Sep 5, 2024 | News
Please join us for a special series of talks on the Creed this Fall! Holy Apostles College & Seminary is hosting a FREE lecture series entitled “Faith of the Apostles” which is suited for the layperson. The next talk will be on Tuesday, September 10 at 6:00 pm and will continue weekly until the end of November at our Cromwell, CT campus.
Each talk is dedicated to a separate line of the Apostles Creed. The fantastic Theology faculty at Holy Apostles will be alternating presentations with a focus on the intellectual to deepen your spiritual life and understanding of the Holy Catholic faith. Registration is not required. You are welcome to come to each talk or just a few. These serve as an excellent opportunity for adult faith formation and to connect with others. Please share with your family, friends, and parish!
Special thanks to the Order of Malta North East Area and Queen of Apostles Preparatory Academy for sponsoring this event. Location: Queen of Apostles Chapel Basement, 33 Prospect Hill Road, Cromwell, CT 06416
For more information and specific dates and topics, please download the Speaker Series Flyer.
Sep 5, 2024 | Alumni, News
The recent National Eucharistic Congress, held in Indianapolis in July, drew more than 50,000 attendees and featured alumni speakers from Holy Apostles College & Seminary, including well-known Catholic apologist Trent Horn.
Trent serves as a staff apologist for the popular media ministry Catholic Answers. He specializes in “teaching Catholics to graciously and persuasively engage those who disagree with them.” He also hosts his podcast, The Counsel of Trent.
At the National Eucharistic Congress, Trent spoke on one of his favorite subjects—the Eucharist—and provided arguments against attacks on the Eucharist, disproving claims that it is merely symbolic.
In his presentation, Trent also demonstrated that only the real presence of Christ in the Eucharist can explain why the sacrifice of the Mass is a fitting offering for God, as it truly is God the Son being presented to the Father as the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.
Trent earned a Master of Arts in Philosophy from Holy Apostles in 2018 and served as an adjunct professor at the college. He has authored or co-authored over a dozen books, including The Case for Catholicism, Persuasive Pro-life, and Why We’re Catholic: Our Reasons for Faith, Hope, and Love.
“My time at Holy Apostles gave me access to abundant resources that I still use in my podcasts and books to defend the Catholic faith. It also helped me understand new and exciting areas of thought in various fields of Catholic philosophy. Both philosophy and critical thinking are crucial to my defense of the faith, so I wanted to grow in that field and become a better apologist. I chose Holy Apostles because of its fidelity to Church teaching and the college’s flexible format, which served someone like me who is married and works full-time,” said Trent.
According to Catholic speaker, author, and alumnus Matt Fradd ’15, MA ’18, “Trent Horn is a gifted Catholic apologist as well as a compelling speaker. He presents Catholicism in an intelligent, careful, and winsome manner, providing his listeners with a model of how an ambassador of the Church ought to offer an account of our faith in public.”
Trent is a convert to Catholicism. His father was Jewish, and his mother a Protestant (formerly Catholic). He was not religious in his youth but was also not an atheist having more questions than answers at the time.
During his sophomore year of high school, he attended an outing hosted by a Catholic youth group and was later invited to the Holy Mass. This began a deeper dive into the Christian faith and his study of religion. Trent eventually realized that the Catholic faith “really is biblical,” and entered the Church at age 17.
Later, he served in the high school youth group, evangelized on various college campuses, gave talks at pro-life events and parishes, and worked for the Diocese of Phoenix. All of this prepared him for his 2012 position at Catholic Answers.
“Holy Apostles’ commitment to affordability, faithfulness, and flexibility has allowed us to form effective evangelists like Trent Horn in all walks of life. I highly recommend reading his books, especially Why We’re Catholic: Our Reasons for Faith, Hope, and Love,” said President-Rector Fr. Peter Kucer.
Holy Apostles College and Seminary 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.
Sep 5, 2024 | News
Article by Fr. Jeffrey “Skip” Thompson, MSA
Brothers who’ve responded to the call of the priesthood are a special lot. And seminary classmates have a special bond of friendship that comes from studying together in the same place and time and “burning the midnight oil” on the weightiest subject a mind can focus on: God So, it’s good for Alumni to stay in touch.
