Coronavirus/covid-19 Updates
Prayer Requests
During this time the Family of Holy Apostles is praying for you and your loved ones. We want to offer you the opportunity to send us your specific prayer intentions. If you have any specific prayer requests please send them to us using this email address prayers@holyapostles.edu. All prayer requests will be prayed for by the Holy Apostles Family during our daily Masses and Eucharistic Adoration. God bless you and Mary, Queen of Apostles, watch over and protect us.
HACS Community Updates
The Holy Family – December Library Display
Each of us can model ourselves after the Holy Family – trusting in God, following his will, and proclaiming the Good News. Today is a reminder of our own call to holiness and the mission of family life. The joy of this Christmas season is not meant to be kept to ourselves; rather, we must allow it to grow in our hearts and our families so that we can bring it to a world desperate to know Jesus Christ. (Knights of Columbus)
When they had departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, “Rise, take the child and his mother, flee to Egypt, and stay there until I tell you. Herod is going to search for the child to destroy him.” Joseph rose and took the child and his mother by night and departed for Egypt. He stayed there until the death of Herod, that what the Lord had said through the prophet might be fulfilled, “Out of Egypt I called my son.” … When Herod had died, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt and said, “Rise, take the child and his mother and go to the land of Israel, for those who sought the child’s life are dead.” He rose, took the child and his mother, and went to the land of Israel. But when he heard that Archelaus was ruling over Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go back there. And because he had been warned in a dream, he departed for the region of Galilee. He went and dwelt in a town called Nazareth, so that what had been spoken through the prophets might be fulfilled, “He shall be called a Nazorean” (Mt 2:13-15, 19-23).
HOLY FAMILY – BIBLIOGRAPHY
Bauer, Judy (editor). Advent and Christmas with Fulton J. Sheen. Liquori, MS: Liquori Publications. 2001.
Beckett, Sister Wendy. Sister Wendy’s Nativity. Chicago, IL: Loyola Press. 1998.
Deiss, Lucien. Joseph, Mary, and Jesus. Collegeville, MN: The Liturgical Press. 1996
Faber, Frederick W. Bethlehem. Charlotte, NC: Tan Books. 2011.
Farey, Caroline. Nativity: A Visual Meditation. Oxford, England: Family Publications. 2008
McGlinchey, Paul M. A Vatican Christmas: Creches of Pope John Paul II. New Haven, CT: Knights of Columbus Museum Publishing. 2006.
McKenna, Megan. Advent, Christmas and Epiphany. Hyde Park, NY: New City Press. 2008.
Merton, Thomas. Advent and Christmas with Thomas Merton. Liquori, MS: Liquori Publications. 2002.
Metropolitan Museum of Art (The). The Nativity: The Christmas Creche. Garden City, NY: Doubleday Company. 1969.
Ryan, Father Kenneth. The Catholic Digest Christmas Book. St. Paul, MN: Carillon Books. 1977.
Sri, Edward. Dawn of the Messiah: The Coming of Christ in Scripture. Cincinnati, OH: St. Anthony Messenger Press. 2005.
ARCHIVAL/SPECIAL COLLECTIONS
English College of Douuay. The Holy Bible: Faithfully Translated into English out of Authentical Latin, Diligently Conferred with the Hebrew, Greek, & Other Editions in Diverse Languages, Tome. Printed by John Cousturier, 1635.
Schaff, Philip and Gilman, Arthur. A Library of Religious Poetry: A Collection of the Best Poems of All Ages and Tongues, New York, NY: Dodd, Mead, and Company. 1881.
The MSA Partnership of Priest and Laity — We can’t do it alone!
“For just as the body is one and has many members, so it is with Christ…. Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it. God has appointed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers; then deeds of power, then gifts of healing, forms of assistance, forms of leadership, various kinds of tongues.” 1 Corinthians 12:12, 27-28.
