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 [email protected]. 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
Holy Apostles College and Seminary Proudly Joins the March for Life in Washington, D.C.
“Each of us is the result of a thought of God. Each of us is willed, each of us is loved, each of us is necessary.” – Pope Benedict XVI
In a powerful testament to their unwavering commitment to the sanctity of life, seminarians, students, faculty, and priests from Holy Apostles College and Seminary embarked on a 10-hour journey to Washington, D.C., to participate in the 2025 March for Life. Their journey to the nation’s capital was made possible by the generosity of an anonymous donor and made available to all students and alumni. Annually, the March for Life draws tens of thousands of faithful Catholics and pro-life advocates united in their mission to defend the dignity of every human life from conception to natural death.
Founded in response to the Roe v. Wade decision, the March for Life continues to be a sign of hope and a powerful demonstration of pro-life advocacy. For Holy Apostles, the march is not just a public stand for life but also a spiritual journey, reflecting their deep commitment to the Gospel of Life.
Before joining the rally on the National Mall and walking the streets alongside thousands of pro-life advocates, the Holy Apostles group attended Mass together at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception.
Holy Apostles College and Seminary remains steadfast in its pro-life mission, forming students to be witnesses to the truth of human dignity and faithful leaders in their communities.
May the efforts of all who attended this year’s march bear fruit in building a culture of life rooted in love and respect for the dignity of every person.
Below are some photos from the March for Life. You can find more on our Instagram or Facebook page!
Leaving campus in the very late hours the night before the March for Life.
Attending Mass at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception
Attending Mass at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception
Holy Apostles met up with Alumni from across the U.S. during the March for Life!
Group picture on the steps of the National Shrine before attending the Rally and March for Life.
Holy Apostles joins thousands of other Pro-Life Advocates during the March for Life 2025
Group photo at the end of the March!
In Memoriam
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.
Deacon William Murphy, 82, died on June 12, 2024. Deacon Bill was an alumnus who was ordained a Roman Catholic deacon in 1981. A lifelong Danbury resident, he was assigned to St. Gregory the Great parish in Danbury, CT, where he served for 43 years. A Marine Corp veteran, Deacon Bill served as the chaplain of the Catholic War Veteran’s Post, as well as the Veteran’s Council. He was also chaplain to the Danbury Police and Volunteer Fire Departments. Those who know him described him as a man of faith who was humble, soft-spoken, kind, and a gentleman always willing to help. He is survived by his wife of nearly 59 years, Pat, as well as his son, William, and daughter, Patricia.
Rev. Chester R. Mrowka, CM, 97, an alumnus who received his MDiv from Holy Apostles in 1981, died on July 5, 2024, at the DePaul Residence of the Vincentian Community in Manchester, Connecticut. Fr. Mrowka served in the Navy in WWII, and following it prepared for the priesthood. His vocation brought him to serve as pastor in parishes in Brooklyn, New York; Ansonia, Connecticut; and Concord, New Hampshire. He also taught for seventeen years in St. John Kanty Preparatory School in Erie, Pennsylvania, and later returned as the Rector, after a brief time studying in Rome. He served as Provincial of the New England Vincentian Community, followed by a position as the Provincial Treasurer. While residing at the DePaul Residence of the Vincentian Community, he regularly helped the nearby Assumption Parish for nearly 15 years, until health conditions required him to retire. This year, Fr. Chester celebrated his 65th year as a priest.
Rev. Frank Joseph Bolling, died Jan. 1, 2025, at the age of 94. He celebrated 20 years of priesthood last spring, after being ordained on May 29, 2004, at the Cathedral-Basilica of the Immaculate Conception in Mobile, AL. Fr. Bolling entered St. Mary’s Seminary in Baltimore in 1950 with the intention of discerning a vocation to the priesthood. However, his father’s death in 1954 led him to withdraw from seminary studies to support his mother and sister. He joined the U.S. Navy Reserves and worked as a tax officer supervisor for the City of Mobile for 25 years. In 2002, after retirement from his civil profession, Fr. Bolling was accepted as a seminarian for the Archdiocese of Mobile and resumed discernment toward the priesthood, earning his Certificate in Theology from Holy Apostles College & Seminary. He was assigned as chaplain to the Sacred Heart Residence of the Little Sisters of the Poor and later filled in for pastors by offering Masses and ministry at parishes throughout the archdiocese.
Alumna Spotlight: Sr. Naomi Zimmermann, FSE — A Missionary Heart in the Holy Land
Sr. Naomi Zimmerman at Mass at the Tomb of Christ.