Earlier in May, I signed up to chaplain a Holland America cruise ship bound for Alaska from Vancouver, B.C. On board, I delivered daily mass, Sunday Masses for passengers and crew and a Sunday fellowship for our “separated protestant brothers and sisters”.
It turns out my old classmate of the Class of 2015, Fr. Larry Lynn, is now Pastor of Our Lady of Lourdes parish in Coquitlam, near Vancouver. I flew up from Los Angeles to spend a week with him before my cruise ministry.
I was present to cover for Fr. Larry one day due to illness. And he invited me to deliver Sunday homilies on John 6 — the Bread of Life discourse — my favorite retreat conference topic! Okay, I’m helping, good stuff.
But before coming I sent Fr. Larry a short treatise by Bishop Michael Burbidge from the Diocese of Arlington, entitled “A Catechesis on the Human Person and Gender Theory.” It is solid information and overdue. Unfortunately, too much “self-censorship” seems to be going on.
Left: Fr. Larry Lynn, Pastor of Our Lady of Lourdes, Coquitlam, B.C., Canada. Right: Fr. Skip Thompson, MSA. Director of the Santa Clara Retreat House in Oxnard, CA. Thinking, walking and talking one day on the Pitt River just north of Coquitlam, and east of Vancouver, B.C.,. You never know what might be dreamed up!
Our countries are drowning in a cesspool of ideology to pervert and ruin our future generations. Parents and parishes need critical help, yesterday, to understand the truth of the human person from the perspective of Christian anthropology — to be able to push back against the culture and save their kids. Priests and bishops need to do their jobs — or else! He who has ears to hear, listen to Ezekiel 3 for details!
So, a fine idea emanated from our little “Alumni mini-reunion.” Why not deliver a conference on this hot, controversial topic? Our kids’ survival is at stake. The Chancery approved it. It’s been promoted to the whole Deanery. And even passengers from the cruise ship are coming! The date is September 5, 2024. Look for a future blub on this event.
But, here’s the takeaway: imagine, what would happen if a larger HACS Alumni reunion gathered together. And imagine the benefits of networking solid, orthodox priests together, all having been formed in the same solid, orthodox seminary together, dealing with issues like this? Just asking.
Sep 5, 2024 | News
Dear Holy Apostles Community,
“Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.” (2 Timothy 1:2 RSVCE)
As we begin the fall semester, I extend my greetings and blessings in the Lord Jesus to you all.
Currently, our campus is being filled with life as our seminarians, student priests, sisters and on-campus commuter students return. I welcome our many students who are joining us online and are part of a robust international community.
I would like to note the appointment of two important administrators Dr. Kristina Olsen Ph.D. as the Vice-President of Academic Affairs and Dr. John O’Neill as the B.A. Theology program coordinator. Dr. O’Neill will also serve as an Assistant Professor of Theology.
Our fall semester and new academic year began on Monday, August 26 with the celebration of Holy Mass at 11:30 a.m. It was followed by the Opening Convocation Ceremony for the 2024-25 academic year. It included the official installation of Dr. Olsen in her new role as Vice-President of Academic Affairs and also the faculty taking the Profession of Faith and Oath of Fidelity.
Left to Right: Very Rev. Peter S. Kucer, MSA (President-Rector), Very Rev. Martin Rooney, MSA (Chancellor), and Dr. Kristina Olsen (Vice President of Academic Affairs)
We look forward to on-campus retreats and online webinars this year including some that are outlined in this newsletter along with our first HACS Scholarship Dinner being held on October 26 in Cromwell, CT.
Please reach out to Cristi Shaw at cshaw@holyapostles.edu with any suggestions and feedback as we work to make the year ahead fulfilling and engaging for our community.
United in the Lord Jesus,
Father Peter Kucer, MSA STD
President-Rector
Aug 27, 2024 | News
Holy Apostles College and Seminary continues to foster its global outreach to form future leaders of the Church. This summer, Fr. Peter Kucer, MSA, President-Rector, with Fr. Son, MSA, and Fr. Declan, embarked on significant recruitment trips to Vietnam and the Philippines.