Fr. Eusebe Menard, OFM, founder of the Society of the Missionaries of the Holy Apostles and founder of the seminary that bears its name, gave equal status to Mr. Hector Durand as the “co-founder” of the Society. Why was that? Mr. Durand was a faithful Catholic who happened to be a successful Contractor in Montreal Canada — and he contributed half his fortune to the building of seminaries. Together Fr. Menard and Mr. Durand modeled the crucial MSA charism of “partnership” between laity and the ministerial priesthood. In testimony of this, on the back of the official MSA chasuble, two hands are featured. The first is the priest’s hand that holds the earth’s globe. The second is the layman’s hand which supports the priest’s hand in ministry. In practical terms, the parts of the body of Christ work together to accomplish the mission of evangelizing and ministering to the world, together. Without Mr. Durand, Fr. Menard could not have done what he did. And thus, the Holy Spirit connected them together in order to do an extraordinary thing.
“St. Michael’s Retreat House,” in Oxnard, CA is an apostolate that I am privileged to serve, and which depends upon the MSA charism of clergy laity partnership. The various retreats and days of reflection offered at St. Michael’s would not be possible except for the generous time and financial assistance of a group called the “Men of Faith.” On every other Tuesday evening about 12-15 men offer prayers, a potluck, and a program. The men of faith have enthusiastically embraced St. Michael’s House as their “apostolate of service,” and they fund a parttime secretary to help their “tech-challenged” Director (yours truly) to administer the place.
Word of this reached the ears of Bishop Slawomir Szkredka, auxiliary for the Santa Barbara Pastoral Region who took the place of Bishop Robert Barron, who got St. Michael’s House off the ground and gave it its name.
The “A Team” (Appreciation!) — from left to right — Juan Flores, David Sanchez, Charles Teachout, Michelle Kimble (Tuesday retreats), Lalo Miranda, Bishop Slawomir Szkredka, John Kimble, Vivian Cahill (retreat breakfasts) Kevin Williams, Fr. Skip Thompson, Joe Domitrovich. Missing in action for some good reason: Andy Stay, Torch Rivera, George Baldonado.
Bishop Slawomir came to our humble house to appreciate the Men of Faith at a dinner and presented each, including 2 “women of faith,” who regularly pull in the harness with House Director, Fr. Skip. The bishop signed a dozen certifications and presented them to each person.
It was a rare and very well-received moment for the bishop to take the time and recognize our special laypersons. Our contract to minister St. Michael’s house continues with his support and that of Provincial Animator (and HACS Chancellor) Martin Rooney and Santa Clara Church Pastor John Love. The MSA charism of clergy-lay partnership has brought us far — and the partnership will keep us growing as we minister on crucial issues affecting the faithful.
As we write this article, we are in the 34th week of Ordinary Time. But as I have said on numerous occasions, nothing is ordinary about the times the Church finds herself in now. We are no longer an “age of change,” (though things are changing rapidly). Rather we are in a “changing of the ages,” which requires the Church to reset her compass to follow a missionary course — and find a “few good men” to lead the Church and take her on the “offensive” once again.
Holy Apostles Honors Graduate From First Class
It was a celebratory night at the TPC River Highlands on Saturday, October 26, when alumni and friends of Holy Apostles College and Seminary gathered for a special evening to benefit the Holy Apostles Seminary Scholarship Fund.
Proceeds from the event will provide important funding to support vocations to the priesthood.
(l to r) Fr. Rooney, Fr. Ray Introvigne, and Fr. Peter Kucer
During the evening, President-Rector Fr. Peter Kucer presented the Holy Apostles Leadership Award to Fr. Ray Introvigne for his many years of service to the Catholic Church. Fr. Ray, who grew up in Stafford Springs, Connecticut, celebrated his 60th year as a priest this past May and graduated in the first class of Holy Apostles in 1960. He was appointed in 1977 to be the full-time director of Charismatic Renewal in the Norwich Diocese and continues with the Spiritual Renewal program to this day.
In his acceptance speech, Fr. Ray explained that he had not planned on the priesthood, and if not for Holy Apostles it may not have happened. He recalled that, before World War II, if a boy did not go to both Catholic grammar school and high school, they could not become a priest.
