Holy Apostles College & Seminary located in Cromwell, CT, has a history of engaging science in light of our Catholic faith tradition. We are delighted to have recently received a grant, provided by the American Association for the Advancement of Science Dialogue on Science, Ethics, and Religion (DoSER), to host a Zoom-based community workshop entitled “Assessing Contemporary Science in the Light of Faith” presented by Dr. Stacy Trasancos, an adjunct faculty member at Holy Apostles and executive director of the St. Philip Institute for Catechesis and Evangelization.

This workshop teaches non-scientist members of our Holy Apostles community how to articulate developments in current research in biological or biochemical fields (with particular emphasis on evolutionary biology, genetics, or neuroscience) by reading scientific papers and reviewing how to classify the conclusions in scientific papers as neutral, contradictory, or consistent with the tenets of our Catholic faith. Workshop topics include Christianity and the Birth of Modern Science, How Scientific Research is Conducted, Methods for Reviewing a Scientific Field of Research, Analyzing Scientific Conclusions in the Light of Faith, Defending Doctrine When Scientific Conclusions Go Beyond Science, and Completing the Scientific Revolution by Reuniting Science with Philosophy and Theology.  

“The DoSER program will provide science resources to assist Holy Apostles as we educate seminarians on the relationship between faith and science.” – Very Rev. Peter S. Kucer, MSA, President-Rector

 

“Thanks to the DoSER program, Holy Apostles will be able to share with its community some concrete methods to strengthen our understanding of the relationship between science and our Catholic faith.” – Dr. Sebastian Mahfood, OP, Vice-President of External Affairs, Professor of Interdisciplinary Studies, and Program Director

 

“Seeing science as the study of God’s handiwork changes the way you see the world. Thanks to the DoSER program, Holy Apostles can share this great synthesis of awe and wonder with seminarians.” Dr. Stacy Trasancos, Program Coordinator and Webinar Instructor

All members of the Holy Apostles community (faculty, staff, students, alumni, supporters) are encouraged to attend. There is no cost for attending. Those interested may register through https://wcatradio.com/assessingscience/

The American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) is the world’s largest general scientific society and publisher of the Science family of journals. AAAS was founded in 1848 and includes 261 affiliated societies and academies of science, serving millions of individuals. The nonprofit is open to all and fulfills its mission to “advance science and serve society” through initiatives in science policy, international programs, science education, public engagement, and more. Building upon its mission, AAAS established the Dialogue on Science, Ethics, and Religion (DoSER) program in 1995 to facilitate communication between scientific and religious communities. For the latest information and news about AAAS DoSER and the Science for Seminaries Seed Grant initiative, visit AAAS.org/DoSER and ScienceforSeminaries.org.

On-Campus Faculty Take Profession of Faith & Oath of Fidelity

Thank. you to Jacqueline Reiss, our Director of Undergraduate Admissions for capturing these photos.

Holy Apostles College & Seminary is pleased to make the ministry called The Fireside Fellowship available to students. Created by actor, author and Catholic Robert Hanley, The Fireside Fellowship is a spiritual supplement to Hanley’s book Do You See What I See? Discovering the Obvious, which has been praised by His Eminence, Timothy Cardinal Dolan, His Eminence, Wilton Cardinal Gregory, and other bishops as well as major media outlets.

The mission of The Fireside Fellowship is to enable people to recognize Judeo-Christian principles in everyday experiences and apply them to their lives. The focus of both Hanley’s book and his ministry is on discovering useful, valuable insights in everyday life that seem to float past the observations of most people. By offering practical and spiritual perspectives, the Fellowship hopes to effect a positive change in the life and faith of each person. Now in its 12th consecutive year, these discussion meetings are reaching individuals across the country online.

Each of The Fireside Fellowship discussion meetings addresses a specific topic that is universally relatable, and that each of us deals with in our daily lives—for example, Providence, Goodness, Tolerance, Peace, Perseverance, Change, Trust, Humor, Patience, and Gratitude. By storytelling, whether he’s filling up his car at a gas station, having his teeth cleaned or auditioning for a film starring Robert De Niro and Al Pacino, the universal truths and values Robert uncovers in these anecdotes and short stories relay the everyday applicability of a simple perspective that can provide enormous benefits to each of us in our respective journeys through life and faith.

