鶹 College & Seminary / Live Your Mission Mon, 20 Apr 2026 18:13:36 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.4 /wp-content/uploads/2019/09/cropped-HACS_Small_Gold-32x32.png 鶹 College & Seminary / 32 32 Commencement Live Stream /commencement-live-stream/ Mon, 20 Apr 2026 18:11:20 +0000 /?p=24065 鶹 College and Seminary’s President-Rector, Board of Directors, and faculty invite you to join us for the Baccalaureate Mass and Commencement ceremony on Saturday, April 25. We are excited that Msgr. Cuong M. Pham and Prof. Daniel O’Connor, MA ’13, will join us as our commencement speakers and honorary doctorate recipients. Baccalaureate Mass begins […]

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鶹 College and Seminary’s President-Rector, Board of Directors, and faculty invite you to join us for the Baccalaureate Mass and Commencement ceremony on Saturday, April 25. We are excited that Msgr. Cuong M. Pham and Prof. Daniel O’Connor, MA ’13, will join us as our commencement speakers and honorary doctorate recipients.

Baccalaureate Mass begins at 10:30 am EDT
Sixty-Eighth Commencement begins at 1:00 pm EDT

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鶹 68th Commencement /monsignor-cuong-m-pham-and-professor-daniel-oconnor-to-deliver-addresses-at-holy-apostles-68th-commencement/ Thu, 16 Apr 2026 15:22:11 +0000 /?p=23999 Cromwell, Connecticut — 鶹 College and Seminary is proud to announce that Monsignor Cuong M. Pham, Diocese of Brooklyn, and Professor Daniel O’Connor, author and speaker, will deliver the commencement addresses at the 鶹’ 68th Commencement Ceremony. The commencement exercises will take place on Saturday, April 25, 2026, in Our Lady Queen of […]

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Cromwell, Connecticut — 鶹 College and Seminary is proud to announce that Monsignor Cuong M. Pham, Diocese of Brooklyn, and Professor Daniel O’Connor, author and speaker, will deliver the commencement addresses at the 鶹’ 68th Commencement Ceremony.

The commencement exercises will take place on Saturday, April 25, 2026, in Our Lady Queen of the Apostles Chapel on the 鶹 campus. Festivities will begin on Thursday evening with the 鶹 Gala held at Saint Clements Castle & Marina featuring special guest the Most Reverend Richard F. Reidy, Bishop of Norwich, and keynote addresses.

“Commencement is about both celebrating accomplishments and preparing graduates for their future mission in life,” said Fr. Peter Kucer, President-Rector of 鶹. “In welcoming Monsignor Cuong M. Pham and Professor Daniel O’Connor, we present our graduates with two excellent witnesses—one rooted in pastoral and ecclesial service, the other in intellectual and lay apostolate—who together reflect the fullness of the Church. Their presence will challenge and encourage our students to live their vocations with fidelity, generosity, and hope.”

鶹 will bestow a Doctorate of Sacred Theology, honoris causa, upon Msgr. Cuong M. Pham, in recognition of his notable contributions to the faith. Msgr. Pham is a priest of the Diocese of Brooklyn whose ministry reflects devoted service to both the Universal Church and the local Church.

From July 1, 2019, to July 1, 2021, he was assigned to the Apostolic Nunciature in Washington, DC, where he served as one of the Secretaries for General Affairs, advancing the ecclesial mission of the Nunciature and assisting in matters concerning the 鶹 See’s relationship with the bishops and the Church in the United States.

From 2011 to 2019, Msgr. Pham served at the Pontifical Council for Legislative Texts in Rome. The Council assists the 鶹 Father in matters of canon law. During those years, he contributed to significant legislative initiatives, promoted the study and faithful application of canon law worldwide and established the first authoritative website dedicated to Church legislation and canonical discipline.

On February 11, 2016, Pope Francis named him a Chaplain of His Holiness, an honor that enrolled him among the clergy of the Papal Household and conferred upon him the title Monsignor. Appointed Pastor of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church in Astoria on July 10, 2021, the parish stands as one of the most vibrant and culturally diverse communities in the Diocese.

Born in Saigon, Vietnam, Msgr. Pham came to New York with his family in 1990. He attended St. John’s University in Queens before entering the seminary in Douglaston and later Huntington, New York. He was ordained to the Sacred Priesthood on June 2, 2001. Fluent in English, Italian, Spanish, and Vietnamese, with familiarity in Latin, French, and Chinese, Msgr. Pham continues to devote himself to fostering unity among cultures, strengthening parish life and encouraging vocations.

