White Holy Apostles Logo with crest
From Wall Street to the Priesthood

From Wall Street to the Priesthood

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.

Community Gathering

Community Gathering

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. 

Holy Apostles Alumnus Elected Provincial Superior

Holy Apostles Alumnus Elected Provincial Superior

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.

Update Jan. 26: CARES Act Emergency Grants to Students – Disclosure per the Department of Education

CARES Act Emergency Grants to Students – Disclosure per the Department of Education

1. An acknowledgment that the school signed and returned the Certification and Agreement and the assurance that the institution used—or intends to use—at least 50 percent of the Cares Act funds received for emergency grants to students.

HACS has signed and returned the Certification and Agreement and has used 100% of the Cares Act funds received for the Institutional Portion.

2. The total amount of funds a school received from ED.

The allocated amount awarded by the Department of Ed to HACS was $22,522 of which $11,261 was scheduled for disbursement by January 10, 2021, to on campus students who experienced sudden disruption, and $11,261 was scheduled for disbursement for institutional technological needs. Those students in our online programs are not eligible due to no disruption in their mode of delivery. 

3. The total amount of emergency grants distributed to students as of the posting/submission date.

The total amount of emergency grants distributed as of 01/10/21 is $11,261 (see below for a description of the disbursement procedures).

4. The total amount for the institutional portion as of the posting/submission date. 

The total amount for the institutional portion spent as of 01/26/21 is $11,261.

The upgrading of the wireless infrastructure to support on campus students engaged in emergency remote learning and connecting through the wireless network cost $10,460

The subscription of several faculty to Zoom services to engage the on campus students in emergency remote learning cost the remainder of the Institutional Portion of $801. 

This Disclosure to be updated quarterly. However, as the funds are depleted as of this report date of 01/26/21 this is the final report concerning the Institutional Portion of the grant.

January 10: CARES Act Emergency Grants to Students – Disclosure per the Department of Education

CARES Act Emergency Grants to Students – Disclosure per the Department of Education

1. An acknowledgement that the school signed and returned the Certification and Agreement and the assurance that the institution used—or intends to use—at least 50 percent of the Cares Act funds received for emergency grants to students.

HACS has signed and returned the Certification and Agreement and will use at least 50% of the Cares Act funds received for emergency grants to students.

2. The total amount of funds a school received—or will receive—from ED.

The allocated amount awarded by the Department of Ed to HACS was $22,522 of which $11,261 will go to on campus students who experienced sudden disruption. Those students in our online programs are not eligible due to no disruption in their mode of delivery.

3. The total amount of emergency grants distributed to students as of the posting/submission date.

The total amount of emergency grants distributed as of 01/10/21 is $11,261.

4. The estimated number of students eligible to participate in the emergency grant program (the number of Title IV eligible students under Section 484 of the Higher Education Act).

The estimated number of students eligible to participate in the emergency grant program is 17.

5. The total number of students who have received emergency grants under the CARES Act.

The total number of students who have received the emergency grants as of 01/10/21 is 10
The total number of students who have declined the emergency grants as of 01/10/21 is 3
The total number of students who have not responded as of 01/10/21 is 4.

6. The method(s) used to determine which students received the emergency grants and how much they received.

The method used to determine which students received the emergency grants was to adhere to the requirement that our on campus students be Title IV eligible under Section 484 of the HEA.

The method of how much they received in the first Award Offers was to divide both undergrad and graduate students into two categories: full time and less than full time. Then using the Pell Chart schedule to assign the full time students the maximum amount of the lowest cell $775 and the less than full time students were assigned half that amount or $388.

The second Award Offer was based on need according to the FAFSA. Students were sent another Award Offer acknowledging that they still had needs according to the criteria previously established. The first checks of this second wave commenced on 7/22/20. The final checks were sent on 11/20/20.

7. Any instructions, directions, or guidance provided to students concerning the emergency grants.

Students who had not submitted a FAFSA had to self attest to eligibility in the first letter issued 5/15. As these letters were returned, the Award Offer was issued with the initial awarded amount. The student again needed to self attest that they had needs that met or exceed the awarded amount related to the disruption of their classes on campus due to coronavirus including expenses under a student’s cost of attendance such as food, housing, course materials, technology, health care and child care. As these letters were returned the checks were issued.

As noted in #6, another Award was offered to eligible students based on need, not enrollment status, according to their FAFSA.

This Disclosure to be updated quarterly. However as the funds are depleted as of this report date of 01/10/21 this is the final report.

October 10: CARES Act Emergency Grants to Students – Disclosure per the Department of Education

CARES Act Emergency Grants to Students – Disclosure per the Department of Education

  1. An acknowledgement that the school signed and returned the Certification and Agreement and the assurance that the institution used—or intends to use—at least 50 percent of the Cares Act funds received for emergency grants to students.

HACS has signed and returned the Certification and Agreement and will use at least 50% of the Cares Act funds received for emergency grants to students. 

  1. The total amount of funds a school received—or will receive—from ED.

The allocated amount awarded by the Department of Ed to HACS was $22,522 of which $11,261 will go to on campus students who experienced sudden disruption.  Those students in our online programs are not eligible due to no disruption in their mode of delivery.

  1. The total amount of emergency grants distributed to students as of the posting/submission date.

The total amount of emergency grants distributed as of 10/10/20 is $9,756.

4. The estimated number of students eligible to participate in the emergency grant program (the number of Title IV eligible students under Section 484 of the Higher Education Act).

The estimated number of students eligible to participate in the emergency grant program is 17.

5. The total number of students who have received emergency grants under the CARES Act.

The total number of students who have received the emergency grants as of 10/10/20 is 10 

The total number of students who have declined the emergency grants as of 10/10/20 is 3

The total number of students who have not responded as of 10/10/20 is 4. 

 6. The method(s) used to determine which students received the emergency grants and how much they received.

The method used to determine which students received the emergency grants was to adhere to the requirement that our oncampus students be Title IV eligible under Section 484 of the HEA.

The method of how much they received in the first Award Offers was to divide both undergrad and graduate students into two categories:  full time and less than full time.  Then using the Pell Chart schedule to assign the full time students the maximum amount of the lowest cell $775 and the less than full time students were assigned half that amount or $388.

The second Award Offer was based on need according to the FAFSA.  Students were sent another Award Offer acknowledging that they still had needs according to the criteria previously established.  The first checks of this second wave commenced on 7/22/20. 

7. Any instructions, directions, or guidance provided to students concerning the emergency grants.

Students who had not submitted a FAFSA had to self attest to eligibility in the first letter issued 5/15.  As these letters were returned, the Award Offer was issued with the initial awarded amount.  The student again needed to self attest that they had needs that met or exceed the awarded amount related to the disruption of their classes on campus due to coronavirus including expenses under a student’s cost of attendance such as food, housing, course materials, technology, health care and child care. As these letters were returned the checks were issued.

As noted in #6, another Award was offered to eligible students based on need, not enrollment status, according to their FAFSA. 

This Disclosure to be updated quarterly.  The next required update is due on January 10, 2021.