Sister Naomi Zimmermann, FSE, is a woman whose calling has brought her to many places with the objective of providing missionary services to others. Of all her work, the longest time spent has been in the Holy Land, a beautiful and historic area that many people wish to visit but some choose to avoid due to the many conflicts that have occurred. Instead, Sr. Naomi has returned time and time again to work with those in need.
Sr. Naomi grew up in Southington, Connecticut, a town that neighbors the Meriden motherhouse of the Franciscan Sisters of the Eucharist. After receiving a degree in education, she entered the postulancy in September 1988. Working for several years as a teacher in both Oregon and Minnesota, she then returned to Connecticut and became a student at Holy Apostles, earning a Master of Arts in Moral Theology in 1996. Sr. Naomi explained, “It was a valuable time for me because I was already a teacher but had grown up in the public school system. I remember thinking that I needed to know more theology to integrate it into my work as a teacher.”
Working with the children in the Holy Child Program, a unique educational and psychological treatment center in the Bethlehem area.
Her first trip to the Holy Land took place in 1996, shortly after graduating from Holy Apostles. She worked at The Holy Child Program, a unique educational and psychological treatment center in the Bethlehem area, and found the experience wonderful preparation for entering her final vows.
Returning to the motherhouse in 1997 to take her final vows, Sr. Naomi remained in the U.S. for two years. In August 2000, she returned to the Holy Land to continue at the Holy Child Program, this time as deputy director and educational consultant.
Because of her love of both the Holy Land and the people within the Palestinian society, which is where the Holy Child Project was located, acclimating to life in this land was not as hard as one would think. She was very involved in the daily lives of the Palestinian people and the Arab-speaking Church. In September 2000, however, the second Intifada started an intense time that lasted until February 2005. In the midst of that came the tragedy of September 11, 2001, and the fighting in the Middle East that followed, bringing increased tension and security issues.
In 2006, when the Franciscan Sisters of the Eucharist decided to start a center in Jamaica, Sr. Naomi worked there for four years. In 2011, she returned to Jerusalem but gained a completely different perspective working in the Old City Jerusalem with the Franciscan Custody, while also consulting for the Holy Child Program.
Sr. Naomi looking out on the Old City Jerusalem.
In 2017, the sisters moved closer to the heart of Jerusalem, to the compound of the Capuchin Friars, which is in the heart of a Jewish neighborhood. Her work, first in the Secretariate of the Custody, and now in the Christian Information Center has enabled her to build relationships with more Israeli people, allowing for a fuller understanding of the people and land where she has lived for so long. As she said, “Both the Palestinians and the Israelis are diverse people with ancient histories and immense talents.”
Language continues to be difficult for her to master. She has learned some Arabic for basic communication, Hebrew, and basic Italian, but joked, “I provide entertainment when I attempt to speak Arabic and Italian comes out.” Simple sentences usually work, and phone translators have proven to be amazing tools.
The war that began on October 7, 2023, has reignited the divisions and suffering between Palestinians and Jews. Living in Jerusalem, Sr. Naomi explained,
“Most of the time we can forget that there is a war around us. But it is eerily quiet, people are tense, things are extremely expensive. Every once in a while, a rocket is sent this way, and we have sirens. And your heart rate spikes, and you go to your protected area until you get the signal that you can go out again. And you pray for the people who have experienced this 10 times a day for months, and who have left their homes. And you pray for those who took no part in what happened in Gaza on October 7 but are suffering the consequences.”
The sisters, Sr. Naomi and Sr. Maria David – also a graduate of Holy Apostles – stayed because they felt that they were not in danger, but also because they want to be hope for the Christian communities, who feel they are caught between other people’s conflicts.
Sr. Naomi’s experiences have given her a new perspective on what being a missionary means. “It is about the people we serve and what they need at a particular moment, not what we have to offer them.” She feels that this 2025 Jubilee Year of peace and hope will offer strength to the Christian communities in the Holy Land.
St. John Bosco and St. Francis de Sales – January Library Display
St. John Bosco
August 16, 1815 – January 31, 1888
St. John Bosco was an Italian Catholic priest, educator, and writer of the 19th century. While working in Turin, where the population suffered many of the ill effects of industrialization and urbanization, he dedicated his life to the betterment and education of street children, juvenile delinquents, and other disadvantaged youth. He developed teaching methods based on love rather than punishment, a method that became known as the “Salesian Preventive System.”
A follower of the spirituality and philosophy of St. Francis de Sales, Bosco was an ardent devotee of the Virgin Mary under the title *Mary Help of Christians*. He later dedicated his works to de Sales when he founded the Salesians of Don Bosco, based in Turin. He was one of the pioneers of mutual aid societies, which provided financial support to young migrant Catholic workers in Turin. In 1850, he drafted regulations to assist apprentices and their companions when they were involuntarily unemployed or fell ill.