鶹 will bestow a Doctorate of Philosophy, honoris causa, upon Professor Daniel O’Connor in recognition of his notable contributions to the faith.

Daniel O’Connor is a professor of Philosophy and Religion who teaches undergraduates at a State University of New York Community College. He is honored to have instructed thousands of students in courses on Philosophy, Existentialism, Religion, Mathematics, and Physics.

Originally an engineer for GE Global Research doing quantum beam research, he switched careers and helped to establish the John Bosco House—a transitional home for homeless young men—where he then served the residents as a live-in house father.

Professor O’Connor is an accomplished author and speaker. He is the author of several books, including Thy Will Be Done and Only Man Bears His Image. His most recent book, First Line of Defense, aims to inspire men in their Catholic faith and was co-authored with longtime EWTN host and US Grace Force host Doug Barry. It will be published by Ignatius Press in 2026. He also writes for his personal website and is a featured guest on popular Catholic podcasts.

Daniel has an undergraduate degree from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) and obtained a Master of Arts in Theology from 鶹 College & Seminary in 2013. He has since completed several years of study towards his PhD in Philosophy. He met his wife, Regina, at 鶹, where she received a Bachelor of Arts in 2013. They live in New York with their six children, Joseph, David, Mary, Luisa, John Paul, and Patrick.


鶹 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, 鶹 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.

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Clergy Alumni Gathering /clergy-alumni-gathering/ Fri, 10 Apr 2026 20:51:20 +0000 /?p=23905 The post Clergy Alumni Gathering appeared first on 鶹 College & Seminary.

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On March 12, 鶹 welcomed a group of alumni priests, brothers, deacons and friends for a gathering with the Most Reverend Richard F. Reidy, Bishop of Norwich, CT. Alumni from Connecticut, New Jersey, New York and Louisiana attended. It was a great opportunity for everyone to reconnect. The evening included a reception and dinner followed by exposition, benediction and night prayer.

Below are a few photos from the gathering. Photo credit to Jacqueline Marie Photography.

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鶹 Alumni and Student Publications and News – April 2026 /holy-apostles-alumni-and-student-publications-and-news-april-2026/ Wed, 08 Apr 2026 17:37:13 +0000 /?p=23901 Alumnus Daniel Fitzpatrick serves as editor for Joie de Vivre and is hosting their second annual arts and culture festival May 15-16 at St. Joseph Abbey in Covington, LA. The thematic focus this year is on visual art, and they welcome submissions of art in all media from artists around the country. Deacon Matthew Newsome […]

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Alumnus Daniel Fitzpatrick serves as editor for Joie de Vivre and is hosting their second annual arts and culture festival May 15-16 at St. Joseph Abbey in Covington, LA. The thematic focus this year is on visual art, and they welcome submissions of art in all media from artists around the country.

Deacon Matthew Newsome (Master of Theology, 2008, and current student in the Master of Sacred Scripture program) has published a book of reflections on the Mass entitled “.” This book grew out of a series of retreat talks he has given to help ordinary Catholics understand the heavenly mysteries that take place upon the altars of their churches each time the Mass is offered, and the importance of our sacred duty to offer worship to the Almighty God. If you or someone you know has ever asked, “Why do we go to Mass, anyway? Why can’t we just worship God on our own?” this is the book to read.

Alumna Madonna Murphy, M.A. Theology 2010, has a book coming out this May 2026 with Scepter Publishers, “.” A Treasure for the Church brings together St. Josemaría’s personal, heartfelt answers to real-life questions posed during his catechetical gatherings in Spain (1972) and throughout Latin America (1974-1975). Drawn from his conversations with parents, educators, and youth, this book captures his timeless, practical advice for forming Christian character at home, in school, and in the world.

Student Jeff Plante has published his newest book, “.” It is unlike any other Catholic daily Scripture devotional; completely dedicated to the love of our neighbors. It is an ethos of Christianity…it is core to our faith…it is how we are called to live. In our daily immersion in the Word of God, specifically oriented on love of neighbor, may we grow closer to each other and, by extension, closer to Him in the process.

