Cromwell, CT (April 10, 2024) – The Holy Apostles College & Seminary community gathered on Friday, March 29, 2025, to celebrate Founders’ Day and witness the Renewal of Promises for Br. Robert Cantoni, MSA, and Br. Ronald Aucoin, MSA. Surrounded by priests, religious, students, faculty, and friends, the event honored the rich history and mission of Holy Apostles while celebrating the ongoing formation of these two dedicated Brothers.

Honoring a Visionary Founder

Founders’ Day paid tribute to Rev. Eusebe Ménard, O.F.M., and MSA Co-Founder Hector Durand, whose vision and commitment in 1956 breathed new life into the historic site of Holy Apostles College & Seminary in Cromwell, Connecticut. With a heart for service and a passion for guiding older men in discerning their call to the priesthood, Fr. Ménard and Mr. Durand laid the foundation for a community dedicated to faith, growth, and leadership.

A Sacred Commitment: Renewing Promises

During the Founders’ Day Mass, Br. Robert and Br. Ronald renewed their promises before Very Rev. Martin D. Rooney, MSA, Provincial Animator for the Society of the Missionaries of the Holy Apostles – USA/Vietnam. This solemn moment reaffirmed their dedication to their formation and future ministry.

Both Br. Robert and Br. Ronald are currently studying in the Master of Divinity program at Holy Apostles and continuing their formation for the priesthood.

Join Us in Prayer

As these brothers and their fellow seminarians continue their journey, we invite you to pray for their vocations and support the mission of Holy Apostles College & Seminary.

Learn more about Holy Apostles College & Seminary and how you can support future vocations at holyapostles.edu/seminary/

Catholic educator, writer, and evangelist Dr. Derya Rix—a faculty member at Holy Apostles College & Seminary—has been named the new principal of Bishop Flaget School in Ohio, bringing her passion for faith-formed leadership into a new Catholic community.

With a rich background in teaching, writing, and public speaking, Dr. Rix holds a PhD in Politics from Durham University in England and an MA in History from Bilkent University in Turkey. Her work explores political philosophy, evangelization, women in the Church, and the role of religion in public life. In addition to her academic work, she has written for well-known Catholic publications such as Ignatius Press, OSV, Angelico Press, Catholic World Report, and other Catholic publications.

At Holy Apostles, Dr. Rix encourages the Master of Philosophy students to engage the world with clarity, courage, and a foundation in the Church’s tradition. Her courses, such as Political Philosophy and Plato’s Republic, challenge students to think critically through the lens of faith.

Dr. Rix, a lifelong advocate for Catholic formation, brings both intellectual depth and family-rooted witness to her work.

Please keep Dr. Rix and the Bishop Flaget School community in your prayers as they begin this new chapter!

Alex Smith joined Holy Apostles as a graduate admissions counselor in July 2023, but the college and seminary had an indirect impact on his life even prior to that time.

Alex was born and raised in Ringgold, Georgia, a city close to the northern border of the state, near Chattanooga, Tennessee. He grew up in a Southern Baptist church, with his family actively participating in the services: his father acted as choir director and played the drums, his grandmother played piano, his grandfather played the bass, and his great-grandfather was the pastor.

Alex’s great-grandfather was originally Catholic but did not follow his parents’ lead as far as practicing the faith. After serving in WWII, he met his future wife and embraced her Baptist faith, becoming a minister and a guiding force for his family and congregation.

When Alex was in middle school, this man who was the beloved preacher of his family and community died. Around that time, Alex and his parents’ attendance at services changed to occasional visits. After graduating from high school, Alex attempted to return to regular participation but again found himself falling away, not from God but from his church. He began to question what it meant to be Baptist.

Growing up, there were no available answers to the questions he asked about his faith. He began looking into other Protestant religions, including Methodists and Seventh Day Adventists, and didn’t find answers that were sufficient for him. A former teacher taught him about Jehovah’s Witnesses, but he declined when he better understood some of the beliefs, one of which was that they did not believe in the Trinity.

In 2020, during the onset of the pandemic, Alex met his future wife, Stephanie, a practicing Catholic. In the course of getting to know each other, they discussed the topic of religion, and Stephanie explained truthfully that she only saw herself marrying a Catholic. While both agreed that this could not be the reason for conversion, Alex made it clear that she was important enough for him to at least look into the faith. It was his soul in the balance, though, so he needed to make the decision based on what he believed was right.

