That intersection has become central to our apostolate. We are not interested in merely repeating theological concepts, but we also don’t want to offer advice based only on our personal experiences. My time at Holy Apostles prepared me to do that with greater confidence, clarity, and fidelity.
3. For someone considering studying at Holy Apostles, what would you say they can gain from the experience beyond earning a degree, especially if they hope to use their education in ministry or evangelization?
Beyond earning a degree, Holy Apostles can give a person the intellectual and spiritual tools to continue learning long after the program ends. Ministry constantly presents questions you have never encountered before. No degree can prepare you with a memorized answer for every pastoral situation, but a strong theological education can teach you where to look, how to think, and how to discern whether an answer is faithful to what the Church has given us.
It can also give you greater humility. The more deeply you enter the treasury of the Church, the more aware you become of how much you do not know. My time at Holy Apostles did not produce insecurity but freed me from believing that ministry depends upon my ability to be the expert in every room.
For someone hoping to serve in ministry or evangelization, that combination of confidence and humility is incredibly important. You become better equipped to accompany people searching for God, meaning, and direction without making yourself the center of their journey.
Sep 1, 2026 | 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.
Dennis Quentin McInerny, 89, entered eternal life on December 11, 2025. A faithful Catholic, Navy veteran, scholar, and professor, he devoted his life to the study and teaching of philosophy and theology. He taught at several Catholic institutions and was remembered as a loving example of faith to his family and those who knew him.
Holy Apostles is grateful for the generous legacy gift provided by Dennis from his estate that will help us carry on the important work of faithful Catholic education.
Mr. Jeffery Allen Fox departed this world peacefully on May 7, 2026, after a short battle with cancer. A native of Kankakee, IL, John’s life was a testament to faith, family, and service. He was committed to serving the Church throughout the world in his various assignments as Parish Coordinator and Religious Education Director at military bases, including those in Germany and Italy. In 2025, he received his Master of Arts in Theology (Summa Cum Laude) from Holy Apostles College & Seminary.
Thérèse Catharine “T.C.” McGuirk passed away on July 13, 2026. A gifted classically trained sculptor and painter, T.C. created numerous works of sacred and civic significance, including the life-size bronze statue of Msgr. Joseph V. King displayed near St. Patrick Cathedral in Norwich, Connecticut. Her life was marked by a deep and unwavering Catholic faith, devotion to her family, and a desire that others show greater kindness to one another.
Dr. James J. Lavelle, 81, entered eternal life on July 3, 2026. A devoted educator and lifelong learner, Dr. Lavelle dedicated his life to teaching, encouraging, and inspiring his students. His own love of learning continued throughout his life, culminating in earning his Master of Arts in Theology, cum laude, from Holy Apostles College & Seminary in 2005.
Constance Ann (Allen) Rotondo, 63, entered eternal life on July 8, 2026. A devout Catholic, she generously shared her faith through catechesis, bereavement ministry, prayer, and service to the Church. She was remembered as a woman of deep faith who used her gifts to serve and encourage others. Constance earned her Master of Arts in Theology from Holy Apostles College & Seminary in 2022.
Aug 20, 2026 | News
Join Us for Opening Mass
The beginning of a new academic and formation year is a moment filled with hope, excitement, and gratitude. We would love for you to begin the semester with us in prayer.
Monday, August 24 at 11:00 AM ET
Our Lady, Queen of the Apostles Chapel
Join us on our Cromwell, CT campus or online via holyapostles.edu/live
Whether you are joining us on campus or studying with us from afar, we are grateful to have you as part of the Holy Apostles community.
Jun 8, 2026 | News
Cromwell, Connecticut — Holy Apostles College and Seminary will launch its PhD in Theology program in Fall 2026. Accredited by the Association of Theological Schools (ATS) and the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE), the program is the first doctoral program at Holy Apostles and the first faithfully Catholic 100% online PhD in Theology.
Holy Apostles’ PhD. in Theology will be offered through a combination of asynchronous coursework and live synchronous seminars, making advanced theological formation accessible to students regardless of geographic location.
Program Director Dr. Joshua Madden shares, “The PhD in Theology is an innovative program that allows students to plumb the depths of the Christian Tradition for the sake of building up both the Church and the Academy.”
More than a terminal degree, the PhD in Theology is a path toward becoming a teacher of teachers, one who draws from Scripture, the Church Fathers, Doctors of the Church, and the entire breadth of Tradition to illuminate truth for a searching world.
The new doctoral program continues Holy Apostles’ promise to alumni and students to provide opportunities for those who desire not simply to know theology but to hand it on. Dr. Kristina Olsen, VP of Academic Affairs, adds, “Our PhD graduates will contribute meaningfully to theological scholarship to support and promote the love of God, the teaching of the faith, and Catholic evangelization throughout the world.”
Students will earn a PhD in Theology and may specialize in one of four concentrations: Sacred Scripture, Thomistic Studies, Moral and Spiritual Theology, and Dogmatic and Historical Theology. Additionally, students will learn to conduct advanced theological research, engage deeply with primary sources, contribute original scholarship to the Catholic intellectual tradition, and form the next generation of Church leaders. The program will admit a small, select cohort of students, allowing for close faculty mentorship and scholarly collaboration.
For more information or to apply to the PhD in Theology Program, visit holyapostles.edu/phd-in-theology/ or contact the Admissions Office at 860-632-3000 or [email protected].
Jun 4, 2026 | News
Cromwell, Connecticut — Holy Apostles College and Seminary will keep undergraduate tuition unchanged for the 2026-2027 academic year. This marks the fourth year in a row that undergraduate tuition has remained the same.
At a time when college costs continue to rise, Holy Apostles follows a different path. We believe a faithful Catholic education should be accessible and affordable, not something that leaves students burdened by debt.
Fr. Peter Kucer, President-Rector, often reminds us, “A debt-free graduate is a gift to the Church.” That is why Holy Apostles remains committed to helping students earn accredited degrees at an affordable cost.
At Holy Apostles, affordability is only part of our mission. Recently, Pope Leo XIV reminded Catholic colleges and universities that they must cultivate in students a passion for the truth, and that truth is Christ Himself. This mission has guided Holy Apostles since its founding: a mission to form the whole person–to cultivate Catholic leaders with the heart of Christ.
By keeping tuition affordable, we seek to make that formation accessible to more students who desire an education rooted in academic excellence, faithful Catholic teaching, and a deeper understanding of their vocation.
Why Students Choose Holy Apostles
- Faithful Catholic education rooted in the Church’s intellectual tradition
- A commitment to affordability
- Flexible online options that fit real-life needs
Faithful. Affordable. Flexible.
Whether you’re discerning your future studies, preparing for a career, or seeking to better serve the Church, Holy Apostles is here to accompany you every step of the way.
Live your mission with Holy Apostles College & Seminary.
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.
Jun 2, 2026 | News
June 2 | 7 PM ET
Join us for a community-wide reflection on Pope Leo XIV’s new encyclical, Magnifica humanitas.
In this lecture and open conversation, we will explore what the Holy Father is asking of us as a Catholic institution formed and united in the digital age. Together, we’ll consider how the encyclical’s vision of the human person can guide our teaching, learning, and witness as an on-campus and online community.
All faculty, staff, and students are warmly invited to gather, listen, and share in this moment of discernment for Holy Apostles.
Join the Zoom Meeting!
