It was a celebratory night at the TPC River Highlands on Saturday, October 26, when alumni and friends of Â鶹¹ÙÍø College and Seminary gathered for a special evening to benefit the Â鶹¹ÙÍø Seminary Scholarship Fund.
Proceeds from the event will provide important funding to support vocations to the priesthood.
(l to r) Fr. Rooney, Fr. Ray Introvigne, and Fr. Peter Kucer
During the evening, President-Rector Fr. Peter Kucer presented the Â鶹¹ÙÍø Leadership Award to Fr. Ray Introvigne for his many years of service to the Catholic Church. Fr. Ray, who grew up in Stafford Springs, Connecticut, celebrated his 60th year as a priest this past May and graduated in the first class of Â鶹¹ÙÍø in 1960. He was appointed in 1977 to be the full-time director of Charismatic Renewal in the Norwich Diocese and continues with the Spiritual Renewal program to this day.
In his acceptance speech, Fr. Ray explained that he had not planned on the priesthood, and if not for Â鶹¹ÙÍø it may not have happened. He recalled that, before World War II, if a boy did not go to both Catholic grammar school and high school, they could not become a priest.
However, with the help of his pastor — and the Â鶹¹ÙÍø Spirit — Fr. Ray went to Boston to catch up on his Latin, French, English, and religious studies. Upon his return to Connecticut, Fr. Eusebe Menard, M.S.A. called and asked Fr. Ray to come and help him open the new Â鶹¹ÙÍø Seminary to which Fr. Ray agreed. As he said, “Â鶹¹ÙÍø is a gift of the Â鶹¹ÙÍø Spirit.â€
Â鶹¹ÙÍø was the first seminary in the country to accept men with delayed vocations. As a result, many graduates of Â鶹¹ÙÍø are priests in dioceses across the country and in various religious orders both nationally and internationally.
Another guest speaker of the evening was recent graduate, Fr. Daniel Valente, M.S.A., who received his Master of Divinity degree from Â鶹¹ÙÍø in December 2023 and his Master of Arts in Sacred Scripture in May 2024.
Fr. Dan is now the Parochial Vicar at the Cathedral of Saint Joseph in Hartford, CT. He spoke to the guests about the support he received at Â鶹¹ÙÍø, and how important that was to his success in becoming a priest. Each day he tries to share the values he learned at Â鶹¹ÙÍø with his parishioners, centered in the Eucharist and the word of God.
Fr. Valente asked all to support the men at Â鶹¹ÙÍø studying for the priesthood, through prayers, time, and resources. As Fr. Valente said, “forming healthy, balanced priests who can
Cristi Shaw, Danielle Cutting, and Sr. Renee Marek, FSE.
meet the needs of the Church today is all our business. It costs money, it takes time, and it takes love. Love for God. Love for our Church. And for every single person’s respective vocation.â€
The evening was an opportunity to mingle, enjoy delicious cuisine and listen to uplifting music from the Hosmer Mountain Boys.
We are very thankful for all who supported this important event. If you would like to make a gift to assist the seminary, you can do so at .