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
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?
Friendly Soccer Match at Holy Apostles
On Monday, October 14, 2024, Holy Apostles College & Seminary had the pleasure of hosting a friendly soccer match against Saint John Seminary (Boston) at the HACS soccer field. Held on the Columbus Day holiday, the game provided a wonderful opportunity to foster friendship and build fraternity among seminarians from both Seminary.
This event served as a moment for everyone to come together in support and encouragement of one another on their vocational journeys. The enthusiasm was palpable as priests, sisters, and seminarians cheered on the teams, creating a lively and memorable atmosphere for all involved. We are grateful for the chance to strengthen our bonds and celebrate our shared mission through sports.
Article and photos by Seminarian Joseph Huan Tran
A Memorable Hike at Hubbard Park
This month, Holy Apostles College & Seminary seminarians, religious sisters, faculty, and students enjoyed a fantastic hike at Hubbard Park in Meriden, CT. The fall scenery of the Northeast was truly breathtaking, as the once-green trees had transformed into stunning shades of yellow, orange, and red, painting a vivid picture along the paths. Surrounded by this beautiful landscape under a clear blue sky and the crisp autumn air, they experienced a peaceful and refreshing sense of renewal.
Hiking is not just about physical exercise; it holds a deeper meaning for our community. This outing allowed them to step away from their daily stresses, immerse themselves in nature, and, more importantly, strengthen their bonds as brothers and sisters. The laughter they shared, the stories exchanged along the way, and the simple joy of overcoming challenging parts of the trail together created unforgettable memories.
This experience not only allowed them to connect with the beauty of nature but also fostered a spirit of unity and support among our community. They returned to campus with not just a sense of accomplishment from the hike, but also with deeper friendships and a renewed appreciation for our community at Holy Apostles College & Seminary.
Article and photos by Seminarian Joseph Huan Tran
Healing Retreat Highlights and Blessings
Fr. Dermot Roache S.M.A. reminded attendees to rely on God’s Mercy. Photos by Martin O’Brien.
Over 75 attendees joined a special Healing Retreat held on the Holy Apostles campus on Saturday, October 5. The retreat was led by Fr. Dermot Roache S.M.A. and Kathleen McCarthy. Fr. Roache and Kathleen often give retreats together at places such as the Malvern Retreat Center in Pennsylvania, so having them at Holy Apostles was a gift.
The day began with the Holy Mass in the chapel celebrated by Fr. Roache. This was followed by two powerful morning talks and personal testimonies. The title of the retreat “Your Mother is Calling” was chosen to emphasize the importance of the Blessed Mother’s intercession in our lives and in our healing journey.
Kathleen McCarthy shared her personal journey of healing.
Kathleen, a world-renowned Catholic evangelist, has led a healing apostolate for over four decades. She is the president of In His Sign Catholic Radio Network. Kathleen, who is blessed with a large family, shared in her morning talk about the spiritual path that brought her back to the Catholic Church and how the realization of the Real Presence of Our Lord in the Holy Eucharist impacted that journey.
Fr. Roache, who had just returned from a pilgrimage to Medjugorje, shared about his work as a missionary priest in Africa. He is currently the vice-provincial of the American Province of the S.M.A. Fathers located in Tenafly, New Jersey. Fr. Roache emphasized the importance of trust in God’s mercy, something he said that Adam and Eve failed to do, but that we are all called to trust in God’s Divine Mercy no matter how unworthy we feel. Fr. Roache also spoke about how easy it is to get drawn into the darkness and how critical to hold firmly to the light and follow the truth.
Eucharistic Healing in Our Lady Queen of the Apostles Chapel
The afternoon session continued with adoration, confession and a spirit-filled Eucharistic Healing service with prophetic words from Kathleen and accompanied by the Holy Apostles’ music ministry. It was a beautiful day of spiritual renewal and healing!
Kathleen’s current books are titled In The Silence of My Heart (Volumes 1-10). These writings that have received the Imprimatur and Nihil Obstat of the Catholic Church can be purchased at her website. Fr. Roache also recently published a wonderful book of Marian reflections entitled, I am the Virgin Mother of God and Your Mother Too available on Amazon.
Thanksgiving Mass and Brunch
PRESIDENT-RECTOR MASS AND BRUNCH
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2024
A Mass of Thanksgiving will be celebrated for you and
your intentions in appreciation for faith and friendship.
Sunday, November 17, 2024
10:30 AM
Queen of the Apostles Chapel
33 Prospect Hill Road, Cromwell, CT
Followed by a complimentary brunch at St. Peter’s Refectory
If you are able to join us, please RSVP to Cristi Shaw at
[email protected] or 860-632-3010.
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]