Foundations for Future Growth
In Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, Fr. Peter and Fr. Son spent time with several religious communities, deepening relationships that have been nurtured over the years. Their efforts resulted in exciting news: a Cistercian community has committed to sending one of their seminarians to Holy Apostles.
After their time in Vietnam, Fr. Peter traveled to the Philippines, where he began building new relationships with bishops and religious superiors.
In Cebu, Fr. Peter, Fr. Declan, and Sister Giselle Santos, SPD, engaged with several key figures, including Fr. Ambrose Kulandairaj, Superior General of the Missionaries of the Poor (MOP). Here, discussions centered on establishing a formation house at Holy Apostles and potential online theological studies.
A meeting with Archbishop Jose Palma of Cebu led to an invitation for Fr. Peter and Fr. Declan to present the Holy Apostles’ mission to the regional board of bishops. This invitation is a clear sign of the growing respect and recognition for Holy Apostles in the Philippines.
The journey continued with meetings across the country, from Tuguegarao to Malolos and Virac. In every instance, each encounter reinforced Holy Apostles’ commitment to supporting the Church’s mission of evangelization and the formation of priests who will serve with love and dedication.
A Global Commitment to the Church’s Mission
These trips to Vietnam and the Philippines are a reflection of Holy Apostles College and Seminary’s deep commitment to the global Church and the seminary’s role in fostering strong relationships that will support the Church’s mission of evangelization.
Aug 27, 2024 | News
Please join us for a special Healing Retreat on Saturday, October 5, 2024, from 9:00 am – 4:00 pm.
The day will begin with the Holy Mass* celebrated by Fr. Dermot Roache, SMA, and followed by talks given by Kathleen McCarthy and Fr. Roache. The retreat will include lunch followed by adoration and confession. This powerful retreat will conclude with an Eucharistic Healing Service and Anointing of the Sick.
Registration & Contact Information
Cost: $35 including lunch
Healing Retreat Invitation (Click to Download)
Participant Registration (Click to Register)
Participant Registration + Fr. Roache’s Book (Click to Register)
For further information, please email Cristi Shaw at cshaw@holyapostles.edu or call 860-632-3017. We are located at 33 Prospect Hill Road, Cromwell, CT 06416
*Please be advised that, in light of the provision of canon 903 CIC and canon 703 CCEO, all priests who wish to celebrate or concelebrate Mass at Holy Apostles College and Seminary are required to present a celebret or Testimonial of Suitability from their Ordinary or Religious Superior. We ask that priests bring their own alb.
About Our Speakers
Fr. Dermot Roache, SMA
Fr. Dermot Roache, SMA is a native New Yorker and has served as a missionary priest with the S.M.A. Fathers in rural parts of Africa as well as in US urban parish settings in Jersey City and Boston. He is currently the vice-provincial of the American Province of the S.M.A. Fathers located in Tenafly, New Jersey. Fr. Dermot directs retreats and missions in many dioceses around the US for both laity and religious. He has a deep love for Our Lady and the Eucharist. Through an experience Fr. Roache had in South Africa, a special apostolate was founded. (Family Divine Mercy) is dedicated to the healing of the family through The Divine Mercy. It is most associated with a particular prayer he authored called, “Act of Consecration of the Family to the Divine Mercy.” Fr. Roache recently published a book of Marian reflections entitled, I am the Virgin Mother of God and your Mother Too.
Kathleen McCarthy
Kathleen McCarthy is President of In His Sign Catholic Radio Network, a Retreat Director, and Published Author. Her current books are titled In The Silence of My Heart (Volumes 1-10). These writings, spanning over ten years of prophetic locutions, have received the Imprimatur and Nihil Obstat of the Catholic Church. Kathleen is also a world-renowned Catholic Evangelist and has led a healing Apostolate for over four decades. Her message is focused on the “Fire of the Holy Spirit” and the Real Presence of Our Lord in the Holy Eucharist. Kathleen has dynamic gifts of Preaching, Teaching, Healing, and of bringing the Sacred Scriptures to life through her story-telling. Kathleen has been hosting a daily radio show for close to two decades which can be seen live on Facebook as well. She has been deeply involved in healing ministry and has led numerous retreats.