However, with the help of his pastor — and the Holy Spirit — Fr. Ray went to Boston to catch up on his Latin, French, English, and religious studies. Upon his return to Connecticut, Fr. Eusebe Menard, M.S.A. called and asked Fr. Ray to come and help him open the new Holy Apostles Seminary to which Fr. Ray agreed. As he said, “Holy Apostles is a gift of the Holy Spirit.”
Holy Apostles was the first seminary in the country to accept men with delayed vocations. As a result, many graduates of Holy Apostles are priests in dioceses across the country and in various religious orders both nationally and internationally.
Another guest speaker of the evening was recent graduate, Fr. Daniel Valente, M.S.A., who received his Master of Divinity degree from Holy Apostles in December 2023 and his Master of Arts in Sacred Scripture in May 2024.
Fr. Dan is now the Parochial Vicar at the Cathedral of Saint Joseph in Hartford, CT. He spoke to the guests about the support he received at Holy Apostles, and how important that was to his success in becoming a priest. Each day he tries to share the values he learned at Holy Apostles with his parishioners, centered in the Eucharist and the word of God.
Fr. Valente asked all to support the men at Holy Apostles studying for the priesthood, through prayers, time, and resources. As Fr. Valente said, “forming healthy, balanced priests who can
Cristi Shaw, Danielle Cutting, and Sr. Renee Marek, FSE.
meet the needs of the Church today is all our business. It costs money, it takes time, and it takes love. Love for God. Love for our Church. And for every single person’s respective vocation.”
The evening was an opportunity to mingle, enjoy delicious cuisine and listen to uplifting music from the Hosmer Mountain Boys.
We are very thankful for all who supported this important event. If you would like to make a gift to assist the seminary, you can do so at Make a Donation.
Holy Apostles Partners with Encounter School of Ministry to Advance Evangelical Mission
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Monday, November 25, 2024
Holy Apostles Partners with Encounter School of Ministry to Advance Evangelical Mission
Dear Holy Apostles Community,
With great joy, I announce a new partnership between Holy Apostles College & Seminary and the Encounter School of Ministry. Through this collaboration, we will accept graduate and undergraduate transfer credits from Encounter, further advancing our shared mission of forming faithful disciples and leaders for the New Evangelization.
We are especially honored to work alongside Encounter’s Founder and President, Fr. Mathias Thelen, whose vision has guided Encounter’s transformative impact, and Executive Director Patrick Reis (MA Philosophy, ’14), a proud Holy Apostles alumnus. Their leadership has inspired countless students to embrace their faith with zeal while pursuing intellectual and spiritual formation.
This partnership underscores our mutual commitment to academic excellence and spiritual growth. Encounter students will now have accredited degree pathways to deepen their theological and philosophical education, equipping them to boldly proclaim the Gospel in today’s world.
May this collaboration bear abundant fruit for the Church and inspire a new generation of evangelists dedicated to Christ’s mission.
In Christ,
Rev. Peter Kucer, MSA
President Rector
Holy Apostles College & Seminary
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.
November 22, 1963: Death of the President
Shortly after noon on November 22, 1963, President John F. Kennedy was assassinated as he rode in a motorcade through Dealey Plaza in downtown Dallas, Texas.
Crowds of excited people lined the streets and waved to the Kennedys. The car turned off Main Street at Dealey Plaza around 12:30 p.m. As it was passing the Texas School Book Depository, gunfire suddenly reverberated in the plaza.
Bullets struck the president’s neck and head and he slumped over toward Mrs. Kennedy. The governor was shot in his back.
The car sped off to Parkland Memorial Hospital just a few minutes away. But little could be done for the President. A Catholic priest was summoned to administer the last rites, and at 1:00 p.m. John F. Kennedy was pronounced dead. Though seriously wounded, Governor Connally would recover.