Pope Francis, in Message of His Holiness Pope Francis For The 54th World Communications Day, January 24, 2020, said, “I would like to devote this year’s message to the theme of storytelling, because I believe that, so as not to lose our bearings, we need to make our own the truth contained in good stories. Stories that build up, not tear down… They can help us understand and communicate who we are… By immersing ourselves in stories, we can find reasons to heroically face the challenges of life.” This is exactly what Robert does at each of The Fireside Fellowship discussion meetings. By incorporating references from the Bible, the lives of the saints, and other religious sources, he demonstrates the relationship between Judeo-Christian principles and the universal topics of today’s everyday life.

Robert has been featured in numerous major media outlets across the country including NBC Nightly News, Washington (DC) Times, Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Daily News, and Chicago Tribune. Both the city and county of Los Angeles have honored him with their respective Humanitarian of the Year awards.

Holy Apostles students are welcome to participate in these once-a-month discussion meetings, which will be conducted via Zoom. For further information or to sign up to participate, contact The Fireside Fellowship at https://Robert-Hanley.com/TheFiresideFellowship.php

1. An acknowledgment that the institution signed and returned the Certification and Agreement form and the assurance that the institution used—or intends to use—no less than the required amount of funds received to provide CRRSA grants to students.

HACS has signed and returned the Certification and Agreement form and has used 100% of the allotted CRRSA funds received for Student grants.

2. The total amount of funds that the institution received from the Department of ED.

The allocated amount of CRRSA funds awarded by the Department of ED to HACS was $78,426 of which $15,365 was the assigned student portion to eligible on campus and online students of exceptional need.

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

The total amount of CRRSA grants distributed to students as of 06/10/21 is $15,365.

4. The total number of students at the institution that were eligible to receive CRRSA grants.

The total number of students at HACS that were eligible to receive CRRSA grants: 54

5. The total number of students at the institution that have received CRRSA grants.

The total number of students at HACS that have received CRRSA grants: 17

6. The methods used by the institution to determine which students received CRRSA grants and how much they received.

The methods used by HACS to determine which students received CRRSA grants was to execute a query in our system for those eligible students (undergraduates and graduates) who had exceptional need as determined by FAFSAs. We have no other way to determine need as we are a FM school and do not have Institutional aid. Although Title IV eligibility was not a requirement we used all the FAFSAs in our system for the required time period, whether they used federal student aid or not.

Emails were sent to that population explaining HEERF II and those students who “incurred expenses directly related to COVID19 and which are included in their cost of attendance” could elect to self-attest, by signing and returning an attached form on that email confirming this, by a specified date.

At the requested target date of April 6, 2021, 17 of the 54 students had returned the form. The total amount was divided by that many and each was allotted approximately $903 and checks were issued immediately.

7. Any instructions, directions, or guidance provided by the institution to students concerning the CRRSA grant.

The cost of attendance in the email to them specified the categories of tuition, food, housing, health care inclusive of mental health care, and child care. They were asked NOT to sign if they did not have expenses in those categories as a result of COVID19.

FUNDS FULLY SPENT

This Disclosure is required by the Department of ED to be updated quarterly. However, as the funds are depleted as of this report date of 06/10/21, this is the final report concerning the Student Portion of the CRRSA (HEERF II) funds.

1. An acknowledgment that the institution signed and returned the Certification and Agreement form and the assurance that the institution used—or intends to use—no less than the required amount of funds received to provide ARP grants to students.

HACS has signed and returned the Certification and Agreement form and will use the allotted ARP funds received for Student grants.

2. The total amount of funds that the institution received from the Department of ED.

The allocated amount of ARP funds awarded by the Department of ED to HACS is $131,345 of which $79,091 is the assigned student portion to eligible students of exceptional need, especially undergraduates. Those eligible are “not only citizens and permanent residents, but also refugees, asylum seekers, Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival (DACA) recipients, other DREAMers, and similar undocumented students. International students may also receive these funds but institutions must ensure priority of funds to domestic students.”

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

The total amount of ARP grants distributed to students as of 06/10/21 is $0.

4. The total number of students at the institution that are eligible to receive ARP grants.

The total number of students at HACS that are eligible to receive ARP grants: not determined

5. The total number of students at the institution that have received ARP grants.

The total number of students at HACS that have received ARP grants: 0

6. The methods used by the institution to determine which students received ARP grants and how much they received.

The methods used by HACS to determine which students should receive ARP grants has not been determined.

7. Any instructions, directions, or guidance provided by the institution to students concerning the CRRSA grant.

A methodology has not been determined at this time.

This Disclosure is required by the Department of ED to be updated quarterly. The next date shall be July 10, 2021.