Dec 8, 2023 | News
Unlocking the Soul of Sacred Theology
“[T]he study of the sacred page is, as it were, the soul of sacred theology (Dei Verbum, §24). With these words, the Second Vatican Council underlined the importance of studying the Word of God in Sacred Scripture. The Catholic Church recognizes Sacred Scripture as the inspired Word of God, written through the unerring inspiration of the Holy Ghost. All Catholics are encouraged to devoutly and prayerfully read Scripture each day in order to deepen their understanding of and love for God.
Cultivating Leaders for Evangelization: Holy Apostles’ Mission
As part of our mission to cultivate Catholic leaders for the purpose of evangelization, Holy Apostles is launching a Master of Sacred Scripture program that will give students the opportunity to study the 73 books of Sacred Scripture. Using commentaries, homilies, and glosses from the Fathers of the Church, as well as those of contemporary biblical scholars, you will study the Scriptures in light of the Church’s living tradition. In the 6th century, a Roman monk named Cassiodorus wrote, “Beloved, let us ascend without hesitation to Holy Scripture through the excellent commentaries of the Fathers, as if on the ladder of Jacob’s ladder, by which the angels ascend and descend.” Recognizing the Church Fathers’ invaluable contribution to biblical exegesis, each course in the program is rooted in Patristic writings. You will also study the works of contemporary biblical scholars who uphold the Church’s infallible teachings and interpretations of Sacred Scripture. Studying the entire Bible in light of the Church’s traditional teachings will enrich your personal prayer life, deepen your understanding of the Bible, and equip you to explain and defend the true meaning of the Scriptures to others.
Ascending the Ladder of Wisdom
To this end, you will also learn to read and translate the Bible in its original languages. With courses in Greek or Hebrew (or both if you would like!), you will learn to understand the original meaning of the ancient texts without needing to rely on others’ translations. Not all versions of the Bible are translated faithfully; William Tyndale’s famous translation, which contributed to the future King James Version, contained “over 2,000 errors” in the New Testament alone (Catholic Answers). While the Church recommends many accurate vernacular translations, it is important for Catholics to understand the texts in their original languages, without the changes that inevitably result from translation. Oftentimes in apologetics discussions, questions involving translation discrepancies will arise. Having a firm understanding of the sacred texts in their original languages equips the Catholic apologist to better defend the Faith. “Knowledge of the sacred languages is essential not only for comprehension but for what follows after the completion of this degree…for anyone who seeks to take up Our Lord’s command to evangelize, to make disciples of all nations,” explains Dr. Andrew Blaski, program director for our Master of Sacred Scripture.
An Innovative Approach
As a student of our Master of Sacred Scripture program, you will walk in the footsteps of the great Catholic theologians of the past two millennia. By studying the teachings of the Church Fathers and reading the Bible in its original languages, you will learn to understand the true meaning of each sacred book. As St. Jerome famously said, “Ignorance of the Scriptures is ignorance of Christ.” It is our hope that the Master of Sacred Scripture program will lead you deeper in your relationship with God through a better understanding of His eternal word.
Our Master of Sacred Scripture program officially launches in the upcoming spring semester, which begins January 8, 2024. We would love for you to join us in studying Sacred Scripture! You can view the course schedule for the program and apply on our website. Our admissions office is always happy to answer any questions you may have as they assist you through the application process. Please prayerfully consider applying to our program and studying Sacred Scripture with us!
About the author: Chantal LaFortune is a writer for Missio Dei and the editor of several books for En Route Books & Media. The Society of Classical Poets has published several of her poems. She is studying theology and English at Holy Apostles College & Seminary.
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.
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.