Student Carol D’Souza has published a new article in the Spring 2026 issue of Co‑Redemptrix magazine, titled “In You, Lord, No One Can See Your Face, But in Mary We See Your Beauty.” The magazine, produced by the Marian Franciscans of the Immaculate in England, focuses this issue on the Trinitarian‑Marian mystery, especially the relationship between Our Lady and God the Father. Carol’s contribution explores a topic that has received little theological attention, offering readers a deeper understanding of this profound and beautiful mystery. It’s a wonderful opportunity to engage with fresh scholarship on Mary’s unique place within the life of the Trinity.

Alumna Anastasia Wambeke recently had the opportunity to write, direct, and star in her very own for one of her film production classes.

Alumnus Dennis Pettit has joined the University of Dallas, Neuhaus Institute of Ministry and Evangelization, as a part-time Adjunct Instructor. Dennis graduated from 鶹 Apistles in 2022 with a Master’s in Theology, concentration in Sacred Scripture.

Alumnus Kaleb Hammond was recently interviewed by Kiki Latimer on the WCAT program “,” about his article for the New Oxford Review entitled “Tolkien’s Insights into the Feminine Soul: Icons of the Virgin Mary in ‘The Lord of the Rings‘”, published last November. The interview was conducted on March 18. The New Liturgical Movement will also be republishing Kaleb’s article on Dom Prosper Gueranger’s Anti-Liturgical Heresy, entitled ‘The Voice of Tradition,’ originally published with Adoremus Bulletin, on Easter Wednesday.

Alumni Jonathon Fessenden and Philipp Hadden have published their newest book, through Missio Dei Catholic.

Crown of Roses is written for modern Catholics in light of the Church’s timeless teachings and sacred tradition. A book that explores the history, power, and spiritual efficacy of the Rosary. With reflections that speak to souls in every stage of the spiritual journey, and beautiful introduction by Fr. Gregory Pine, O.P., our book brings together the wisdom of Missio Dei’s own talented authors to help you fall more deeply in love with this powerful Marian prayer—through which Our Lady has promised to obtain for us all that we ask of her.

Alumna Diana Ray, MAPS 2025, accepted residency at Frederick Heath Hospital in their Clinical Pastoral Education program.

Alumna Allison LeDoux has been asked to present a keynote address on “Guardians and Servants of Human Life: Upholding the Ethical and Religious Directives for Catholic Health Care Services for the Renewal of a Culture of Life in Health Care” at the 21st annual Divine Mercy Medicine, Bioethics, and Spirituality Conference will take place April 29-May 1, 2026 at the National Shrine of the Divine Mercy in Stockbridge, MA.

Alumnus Christopher Reilly had three articles about artificial intelligence published in March: “” in Catholic World Report, “, and “” in the New Oxford Review.

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In Memoriam – April 2026 /in-memoriam-april-2026/ Wed, 08 Apr 2026 17:34:53 +0000 /?p=23899 We commemorate our deceased members of the 鶹 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. Reverend William […]

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We commemorate our deceased members of the 鶹 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.

Reverend William Vincent Callery, Jr., known affectionately as Father Bill, passed away on November 6, 2025, at age 84. A Pittsburgh native and Duquesne University graduate, he first served as a U.S. Army officer before discerning a call to the priesthood. He prepared for ministry at 鶹 College & Seminary and Sacred Heart Seminary and School of Theology, and was ordained for the Diocese of Fargo in 2001. He went on to pastor several North Dakota parishes and continued assisting in ministry even in retirement.

Father Bill will be remembered for his humility, steadfast faith, and lifelong dedication to serving the Church and his communities.

Reverend Victor Chaker, 91, died on February 3, 2026. Father Chaker was born in Port Said, Egypt in 1934, immigrated to the United States, and before entering the priesthood was an accomplished engineer, husband, and father. After his beloved wife died, Victor entered 鶹 Seminary and received his MDiv on May 9, 2003, and was ordained a priest for the diocese of Norwich on May 31, 2003.

He served the faithful of St. Mary Parish in Coventry as a summer parochial vicar, parochial vicar, and pastor, and later retired from active ministry. He also served the Legion of Mary as Diocesan Spiritual Director. Father Chaker is survived by his grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and three living sisters.