The president’s body was brought to Love Field and placed on Air Force One. Before the plane took off, a grim-faced Lyndon B. Johnson stood in the tight, crowded compartment and took the oath of office, administered by US District Court Judge Sarah Hughes. The brief ceremony took place at 2:38 p.m.
Less than an hour earlier, police had arrested Lee Harvey Oswald, a recently hired employee at the Texas School Book Depository. He was being held for the assassination of President Kennedy and the fatal shooting, shortly afterward, of Patrolman J. D. Tippit on a Dallas street.
On Sunday morning, November 24, Oswald was scheduled to be transferred from police headquarters to the county jail. Viewers across America watching the live television coverage suddenly saw a man aim a pistol and fire at point-blank range. The assailant was identified as Jack Ruby, a local nightclub owner. Oswald died two hours later at Parkland Hospital.
The President’s Funeral
That same day, President Kennedy’s flag-draped casket was moved from the White House to the Capitol on a caisson drawn by six grey horses, accompanied by one riderless black horse. At Mrs. Kennedy’s request, the cortege and other ceremonial details were modeled on the funeral of Abraham Lincoln. Crowds lined Pennsylvania Avenue and many wept openly as the caisson passed. During the 21 hours that the president’s body lay in state in the Capitol Rotunda, about 250,000 people filed by to pay their respects.
On Monday, November 25, 1963 President Kennedy was laid to rest in Arlington National Cemetery. The funeral was attended by heads of state and representatives from more than 100 countries, with untold millions more watching on television. Afterward, at the grave site, Mrs. Kennedy and her husband’s brothers, Robert and Edward, lit an eternal flame.
Perhaps the most indelible images of the day were the salute to his father given by little John F. Kennedy Jr. (whose third birthday it was), daughter Caroline kneeling next to her mother at the president’s bier, and the extraordinary grace and dignity shown by Jacqueline Kennedy.
Saints Peter and Paul – Library Display
ST PETER
Peter, who was also known as Simon Peter of Cephas, is considered the first Pope. Despite his papacy, Peter had humble beginnings and became one of the Twelve Apostles of Jesus. He was ordained by Jesus in the “Rock of My Church” written in Matthew 16:17-18, which says, “Jesus replied, ‘Simon son of Jonah, you are a blessed man! Because it was no human agency that revealed this to you but my Father in heaven. So, I now say to you: You are Peter and on this rock I will build my community.
Peter was Jesus’ closest friend and disciple and became an apostle during his ministry. After the death of Jesus, Peter became the leader of the apostles and is often described as their spokesperson in the gospels.
Aside from his position as the most important apostle, legend has it that he held the keys of heaven and hell, which he received from Jesus Christ himself after he was made the leader of His new church. He is always mentioned first in the Bible and any other historical texts because he was the representative of the Twelve Apostles. This shows us how important St. Peter was to Christianity. St Peter’s Basilica in Rome is dedicated to his martyrdom.
ST PAUL
Saint Paul is one of the most important and influential of all the saints. Many of his writings are contained in the Canon of the Bible and have influenced the growth and development of the Church since the first century.
St. Paul was originally known as Saul, and he was a Roman citizen and a Pharisee. He even presided over the persecutions of the early Christians and was present at the martyrdom of St. Stephen.
However, Saul experienced a powerful vision that caused him to convert to Christianity while on the road to Damascus. He was duly baptized and took the name Paul.
Paul traveled the world, first to Arabia then back to Damascus. He also visited Jerusalem to see St. Peter, the first pope and pay homage to him. During these travels, he preached ceaselessly, often drawing criticism and ire from those who rebuffed his message. Jews, in particular, hated his preaching as they saw him convert people to Christianity from Judaism.
Eventually, Paul returned to Tarsus, where he was born. He preached there until he was called by Barnabus to come to Antioch. After a year spent in Antioch, a famine occurred in Jerusalem and the pair was dispatched to the city with alms.
Paul traveled throughout much of Europe, particularly in Macedonia, Greece, and Italy. While preparing for a missionary trip to Spain, he was imprisoned in Caesarea by the Jews for two years. He traveled again, was shipwrecked in Malta, and was imprisoned for another two years for preaching in Rome. Despite these imprisonments, Paul continued to preach.
