Holy Apostles College and Seminary alumni are valuable members of a lifelong community and global network. We hear many stories about how the education they received at Holy Apostles helped to support their work in Catholic ministry.

We are proud of our alumni for living the mission of Holy Apostles in evangelization as “co-workers in the vineyard” whether clergy, laity, or religious.

Many of our alumni are doing exceptional work for the church and some have reached national and international recognition. Recently we posted an impressive list of these recognized leaders here.

We thank all alumni for your role as important ambassadors for the college and seminary and trailblazers for the faith.

Holy Apostles looks forward to increasing our programs and offerings for our alumni community. Please stay in touch and let us know the good work you are doing!

CROMWELL. As you drive out the entrance road of the Holy Apostles College and Seminary campus you’ll see a sign declaring: “Entering Mission Territory.” That statement admits that the faith — in what used to be “one nation under God,” — is waning. Atheism is the basis for the “ideological colonization” that is swamping our culture so that “missions” are right in our backyard. So what are we doing about it? Well, it may be politically incorrect to say it, but the old Marine Corps recruitment motto: “We’re looking for a few good men,” still applies to the priesthood of the Roman Catholic Church. No apologies!

And the charism and mission of the Missionaries of the Holy Apostles is precisely suited for the task. We exist to “promote, form and accompany youth and adults in their vocation to the priesthood and to other ministries in the Church.” And so our Founder, Fr. Eusebe Menard, founded Holy Apostles College and Seminary (HACS) as our principle apostolate and place to train “a few good priests” to go on mission, right here in the good ‘ol USA.

How do we do it? The administration and faculty at Holy Apostles are committed to teaching the “mind of Christ” (1 Corinthians 2:16) by providing faithful, orthodox instruction and formation to give solid, holy priests to the Church. They pledge, by an oath of fidelity called the Mandatum, to teach according to the Church’s Magisterium regarding faith and morals — so their charges may be spiritually well armed, servant soldiers of “salt and light,” that can inspire and guide the Church and evangelize the world-at-large. With this in mind, and with the approval of HACS Rector Fr. Peter Kucer, a vocation discernment opportunity, aka, a “Come and See” retreat, was offered inside the St. James House of Discernment on campus over 3 days, June 6, 7 & 8, 2024.

Whodunit? MSA Vocation Coordinator Fr. Skip Thompson flew cross-continent from Southern California to first attend the MSA-USA Provincial Assembly in late May; and secondly, multi-tasked by preparing and delivering an MSA vocation retreat. MSA Brs. Bobby Cantoni and Ronnie Aucoin were instrumental in preparing for and participating in the retreat program. And daily served and accompanied our “few good men.”

Three men “came and saw” — to discern and reconnoiter — our college and seminary and our MSA community of priests and brothers — who in turn discerned right back! They were: Michael Gillespie of Walnut Creek, CA; Steven Roque of Winooski, VT and Chris Woods of Wantagh, NY on Long Island. The consensus was that a good experience was had by all! Good men, good time, good God!

Inside St. James’ House of Discernment chapel. Seated from left to right are our “Aspirants” – Chris Woods, Mike Gillespie, and Steve Roque.  Standing from L to R are Br. Ronnie Aucoin, yours truly, and Br. Bob Cantoni.

Special presenters to the retreat program included the MSA Provincial Animator and HACS Chancellor, the Very Reverend Marty Rooney; HACS Rector, the Very Reverend Peter Kucer, Provincial Bursar Reverend Ed Przygocki and our newly ordained Reverend Dan Valente — all MSA members.

Of the hundreds of writings by MSA founder, Fr. Eusebe Menard, OFM, one was specially printed and bound and shared with the men: “Guidelines for Life”. Also provided for their reading and inspiration was Archbishop Fulton Sheen’s classic “The Priest is Not His Own,” the 2019 book by Catholic layman Kevin Wells, “The Priests We Need to Save the Church,” and other materials related to the challenges of our times. Fr. Skip will follow up with each man individually — and more meetings will ensue with MSA leadership over the coming months as the “dance” continues. Please pray for Michael, Steve and Chris and our MSA men discerning with them.

If you think you are — or you know a man you think is — called to serve the Church as a priest please contact Fr. Skip in Oxnard, CA at his Retreat House in California. You can email: frskip@santaclaraparish.org . Or call him at 805-330-8260. BTW: Pacific Time is 3 hours earlier than Eastern; please don’t call too early. Mercy! He will be very glad to speak with you.