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God’s Hand at Work: Dr. Paul Chutikorn’s Journey to the Catholic Faith /gods-hand-at-work-dr-paul-chutikorns-journey-to-the-catholic-faith-2/ Thu, 05 Mar 2026 13:55:33 +0000 /?p=23611 A childhood marked by instability might not seem like the foundation for a life in Catholic leadership. Yet for Dr. Paul Chutikorn ’19, MA ’21, each twist and turn became part of a providential path leading him to Christ and His Church. With no religious upbringing to guide him, his journey began with a simple […]

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A childhood marked by instability might not seem like the foundation for a life in Catholic leadership. Yet for Dr. Paul Chutikorn ’19, MA ’21, each twist and turn became part of a providential path leading him to Christ and His Church. With no religious upbringing to guide him, his journey began with a simple but powerful desire: to make dramatic changes in his life and build a better future for his family. What began as a search for order and a more moral life became something far greater—a discovery of the historic truth and beauty of the Catholic faith, and ultimately a calling to evangelize through teaching and leadership.

A Life Redirected

Dr. Chutikorn grew up in what he describes as a hectic environment. His parents divorced when he was only two years old, and he lived with his father until the age of nine. Paul then moved in with his mother, who was a real estate property manager, a profession with the downside of frequent relocation. Unfortunately, she battled personal problems, and as a result, Paul did not have the supervision a child needs. Although he did not get into trouble himself, he hung around with his cousin, who became involved with drugs and gang affiliation. Paul admits that, while not getting involved, he became attracted to the family-like, protective environment the gang brought—albeit destructive.

Paul’s life took a dramatic turn when he became a father at 16. After taking a year off from school to put his life in order, he completed high school and moved his future wife and child to Oregon to be near his sister. He felt a small-town environment was a better and more affordable place to raise a child.

While growing up, he and his siblings had no exposure to any religion at home. In high school, however, his sister joined a Christian youth group and, in Oregon, attended a Protestant nondenominational church. Now living in Oregon, Paul began attending the same church and loved it. He found that it helped him work toward his goal of becoming a more moral person and bring order to his life. His guiding principle was that he did not want his daughter to live the life he experienced, and he was doing everything possible to do something different.

Discovering the Catholic Church

During this time, when attending church and Bible studies, he began to love the person of Jesus Christ. Unfortunately, a strong anti-Catholic sentiment within the Bible study classes led him to develop a negative opinion about the Catholic faith. An important moment came when his brother, who was originally a Protestant, fell in love with and converted to Catholicism. Paul and his brother had heated discussions and, with the intention of proving his brother wrong, Paul did research into Church history. As he read, he realized that his brother was actually correct about the Catholic Church being the true legacy of Christ. As he put it, “The early Church looked remarkably Catholic.” He and his wife converted to Catholicism in 2009.

On fire with love for Christ and the Church, he hungered to learn more and share the information through teaching. He enrolled in the 鶹 online studies program in 2016, just two years after it was fully approved, after hearing about it from his brother. The program, grounded in principles of Thomistic philosophy and theology, was something Paul had been looking for and could not find at any other college. In 2019, Paul earned an undergraduate degree in Theology and Philosophy.

Still on fire, Paul immediately began pursuing his Master of Theology degree, concentrating on Thomistic studies. This, again, was a new program that had launched in 2019, at the same time he graduated with his undergraduate degree.

Teaching, Leadership, and Providence

After earning his graduate degree, he began working as a teaching assistant (TA) at 鶹, while also maintaining a job as Director of Faith Formation at his local parish. When a position opened in 2020, Paul began his adjunct career as the instructor of Moral Theology.

While holding this adjunct position, Paul pursued a Doctor of Education (EdD), which he realized would enable him to provide for his seven children and offer additional opportunities for him to teach and lead. As with so many of the opportunities that came before, the hand of God was at work again. When Paul was completing this program, 鶹 posted a job opening for the position of associate dean. He applied and became the Associate Dean of Online Learning at 鶹 in September 2024, while maintaining his adjunct teaching position.

Describing this journey, Paul explains, “I have been very, very blessed. It has not been a smooth ride; it’s been a busy schedule—having seven children, going to school, and working. That has been quite difficult, but the whole journey has been a complete blessing.”

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Venerable Fulton J. Sheen – January Library Display /venerable-fulton-sheen-january-library-display/ Fri, 23 Jan 2026 20:42:43 +0000 /?p=23321 Venerable Fulton J. Sheen Born Peter John Sheen on May 8, 1895, to farmer Newt Sheen and his wife, Delia, in El Paso, Illinois, the future Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen came under the influence of one of the founders of The Catholic University of America at an early age. While serving Mass as an 8-year-old […]

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Venerable Fulton J. Sheen

Born Peter John Sheen on May 8, 1895, to farmer Newt Sheen and his wife, Delia, in El Paso, Illinois, the future Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen came under the influence of one of the founders of The Catholic University of America at an early age.