Continuing his search for answers, this time in the Catholic faith, Alex took to the internet. He found “Catholic Answers,” a website that answers questions and allows you to read, listen, or watch content about Catholic topics. He also visited several YouTube channels: “The Counsel of Trent” with Trent Horn (MA Philosophy, ’18), Matt Fradd (BA Philosophy ’15 and MA Philosophy, ’18) in “Pints with Aquinas,” and “Catholic Truth” with Bryan Mercier (MA Theology ’16). Only later, when working for Holy Apostles, did he discover that these YouTubers are alums of Holy Apostles.

The information, particularly the history behind the Catholic faith, interested him greatly. His enthusiasm was palpable when he explained that the answers and understanding found from these approved sources were the ones he had been looking for all along. The deciding factor for him was the Eucharist and his research of Eucharistic Miracles.

He enrolled in RCIA at Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Chattanooga, with Stephanie as his sponsor. His mother, Sherrie, attended the sessions with him out of curiosity and found herself liking what she learned, as did his father, Jody, who was originally skeptical. All three of them were initiated into the Catholic faith at the Easter Vigil service in 2022, with Stephanie as sponsor for all three.

In addition, Alex surprised Stephanie by proposing in the church after being confirmed at the Easter Vigil service. Word had spread of his intentions, and a lot more people than usual stayed after Mass to witness the event. They were married in Stephanie’s parish, St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Mystic, Connecticut, on July 7, 2023, and now call Connecticut home.

After his move up north, Alex began working at Holy Apostles, interestingly, the same college attended by those who answered questions for him via their social media presence. He feels its positive impact, explaining, “Working at Holy Apostles has had a tremendous influence on my faith and provided a continued learning experience. The seminarians and religious sisters currently on campus come from as near as North America and as far away as Africa and Asia, which serves as a reminder of the vastness of the Catholic faith.” As for the answers for which Alex was searching, “I can proudly say I’m Catholic because I know what I believe and what the Catholic Church is and have learned to defend my faith. I have an identity in my faith, which I didn’t have before.”

Alex’s story represents the journey and the homecoming of the Catholic faith in his family, from his great-grandfather to him.

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.

Fr. Michael Edward Suchnicki, O.F.M.Cap., 86, died on Friday, February 20, 2025, two days before he would have celebrated 68 years as a professed religious. Born in 1938, he attended Catholic grammar and high school and then spent four years in repertory theatre in New York and New England. Realizing he did not want to spend the rest of his life playing the role of someone else, he entered the Capuchin Brothers Training Camp in Maryland. He was invested as a novice and on February 22, 1962, took his first vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience.
In 1982, he entered Holy Apostles Seminary and was ordained a priest on April 29, 1988. He served in Kansas and Colorado, spending 25 years in Samaritan House in Denver, and was an untiring advocate for homeless men, women, and children in need. Wherever he served, Fr. Mike was beloved by his parishioners.

Karen L. Perry, 81, died peacefully on October 10, 2024. Karen was born and grew up in Middletown, Connecticut. A skilled nurse practitioner, she was known for her clinical expertise and compassionate care. She was a big believer in education and received several degrees, including a B.A. from Holy Apostles. She leaves behind her beloved husband, Thomas, her three children, Amy, Matthew, and Zachary, and four grandchildren, Kristin and Eli Hair, and Thomas and Charles Perry.

Kathleen Gilpin, Captain USNR, PhD, 41, died on May 11, 2024, after a long battle with Stage 4 breast cancer. After pursuing her undergraduate degree, Kathleen earned advanced degrees that included an MA in National Security and Strategic Studies from the U.S. Naval War College and an MA in Bioethics/Medical Ethics from Holy Apostles in 2022. She also received her PhD in Neuroscience and began working on her MBA, which the University of Notre Dame posthumously awarded her. She is survived by her husband Seth and two young children, Brigid and Myron.

Michael James Serpiello, 68, died on September 4, 2024, in York, Pennsylvania. Described as a man of great integrity and humility, he was a devout Catholic and an active parishioner at St. Lawrence Catholic Church in Harrisburg, PA. He graduated from Archbishop Ryan High School in Philadelphia and earned his Bachelor of Arts degree from Holy Apostles. He was known for his dedication to prayer and time spent with family. He is survived by his wife, Barbara; his daughter; sister, brother-in-law, and nephew; stepdaughters; son-in-law; and grandchildren.