Paul eventually made his way to Spain, then returned to the East, and finally returned to Rome once again. In 67 AD, Paul was arrested in Rome for a second time and this time he was beheaded under the insane Emperor Nero. According to John Chrysostom, Nero knew Paul personally.
Paul is among the most famous, intelligent and influential of the apostles. There are some who argue that he was the leader of the apostles, but this is not supported by the evidence. Instead, he likely preached at the request of St. Peter, who was pope.
Bibliography for St. Peter & St. PAUL
SAINT PETER:
- Bockmuehl, Marcus. The New Testament Apostle of the Early Church: Simon Peter in Scripture and Memory. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic. 2012.
- Craughwell, Thomas J. St. Peter’s Bones: How the Relics of the First Pope were Lost and Found and then Lost and Found Again. New York, NY: Crown Publishing Group. 2013.
- Dolan, Cardinal Timothy. To Whom Shall We Go? Lessons from the Apostle Peter. Huntington, IN: Sunday Visitor Publishing Division. 2008.
- Fasola, Umberto M. Traces on Stone: Peter & Paul in Rome. ROME: Stapato a Firenza Press. 1980.
- Grant, Michael. Saint Peter: A Biography. New York, NY: Scribner. 1994.
- La Due, William J. The Chair of St. Peter: The History of the Papacy. Maryknoll, NY: Orbis Books. 1999.
- Murphy, Jennie Catherine. “Peter’s Journey through the Gospel of John Culminating in John 2:15-19.” M.A. Thesis, Holy Apostles College & Seminary, 2018.
SAINT PAUL:
- Buck, Charles, and Taylor, Greer. St Paul: A Study in the Development of His Thought. New York, NY: Charles Scribner & Sons. 1969
- Grant, Michael. Saint Paul. London, UK: Phoenix Press. 1976.
- McRay, John. Paul: His Life and Teaching. Grand Rapids, MI: 2003.
- Perez de Urbel, Justo. St. Paul the Missionary. Westminster, MD: 1957.
- Perowne, Stewart. The Journey of Saint Paul. New York, NY: Hamilton Publishing Group Ltd. 1973.
- Weldeghiorghis, Fr. Estifanos Helafu. “The Impact of St. Paul’s Imprisonment on the Faith of the Early Christians.” M.A. Thesis, Holy Apostles College & Seminary, 2016.
More: “Alum, Come to Our Assistance!”
Last month I wrote of my “mini-alumni-reunion” with Fr. Larry Lynn, class of 2015, in Coquitlam, as I made the trip north to Vancouver, B.C. in Canada from my retreat house in Oxnard, CA. There in beautiful British Columbia, Fr. Larry pastors the Catholic parish: Our Lady of Lourdes. Our time was a wonderful fraternal bonding. But there was more. The unexpected fruit of our reunion was an important “alumni collaboration” that brought an urgent message to our faithful immersed in a culture that has forgotten God and contends with the truth.
Here’s the “little blurb” I promised last time. Our collaboration delivered a “Catechesis on the Human Person and Gender Ideology,” — offered at Our Lady of Loudes on Sept. 5, 2024 — with the definitive Truth about who we are as men and women made in the image of God, (See Genesis 1:27). And we clarified the sexual dysphoria and deceits of Gender Ideology, which is one of the symptoms of atheism saturating our post-modern, post-Christian west. Recall the simple observation of Gaudium et Spes, 36, “When the Creator is forgotten, the creature becomes unintelligible.” Unintelligible is an apt description of Gender Ideology.
Before our offering, the chancery of the Archdiocese of Vancouver was consulted and approved our delivery of the conference. It is noteworthy that our brief promotion of this conference nonetheless produced more Catholics in attendance than was anticipated! People are hungry for the truth — and we presented vital Church teachings to counter the current cultural insanity. They want us back. That says is it all. Be not afraid.