While serving Mass as an 8-year-old altar boy for Bishop John L. Spalding of Peoria, Sheen dropped a wine cruet on the floor and it shattered. After the Mass, Bishop Spalding spoke to the frightened boy and made two bold predictions about him. First, the bishop said he would one day study at Louvain in Belgium; second, he told the young Sheen, “someday you will be just as I am.”

Sheen went to high school at Spalding Institute, then studied at St. Viator College in Illinois and attended Saint Paul Seminary in Minnesota before his ordination to the priesthood on September 20, 1919. In 1920, he came to the Catholic University of America to continue his studies. He stayed only a year before leaving to pursue advanced study in philosophy at the Catholic University of Louvain, Belgium. Five years later, he returned to The Catholic University of America to teach.

For the next 23 years, Catholic University was where Father Sheen honed his skills as a scholar, educator, orator and evangelist. He worked, first in the School of Theology and Religious Studies, then in the School of Philosophy, teaching courses that touched on both Father Sheen’s talents as a preacher did not go unnoticed, even in his early years. In January of 1927, at age 30 and still in his first year of teaching at Catholic University, he was selected to preach at the annual University Mass on the patronal feast of St. Thomas Aquinas. A decade later, it was Monsignor Sheen, not a high-ranking administrator, who was the principal speaker at the University’s Sesquicentennial Celebration. (He had been made a monsignor by Pope Pius XI in 1934 at the age of 39.)

Steadily, the reputation of the young Catholic University professor grew, first on campus, then in wider circles as his brilliant oratory attracted more attention from the media. Father Sheen’s first experience in broadcasting was in 1926 when he was invited to record a series of Sunday evening Lenten sermons on a New York radio station. Four years later, the young priest was asked to be a summer fill-in for two weeks on The Catholic Hour radio program. The audience response was so positive that he was asked to continue as a weekly speaker on the show.

From 1930 to 1950, Father (then Monsignor) Sheen’s weekly talks on The Catholic Hour presented Catholic teaching in a way that had never been done before. Drawing from the deep well of his faith and scholarship, Professor Sheen addressed topics ranging from devotion to the Blessed Mother to the dangers of Communism. Rooted in his thorough knowledge of the philosophical thought of St. Thomas Aquinas, he preached the Gospel and showed how it applies to personal moral decisions and the great social issues of the time.

In response to his radio broadcasts, Monsignor Sheen received a steady stream of letters. In 1937, he wrote in a letter to University Rector Monsignor Joseph Corrigan, “During the past year letters demanding personal attention have run between 75 and 100 a day. … This, coupled with classes never given with less than six hours preparation for each lecture, has left me physically exhausted. However, the good to be done is such that one dare not shrink from its opportunities for apostolate.”

Many of those letters were invitations to speak. Monsignor Sheen traveled all over the country giving academic lectures, missions, retreats, guest homilies, commencement addresses, and speaking at meetings of various Catholic organizations.

The busy professor not only kept up his full teaching schedule but also wrote numerous books. He published 34 books during his 23-year teaching career at Catholic University (and another 32 after he left the University). In addition, transcripts of his weekly
radio talks were published in dozens of booklets by the show’s sponsor, the National Council of Catholic Men. Many of his other talks and sermons were published as pamphlets. He also was a syndicated columnist in the secular press.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Dieterich, Henry. Compiler. Through the Year with Fulton Sheen. Ann Arbor, MI: Servant Book. 1985
Kossman, Patricia J. Editor. From the Angel’s Blackboard: The Best of Fulton J. Sheen. Liguore, MS: Triumph Books. 1995
Ladd, Gregory Joseph. Archbishop Fulton Sheen: A Man for all Media. San Francisco, CA: Ignatius Press. 2001
Murphy, Myles P. The Life and Times of Archbishop Fulton J Sheen. New York, NY: Alba House. 2000.
Sheen, Fulton J. Lift up Your Heart. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill Book Company. 1950
Sheen, Fulton J. Life is Worth Living. Garden City, NY: Garden City Book. 1953
Sheen, Fulton J. The World’s Great Love: The Prayer of the Rosary. New York, NY: Seabury Press. 1978
Sheen, Fulton J. Way to Inner Peace. New York, NY: Alba House. 2000
Sheen, Fulton J. Your Life is Worth Living: The Christian Philosophy of Life. Schnecksville, PA: St. Andrews Press. 2001
Sheen, Fulton J. The Priest is not His Own. San Francisco, CA: Ignatius Press. 2004
Sheen, Fulton J. The World’s First Love, Mary, Mother of God. San Francisco, CA: St. Ignatius Press. 2010
Sherwood, Timothy. The Preaching of Archbishop Fulton Sheen. New York, NY: Lexington Books. 2011

