Urbi et Orbi Blessing and Plenary Indulgence:

Pope Francis will participate in a prayer service in front of St. Peter’s Basilica this Friday, March 27, 6 p.m. Rome time (1 p.m. eastern and 10 a.m. pacific) before offering a special Urbi et Orbi blessing, with the possibility of obtaining a plenary indulgence

Watch the prayer service: Vatican YouTube channel (English; other languages are available).
Decree for the plenary indulgence
Text of the Holy Father’s prayer to Our Lady, Health of the Sick

I pray that you are all well.

In these difficult times, it is possible that your studies could be impacted if you contract COVID-19, or are responsible for the care of someone who has contracted it. Please contact me if this happens so that we can work together to find a solution that enables you to to continue, and eventually complete, your academic work.

I am here to help you. If you call my office number (860-632-3022) and leave a message, the message will be forwarded to my cell phone. You can also contact me by email, at [email protected]. I will respond to you as quickly as possible.

Stay safe!

Blessings,

Dr. Cynthia Toolin-WIslon
Professor of Dogmatic and Moral Theology
Academic Dean

Dear Family of Holy Apostles College and Seminary,

We are invited to pray with our Holy Father Pope Francis two times this this week. ewtn.com and the vatican website will be broadcasting the following.

First, this Wednesday at 7 A.M. our time.
Second, this Friday, at 1 P.M. our time.

If you wish to read Pope Francis’s message please go to the zenit.com site or click on the following: https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/en/bollettino/pubblico/2020/03/22/200322a.html

For information from Pope Francis on an indulgence, on the Sacrament of Reconciliation during the pandemic, for a decree on Holy Week and Easter Observance click on: https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/en/bollettino/pubblico/2020/03/20/200320c.html

https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/en/bollettino/pubblico/2020/03/20/200320d.html

http://www.cultodivino.va/content/cultodivino/it/documenti/decreti-generali/decreti-generali/2020/decreto-triduo-pasquale-2020.html

United in the Lord Jesus,

Fr Peter

Dear Family of Holy Apostles College and Seminary,

    Our Holy Father, Pope Francis, has encouraged all to be spiritually united at 9 PM this Thursday, March 19 by praying the Luminous Mysteries of the Rosary. Please see below for his words.

United in the Lord Jesus,

Fr Peter

 ~ Pope Francis ~

Every family, every member of the faithful, every religious community: All of us spiritually united tomorrow (Thursday) at 9 pm in praying the Rosary, the Luminous Mysteries.  Mary — Mother of God, and Health of the Sick, to whom we direct the Rosary, under the loving gaze of St. Joseph, Protector of the Holy Family, and our families — brings us to the luminous and transfigured Face of Christ and his Heart. And we ask that he especially protect our families, in particular the sick and those who care for them: doctors, nurses, and volunteers, who risk their lives in this service. … In life, in work, in family, in joy and sorrow, he always sought and loved the Lord, making himself deserving of the praise the Scriptures give him: a just and wise man. Call on him always, especially in difficult times, and entrust your lives to this great saint.[1]

[1] “Pope Calls for 9 PM Rosary for Protection of our Families,” aletia.org, https://aleteia.org/2020/03/18/pope-calls-for-9-pm-rosary-for-protection-of-our-families/.

Dear Family of Holy Apostles College and Seminary:

We are moving forward with all our programs. If requested, our staff will reach out to you. All are invited to pray daily the following prayer issued by Pope Francis for these times.

United in the Lord Jesus,
Fr Peter Kucer

O Mary, you shine continuously on our journey as a sign of salvation and hope.
We entrust ourselves to you, Health of the Sick.
At the foot of the Cross you participated in Jesus’ pain,
with steadfast faith.
You, Salvation of the Roman People, know what we need.
We are certain that you will provide, so that,
as you did at Cana of Galilee,
joy and feasting might return after this moment of trial.
Help us, Mother of Divine Love,
to conform ourselves to the Father’s will
and to do what Jesus tells us:
He who took our sufferings upon Himself, and bore our sorrows to bring us,
through the Cross, to the joy of the Resurrection. Amen.
We seek refuge under your protection, O Holy Mother of God.
Do not despise our pleas – we who are put to the test – and deliver us from every danger, O glorious and blessed Virgin.

Lastest Update Wednesday, March 11, 2020 at 12:05pm.

Dear Family of Holy Apostles College and Seminary, 

In response to the Coronavirus, the Connecticut Governor, Governor Lamont, declared a civil preparedness and public health emergency. Currently, the risk to our campus appears low. At the same time, we want to take steps to minimize risk. Heeding the request of the CDC (Center for Disease Control), we will implement a few measures for greater social distancing that will reduce the risk of infection. Beginning Monday, March 16^th, on-campus classes will shift to web-based or to other non-class roomed based modes of teaching. 

In addition, until further notice, scheduled conferences and school outings have also been canceled. The library and the gym will be closed for at least two weeks. We respectfully ask faculty, staff, and students to cancel and/or suspend nonessential travel. For resident students who choose to remain on campus, we will continue to keep St. Peter’s dining room open, will continue to celebrate Masses, and maintain our liturgical schedule. If these scheduled events are deemed also risky, we will update you as soon as possible as this very fluid reality continues to unfold. Please note, that for now the scheduled Masses and liturgical celebrations are no longer open to the general public.

For those who are sick or may experience flu-like symptoms entailing a cough, shortness of breath and possibly a fever please notify Alicia Fleck, Fr Peter Kucer, and Fr. Martin Rooney as soon as you can. If you experience these symptoms, we respectfully ask that you refrain from attending the current community gatherings including Masses and meals. We will make sure that you are properly nourished both physically and spiritually, but in order to be of service to you we will need to know if you are sick. The same criteria apply to us as well.  

Finally, it has been brought to our attention of reports harassment, stereotyping, and bullying directed at people perceived to be of Asian descent. We are blessed that no such harassment has been reported on our campus and prayerfully hope this continues. We affirm our gratitude, love, and respect for every one of our seminarians, sisters, priests, faculty, staff, commuter students, resident students, on-line students, and volunteers.

United in the Lord Jesus, 

Fr Peter S. Kucer, M.S.A. S.T.D.

President Rector