In 1875, Bosco began publishing the *Salesian Bulletin*, which has remained in continuous publication and is currently available in 50 different editions and 30 languages. In 1876, he founded the Association of Salesian Cooperators, a movement of laypeople dedicated to the same educational mission for the poor. Through a network of organizations and centers, Bosco’s legacy continues to thrive.
St. Francis de Sales
August 21, 1567 – December 28, 1622
St. Francis de Sales was a Roman Catholic bishop of Geneva and a Doctor of the Church. He was active in the struggle against Calvinism and co-founded the Order of the Visitation of Holy Mary.
At the age of 19, Francis attended a Calvinist lecture on predestination, which led him to believe he was destined for hell. This caused him great distress for months. Eventually, through the intercession of the Blessed Mother and the *Memorare* prayer, Francis was freed from this error and focused on the pure love of God. Though initially reluctant, his father eventually supported Francis’s ordination and helped secure him an important position in the Diocese of Geneva.
Francis’s success as a preacher was marked by his ability to convey the faith clearly, respectfully, truthfully, and charitably. He often placed written explanations of Catholic beliefs under people’s doors, inviting them to return to the Church. His motto was: *“He who preaches with love, preaches effectively.”*
Francis believed holiness was not limited to monastic or religious life but was attainable for everyone, regardless of their state in life or occupation. This conviction is most evident in his renowned book, *Introduction to the Devout Life.* It is said that through his efforts, Bishop de Sales brought back as many as 40,000 Catholics who had embraced Calvinism.
After nine years as a priest and 20 years as a bishop, Francis suffered a stroke and died shortly after. It is believed that one of the last things he wrote was a testimony to his deep love of God.
SAINT BOSCO & SAINT FRANCIS DE SALES – BIBLIOGRAPHY
Ceria, Reverand Eugenio. The Biographical Memoirs of Saint John Bosco. New Rochelle, NY: Salesiana Publishers. 1985.
Dailey, Thomas F. Praying with Francis de Sales. Winona, MI: St Mary’s Press. 1997.
Bacchiarello, Father J. (editor). Forty Dreams of St. John Bosco: The Apostle of Youth. Rockford, IL: Tan Books & Publishers Inc. 1969.
Phelan, Edna Beyer. Don Bosco A Spiritual Portrait. Garden City, NY: Doubleday & Company, Inc. 1963.
Rinaldi, Peter. Man with a Dream The Story of St. John Bosco. New Rochelle, NY: Don Bosco Publications. 1981.
De Sales, St. Francis. Thy Will Be Done! Letters of St. Francis de Sales. Manchester NH: Sophia Institute Press. 1995.
De Sales, St Francis and Mackey, Rev. Henry Benedict (Translator). The Catholic Controversy St. Francis de Sales Defense of the Church. Charlotte, NC. 2012.
Ravier, Andre. Francis De Sales Sage and Saint. Bowler, Joseph D. (Translator). San Francisco, CA: 1988.
Sheppard, Lancelot C. Don Bosco Westminster, MD: The Newman Press. 1957.
ARCHIVAL/SPECIAL COLLECTIONS
Chalippe, Candide, Reverand (translator). The Life of S: Francis of Assisi. New York: D&J Sadler & Co. 1877
Livius, Reverand T. S. Peter, Bishop of Rome: or the Roman Episcopate of the Prince of the Apostles; proved from the Fathers, History, and Archeology, and illustrated by arguments from other sources. New York: Catholic Publication Society. 1888
Fr. Wade Menezes: From Journalist to Evangelist
Rev. Wade Menezes, CPM shares how he was led to the priesthood, to the Fathers of Mercy and to his important ministry today.
Fr. Wade is a summa cum laude graduate of the Holy Apostles Class of 2000, with dual Master of Arts in Theology and Master of Divinity degrees. Coupled with prior degrees in journalism and communications, he has been successful in his utilization of TV, radio, and print to evangelize as a priest.
Fr. Wade is also the host of EWTN Global Catholic Radio’s Open Line Tuesday and has been featured on other stations, such as Ave Maria Radio, Guadalupe Radio Network, Catholic Broadcasting Northwest, and more.
At the 66th Commencement Ceremony in May, Fr. Wade received an Honorary Doctorate of Moral Theology for his impactful work in evangelization. He emphasized in his commencement speech that we are all called to “defend truth and faith as our Catholic calling.”
Watch our interview with Fr. Wade.
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.
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 [email protected]