Last month, I hosted another “mini-alumni-reunion,” this time at my retreat house in Oxnard, CA with Fr. Andy Cravahlo, Class of 2012 and a member of the “Fathers of Mercy.” Fr. Andy drove from his General House in Bowling Green, Kentucky — via Napa, CA — to Oxnard, (2,800 miles), rolled up, put it in neutral and stayed for awhile. I left the light on for him.
Fr. Andy Cravahlo, right — and Fr Skip. In front of the old Mission San Buenaventura in Ventura, California.
As with Fr. Larry up north, Fr. Andy and I enjoyed a full week of catch-up. Father enjoyed our ministries in the retreat house — and we took an easy and inspiring tour of the local, original Spanish missions, founded by the recently canonized (2015) Saint Junipero Serra, who “founded”
Fr. Andy Cravahlo, right — and Fr Skip. In front of the old Mission San Buenaventura in Ventura, California, 12 miles from the house. California. Indeed, most cities took their name from the original mission.
However, though regarded as our state’s founder, St. Junipero Serra is now a lightning rod of controversy, no thanks to the secular “historical revisionists” who attack the Catholic Church, Christianity in general, all our social institutions and the family. Did I miss any?
As a result, many of St. Junipero’s statues were vandalized and torn down during the summer of 2020 in the U.S. by various Marxist organizations that
Fr. Skip, left, with Fr. Jack Clark Robinson, Fr. Larry Gosselin and Fr. Andy inside the old Mission Santa Barbara in Santa Barbara, CA
Fr. Skip, left, with Fr. Jack Clark Robinson, Fr. Larry Gosselin and Fr. Andy inside the old Mission Santa Barbara in Santa Barbara, CA fomented riots, looting, fires, assaults and even murder under the flag of “social justice.” As Fr. Andy and I spoke over several days, it became clear that he and Fr. Larry and I, shared important things in common: solid formation in the truth of Church teachings and hence true perspectives to “judge, not by appearances, but judge rightly.” (John 7:24).
Our faithful and orthodox formation at Holy Apostles College and Seminary gave us “right thinking” minds, able to critique our culture’s ideological errors and offer people the truth: about God, mankind, the very good news of Christ’s salvation and how we can journey successfully over the troubled waters of our times.
We asked ourselves, “how can we Alumni continue to assist one another,” as priest-classmates in common purpose of ministry to the faithful and to the world at large?
Our thought was to use our Alma Mater, Holy Apostles College and Seminary, as a clearinghouse of information by offering a “digital forum.” By it, HACS alumni can offer stories, ideas, and insights — to “cross-pollinate” each others’ hearts and minds — with the grace gleaned from respective ministries — for the good of all. It seemed a fine idea to our minds, so we offer it to all readers to consider.
What say you all?
COVID19 Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Campus Open to the Public?
Campus Access – The Campus is ONLY open to resident students. This includes but is not limited to the Dining Hall, Chapel, and Library.
Is the Commencement Ceremony/Graduation Postponed?
Updated Tuesday, March 31st
Dear Family of Holy Apostles College and Seminary:
After careful consideration and after hearing from you, our students, we have decided to postpone graduation to a later date not canceling it altogether or live-streaming it. We understand how important this time is for you, our graduates.
Unfortunately, we are not sure when this will be, as things are ever-changing due to the Coronavirus. As things become more clear we will communicate with our graduates the information we have. We thank those of you who wrote to us with your concerns about graduation. Your comments and concerns allowed us to better discern about graduation.
Please be assured of our prayers for you and your families.
United in the Lord Jesus,
Fr Peter S. Kucer, M.S.A. S.T.D.
President-Rector
Is the Gratitude Gala Postponed?
The Gratitude Gala – The HACS Gratitude Gala scheduled for April 24th has been postponed. Please watch for information on a future date.
Are Online Students' Schedules Affected?
Online Students – Your courses will take place as scheduled.
If you have a question that is not answered here, please contact Jennie Murphy at jmurphy@holyapostles.edu