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“IVF Is Not The Way” Presentation by Dr. Stacy Trasancos /ivf-is-not-the-way-presentation-by-dr-stacy-trasancos/ Fri, 16 Jan 2026 15:04:50 +0000 /?p=23279 We are pleased to welcome Dr. Stacy Trasancos, who will give a special talk on “IVF Is Not The Way” and the Church’s pro-life witness. This presentation will be offered to all and will take place in St. Peter’s Refectory. Date: Thursday, January 22 Time: 4:05 – 5:00 PM (ET) In-Person: 鶹’ St. Peter’s […]

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We are pleased to welcome Dr. Stacy Trasancos, who will give a special talk on “IVF Is Not The Way” and the Church’s pro-life witness. This presentation will be offered to all and will take place in St. Peter’s Refectory.

Date: Thursday, January 22
Time: 4:05 – 5:00 PM (ET)
In-Person: 鶹’ St. Peter’s Refectory
Live Stream:

This talk is especially timely and meaningful, as it directly relates to our commitment to upholding the dignity of human life. We warmly encourage everyone to attend and to help promote this event among your students and colleagues.

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Later Vocations, Lasting Gifts /later-vocations-lasting-gifts/ Wed, 07 Jan 2026 20:27:25 +0000 /?p=23163 How two priests in the Diocese of Sioux Falls bring life experience into joyful service of the Church. Our lives are shaped by what we have lived—and by how we allow God to use it. That truth is especially evident in men who discern a later vocation to the priesthood. Rather than leaving their past […]

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How two priests in the Diocese of Sioux Falls bring life experience into joyful service of the Church.

Our lives are shaped by what we have lived—and by how we allow God to use it. That truth is especially evident in men who discern a later vocation to the priesthood. Rather than leaving their past at the door, they bring it to Christ, and their experiences become instruments of mercy, wisdom, and steady pastoral care.

Fr. Tom Hartman (BA ’14, MDiv ’17)

Fr. Tom Hartman, a priest of the Diocese of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, knows what it means to rebuild a life on faith. In his youth, his relationship with God was fractured. After high school, he married and became the father of two children. Years later, he endured a divorce and subsequently received an annulment.

In the midst of that painful time, Tom recalls hearing the Lord ask him, “Are you doing that well without me?” When he recognized the honest answer—no—he returned to the Church. With the guidance of his parish priest, he came to understand a hard but lasting lesson: suffering with God is difficult, but suffering without Him is misery.

After the divorce and annulment, Tom immersed himself in the life of faith. He dated off and on for ten years, but over time he began to see that dating was pulling him away from wholehearted service. As Fr. Tom explains, “This was my discovery of a priestly heart—that it wasn’t meant exclusively for one, but to give it over to Christ and His Church.” At 41, he entered 鶹.

Looking back, Fr. Tom describes his time there as a gift of peace and clarity. He says, “I am Franciscan in spirit, and I loved the holy simplicity that came from 鶹. It was my initial impression and my last description upon being ordained: 鶹 has a simple holiness to it.

He believes he gained practical tools to answer many questions, while also learning something every priest eventually discovers: no seminary can fully prepare a man for everything a diocesan priest and pastor will face. Still, the formation helped him develop the habit of self-formation—a steady discipline of prayer, study, and growth that continues long after ordination.

Today, Fr. Tom serves as pastor of the 鶹 Family Pastorate in South Dakota, which includes St. Lawrence, Milbank; St. Mary, Clear Lake; St. Charles Borromeo, Big Stone City; St. Mary, Wilmot; and Annunciation, Revillo. Reflecting on his vocation, he says, “The vocation of priesthood is hard but beautiful. I think this is true when lived well in marriage as well. So, despite all the demands that go into running a parish/pastorate, this is where God wants me, and it brings me peace.”