Fr. Skip Thompson is a “second career” priest with the Missionaries of the Holy Apostles and was ordained in 2015. He has 3 children. He serves as the MSA Vocation Director and after concurrently serving as Director of Lay Ministries, Dean of Men at HACS from 2015 to 2020, and Provincial Bursar (whew!) he was sent to California. There Fr. Skip was installed by former Auxillary Bishop Robert Barron to begin ministry at the Retreat House at the Santa Clara Parish in Oxnard, CA. He arrived there on March 26, 2022, the feast day of MSA Founder Fr. Eusebe Menard. You can’t make this up!

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.

Roger Duncan

Professor Roger Duncan, PhD, passed from this life on May 18, 2024, after a brief illness. His death came just days prior to his 82nd birthday. Born in Yonkers, New York, he left there to attend Wheaton College, and then Yale, where he attained his PhD in Philosophy. Dr. Duncan was a professor of philosophy at the West Hartford branch of the University of Connecticut until his retirement. He was also a respected and beloved professor at Holy Apostles College and Seminary, where he was bestowed the Degree of Doctorate of Humane Letters, Honoris Causa in 2013.

During his early teaching life, he was an active member of the Core of Oblates at the Abbey of Regina Laudis. As time went on, he shifted focus to developing the lay Benedictine community of Promisek, in Bridgewater, CT, which focuses on helping people find meaning in their life.

As then-rector, Rev. Douglas Mosey, C.S.B., said at the occasion of awarding professor Duncan with his honorary doctorate, “[we] invite you to consider with us the gift of Dr. Roger Duncan, professor of philosophy and purveyor of wisdom to generations who have studied on this ground.”

Fr. Mosey went on to explain the reasons for bestowing the degree: “For his decades of instructing the people in goodness, for his labor in this institution’s ongoing mission of forming priests, religious, and laity, one holy Catholic apostle at a time, to the service of Christ and His Church; for his unique grace and mission to bring the eternal wisdom of the saints and scholars to vibrant and radiant life; for his love of truth and his joy and spontaneity and flexibility in encounter with all honest thought; for every unforgettable anecdote and every brilliant insight.” Dr. Duncan leaves behind a daughter, Laura.

Mary and Joseph Hogan

Mary DeRosier Hogan, 87, passed away on December 18, 2023, and her husband, Joseph “Joe” Hogan, 88, passed shortly after, on February 29, 2024. Mary received a Master of Arts degree in Theology from Holy Apostles College and Seminary in 2004, with a concentration in Dogmatic Theology.

The couple met while both were studying at Boston College for their Master of Education degrees. They were married for 63 years, during which they raised three children and became grandparents to eight grandchildren.

Besides her family and faith, Mary loved learning, reading, writing, teaching, gardening, traveling and bringing out the best in others. Joe spent his entire career as an educator – first as a teacher and then as an assistant principal and principal in the New Britain public schools. He finished his career as District Coordinator of Adult Education and Summer School in New Britain.

Both Joseph and Mary were active members of the Church of St. Mary, Star of the Sea, in Unionville, CT, and volunteers and supporters of Holy Apostles for many years. Their son, Bill Hogan, received a Master of Arts in Theology in 1996 from Holy Apostles College and Seminary and remains a longtime friend.

Mary Regan

Mary E. Regan, 87, passed away peacefully at her home on February 25, 2024. After receiving a Master of Arts in Theology with a concentration in Dogmatic Theology, she continued studying, received a post-master’s certificate in Theology in 1999, and gave the salutatorian address at commencement.

Mary was a lector in two parishes, a Catholic school teacher in New Jersey and Connecticut, and a tutor of English as a Foreign Language both privately and at Holy Apostles. She was an accomplished pianist, loved giving piano and voice lessons, and was a member of the Ellington Singers for many years.

In her kindness, Mary made a bequest to Holy Apostles to continue her legacy and continue to support the important work of forming Catholic leaders. She also requested Masses for the repose of her soul.

Bishop Emeritus Daniel Patrick Reilly

Bishop Daniel Patrick Reilly, 96, the fourth bishop of Worcester, passed away peacefully on June 18, 2024. Bishop Reilly was born in Providence, Rhode Island on May 12, 1928, the son of Francis E. and Mary A. (Burns) Reilly.  He was ordained a priest on May 30, 1953, in the Cathedral of Sts. Peter and Paul in Providence and appointed associate pastor there in June 1953.