Fr. Tom Hartman with his family

Fr. Dan Smith (MDiv ’10)

Fr. Dan Smith’s call to the priesthood began early. When he was eight years old, he told his mother that he thought he would someday be a priest. He was right—just not right away.
After college, Dan ran his own ranch and later worked as a banker. In 2005, at 35 years old, he entered the seminary. He is grateful for a place like 鶹, and he credits its formation with shaping students in the full breadth of Catholic life. He points to the community itself: laity, ordained, and consecrated religious—both professors and students—people from every background who share one common desire: to grow closer to Jesus Christ.

He also highlights the distinctly Eucharistic rhythm of seminary life. 鶹, he says, is Eucharistic-centered in teaching and practice, forming men through 鶹 Hours and the 鶹 Sacrifice of the Mass. As Fr. Dan puts it, “This formation, as well as the sound philosophical foundation, prepares a person to handle what they encounter outside the seminary—in parishes, chapels, and on street corners. It prepares you for life, for the world… all for the salvation of souls.

Fr. Dan now serves as chaplain at Sanford Hospital in Sioux Falls, providing emotional and spiritual support to patients, families, and staff. Over the years, he has kept 鶹 close to his heart—and he has acted on that gratitude in a very practical way. He regularly sends gifts to seminarians, including coats, shoes, books, and other useful items.

He remembers receiving similar kindness as a student. While he was at 鶹, the Director of Library Services, Professor Claire Adamo, ran a book fair where seminarians could purchase books at affordable prices. There were also donations of clothing, liturgical items, and suit coats—one of which Fr. Dan received and still owns.

That spirit of generosity left a lasting impression. Now, when he comes across items he believes will help others, he continues the same practice of giving he experienced as a seminarian. As he explains, “鶹 Seminary has this charism of gift that began with Fr. Eusebe Menard, who gave the gift of 鶹 as a seminary for later vocations. So, when I come across things… I will place them in a box and mail them to 鶹, further continuing this gift charism.”

Winter in South Dakota
Life and ministry in South Dakota come with a challenge familiar to anyone who has lived through a New England winter—and then some. Winters at our campus in Cromwell can be snowy, but on the plains they can be severe, isolating, and even dangerous. Fr. Dan, Fr. Tom, and their brother priests are to be commended for the perseverance it takes to serve faithfully through months of harsh weather.

As Fr. Dan notes with a smile, “The Laura Ingalls Wilder books do not lie. It can be dangerous in the rural areas where priests sometimes have to drive 40 miles to the next parish.” In bad weather, they often stay close and serve the immediate area rather than take unnecessary risks. But rural ministry still demands travel—sometimes long miles on winter nights, scanning the roadside for deer, navigating blizzard snowdrifts, and driving roads lit only by starlight.

In those conditions, preparation is part of pastoral care. A supply bag becomes essential: candles, candy bars, layered clothing, snow boots, and the liturgical supplies needed for the sacraments. And, of course, a well-maintained, dependable vehicle matters—Fr. Dan’s has just hit 500,000 miles—along with the prayers of parishioners for safe travel.

God Shapes His Shepherds

The paths to the priesthood are not all the same. Yet in each vocation—early or late—the Lord forms a shepherd for His people. In Fr. Tom and Fr. Dan, we see how God can take real-life experience—joys, losses, work, family life, endurance, and generosity—and shape it into steady, compassionate priestly ministry.

Please keep these priests, and all our priests, in your prayers—especially those who serve in rural communities and difficult conditions—so that, in every season, they may continue to bring Christ to His people.

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At the Forefront of Revival | An Interview with Alex Soucy, Founder of Crossroads 4 Christ /at-the-forefront-of-revival-an-interview-with-alex-soucy-founder-of-crossroads-4-christ/ Mon, 22 Dec 2025 15:52:32 +0000 /?p=23010 Alex Soucy, a 2023 graduate, is an example of someone living the missionary charism of evangelization that is the vision of 鶹 College & Seminary. He is the co-founder of Crossroads 4 Christ (C4C), an organization that brings young adults together to form communities of missionary disciples. Crossroads 4 Christ enables young adults to […]

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Alex Soucy, a 2023 graduate, is an example of someone living the missionary charism of evangelization that is the vision of 鶹 College & Seminary. He is the co-founder of , an organization that brings young adults together to form communities of missionary disciples. Crossroads 4 Christ enables young adults to gather and discuss Christ in an environment that seeks to better their relationship with the Lord.

The post At the Forefront of Revival | An Interview with Alex Soucy, Founder of Crossroads 4 Christ appeared first on 鶹 College & Seminary.

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