Pope Paul VI named him Bishop of Norwich, Connecticut, on June 17, 1975. He was ordained and installed as bishop on Aug. 6, 1975, in the Cathedral of St. Patrick in Norwich. In 1985 he was installed as chancellor of Holy Apostles. He was named Bishop of Worcester in 1994 by Pope John Paul II. On his 75th birthday, he submitted his resignation, which Pope John Paul II accepted for reason of retirement on March 9, 2004. He became Bishop Emeritus of the Diocese of Worcester.

Bishop Reilly received an honorary doctoral degree from several colleges, including Holy Apostles.

He was predeceased by his parents and eight siblings.

Fr. Ron Stone

Fr. Ron Stone, pastor of Holy Cross Parish in Pigeon Forge, TN, died on December 8, 2023, after a brief illness of cancer. The funeral Mass was held on December 12 in the Cathedral of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus in Knoxville. Archbishop Shelton J. Fabre was the main celebrant, with 25 priests concelebrating. Fr. Stone was a graduate of Holy Apostles College and Seminary class of 2001. A eulogy was given by Fr. Mark Scholz, MDiv ’02, Fr. Stone’s friend of 27 years, going back to their days at Holy Apostles.

Fr. Stone was born in Germany and suffered a tumultuous childhood. He moved to the U.S. and, before becoming a priest, struggled as a young adult. His conversion story had an impact on, and was an inspiration for, many people. At his funeral Mass, Fr. David Mary Engo, OFM, delivering the homily referred to Fr. Stone’s homilies saying, “Father Ron never did anything with half measures. If he was going to preach the truth, he was going to preach the truth.”

During the eulogy, Fr. Scholz remembered their days as friends attending Holy Apostles and described the seminary to those in attendance as a faith-based center for mostly middle-aged men who already had jobs and careers, and later decided they wanted to become priests. Holy Apostles, founded in 1956, was the first seminary in the country to allow late vocations.

Fr. Scholz went on to describe the amazing uniqueness of Holy Apostles, “We had people from all walks of life. One man was a colonel who was a pilot in the Vietnam War who later became an astrophysicist before he became a priest. Another was an airborne Ranger; another was a commercial airline pilot. And we had an FBI psychologist who was a criminal profiler. It was amazing to see that all these men changed their lives and decided to become priests for Jesus Christ.”

You can read more about Fr. Ron’s funeral Mass in the East Tennessee Catholic, including the eulogy by Fr. Scholz.

Holy Apostles College and Seminary held its 66th Commencement Ceremony on May 4, 2024. One hundred fifty graduates representing thirty-seven states and seven countries received degrees, attending either in-person or via live stream. During the ceremony, Rev. Wade Menezes, CPM received an Honorary Doctorate of Moral Theology for his work in evangelization.

The mission of Holy Apostles is to form and educate its students to be missionary disciples, with the vision of cultivating Catholic leaders for the purpose of evangelization.  Fr. Wade Menezes is a shining example of someone who has successfully exhibited these traits through his life’s work.  

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 a member of the Fathers of Mercy.  

In his commencement address, Fr. Wade spoke to the graduates, faculty, and guests about the need to always defend truth and faith.  “I speak to you now today as a preacher, not as a teacher, yet in two very certain respects to these different vocations there are very common ideals, and that is to defend truth and faith as our Catholic calling.”  

In the course of speaking, Fr. Wade referenced southern author Flannery O’Connor, stating that the characters in her books have the opportunity to accept or reject faith and truth using free will.  Those who make the choice to not accept faith and truth often incur tragedy.   

Quoting St. Thomas Aquinas, Fr. Wade said, “’Errors perish and cease to be when people get to know the truth.’ Amen to that, especially in 2024.”  

Many may know him from his appearances on EWTN as a guest or host on various EWTN shows, such as Mother Angelica Live, Life on the Rock, and Crux of the Matter, to name a few.  In addition, he has contributed to written publications such as National Catholic Register, Faith and Family, and The Wanderer, among others.  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.  

Fr Wade has been a contributing writer to publications such as National Catholic Register, Our Sunday Visitor, Catholic Twin Circle, Catholic Faith and Family, The Wanderer, and Legatus, to name a few.  He is also the author of three books.

He has served as the Chaplain-in-Residence at the Shrine of the Most Blessed Sacrament located at Our Lady of the Angels Monastery in Hanceville, Alabama.  Here he acted as celebrant, homilist, and confessor; he also gave spiritual conferences on specialized points of Catholic Christian doctrine.  The shrine and monastery are affiliated with EWTN.