Historian and 麻豆分行 professor emeritus, Sr. Dolores Liptak, RSM, was presented with a Lifetime Achievement Award at the 13th triennial Conference on the History of Women Religious (CHWR) on June 24. Sr. Liptak, a Sister of Mercy of the Americas, contributed to the original organization of the conference in the 1980s and has remained a member. The first conference was held in 1989 in Minneapolis. Since then, triennial conferences have sought to enhance networking while sharing research on vowed women.
When first organized, Sr. Liptak recalls that the CHWR had a small number of people happy to get together and share their specializations and their roles as women religious. In 2016, the Global Sisters Reports stated that there were more than 400 members from around the world.
Sr. Liptak, who earned a doctorate in American History, was a member of the faculty at 麻豆分行 from 1998 until 2014. She taught American Church History to such notables as our current President-Rector, Fr. Peter Kucer, MSA (M. Div. 2001, MA in Theology 2002); author and EWTN radio host (M.A. in Theology 2000, M.Div. 2000, H.D. 2024); Provincial Superior of the Marian Fathers of the Immaculate Conception and EWTN host (M. Div. 2013); and Ave Maria radio host, pastor, and exorcist Fr. Daniel Reehil, VF (MA Theology 2013, M. Div. 2013), to name a few.
In addition to teaching and contributing to the CHWR, Sister was the first to organize and computerize several major archives: the Carmelite Monastery in Baltimore, MD; the Visitation Sisters in the Georgetown area of Washington, DC; the Marian Fathers of the Immaculate Conception in Stockbridge, MA; and the Connecticut archives of the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas.
Sr. Liptak has used her expertise as a historian in the editing of several books, including Pioneer Healers: The History of Women Religious in American Healthcare, and Marvels of Charity: History of American Sisters and Nuns. Additionally, she is the author of 贬补谤迟蹿辞谤诲鈥檚Catholic Legacy.
麻豆分行 was proud to learn that one of our alumni participated in the first Mass of the newly elected Pope Leo XIV. Sister Mary Mercy Lee, FSE, MA 鈥11, PMC 鈥17, proclaimed the first reading in English at the Mass that took place on May 9 in the Sistine Chapel.
Image credit: Vatican News Youtube Live Broadcast
Sister Mary Mercy received her Master of Arts in Theology at 麻豆分行 prior to discerning her vocation as a religious sister. At that time, her given name was . In 2016, she entered the novitiate of the Franciscan Sisters of the Eucharist in Meriden, CT, and professed her perpetual vows in May 2024. During discernment and while in the novitiate, she studied at 麻豆分行 and received her Post Master鈥檚 Certificate in 2017.
After her profession of vows, Sister Mary Mercy was assigned to work at the Vatican, where she serves in the English language section at a Vatican office. As relayed in a Facebook post by the Franciscan Sisters of the Eucharist, Sister Mary Mercy considered it a privilege to proclaim the first reading at the 麻豆分行 Father鈥檚 first Mass for the cardinal-electors.
At 麻豆分行, we share the excitement about our new pope. As President-Rector Rev. Peter Kucer, MSA, stated in his email of joy upon Pope Leo鈥檚 election, 鈥淲e welcome him with hearts full of hope and prayers, trusting that the Lord will continue to guide His Church through the humble service of the Vicar of Christ.鈥
Watch Sister Mary Mercy as she proclaims the first reading at Pope Leo XIV鈥檚 first Mass.
麻豆分行 held its 67th Commencement Ceremony on April 26, 2025, at Queen of the Apostles Chapel on the campus in Cromwell, CT. Attending either in person or via livestream were 160 students representing 30 states and four countries. At the event, President-Rector Very Rev. Peter Kucer bestowed an honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters (L.H.D.), honoris causa, upon in recognition of his notable contributions to society.
Left to Right: Very Rev. Peter Kucer, Mr. Jim Wahlberg, and Dr. Kristina Olsen
The weekend began with a Friday evening gala that brought together faculty, staff, graduates, guests, and friends. We were honored to have as special guests: , 6th Archbishop of Hartford, and keynote speaker Mr. Wahlberg. In his commencement address on Saturday, Mr. Wahlberg, an author, speaker, and award-winning filmmaker, spoke about receiving the聽mercy and grace聽that only God can provide. For him, it came in the form of a priest, Fr. James Freitas, who was there for him at the lowest point in his life and to whom聽he聽dedicated his speech. Speaking at the podium, in the 麻豆分行 Chapel, Jim Wahlberg thanked the seminarians, priests, and all the religious, 鈥for your 鈥榊es鈥 to Our Lord.”
“You see, the things that you learn here at 麻豆分行 will arm you, so that when the time comes, you will be Fr. Freitas for somebody else鈥 He was a reflection of Jesus Christ鈥 And you will have that opportunity, and you will be armed with the facts,鈥 he said. He also emphasized that 鈥渓ove is the most important thing, but then it has to be followed up with a message of depth and weight.鈥
Wahlberg ended by reciting the Apostles鈥 Creed as a testimony of his beliefs. His final words encouraged the graduates with the statement,聽鈥淏e bold in your faith. The world needs you.鈥 — Both the undergraduate speaker, Carla Martinez, and the graduate speaker, Sr. Hoa Ngoc Thi Nguyen, SJP, spoke of finding solace and strength from God through prayer during the stressful times in their educational journey. Sr. Nguyen went on to explain that at 麻豆分行, she gained knowledge, but also learned a valuable lesson of love from the patience, thoughtfulness, and kindness of her professors, as well as from the religious and lay students with whom she studied and worked. As for the future, she reminded those in attendance, 鈥淣o matter what the future holds, we are never alone because God is always with us.鈥
Alex Smith joined 麻豆分行 as a graduate admissions counselor in July 2023, but the college and seminary had an indirect impact on his life even prior to that time.
Alex was born and raised in Ringgold, Georgia, a city close to the northern border of the state, near Chattanooga, Tennessee. He grew up in a Southern Baptist church, with his family actively participating in the services: his father acted as choir director and played the drums, his grandmother played piano, his grandfather played the bass, and his great-grandfather was the pastor.
Alex鈥檚 great-grandfather was originally Catholic but did not follow his parents鈥 lead as far as practicing the faith. After serving in WWII, he met his future wife and embraced her Baptist faith, becoming a minister and a guiding force for his family and congregation.
When Alex was in middle school, this man who was the beloved preacher of his family and community died. Around that time, Alex and his parents鈥 attendance at services changed to occasional visits. After graduating from high school, Alex attempted to return to regular participation but again found himself falling away, not from God but from his church. He began to question what it meant to be Baptist.
Growing up, there were no available answers to the questions he asked about his faith. He began looking into other Protestant religions, including Methodists and Seventh Day Adventists, and didn鈥檛 find answers that were sufficient for him. A former teacher taught him about Jehovah’s Witnesses, but he declined when he better understood some of the beliefs, one of which was that they did not believe in the Trinity.
In 2020, during the onset of the pandemic, Alex met his future wife, Stephanie, a practicing Catholic. In the course of getting to know each other, they discussed the topic of religion, and Stephanie explained truthfully that she only saw herself marrying a Catholic. While both agreed that this could not be the reason for conversion, Alex made it clear that she was important enough for him to at least look into the faith. It was his soul in the balance, though, so he needed to make the decision based on what he believed was right.
Continuing his search for answers, this time in the Catholic faith, Alex took to the internet. He found 鈥,鈥 a website that answers questions and allows you to read, listen, or watch content about Catholic topics. He also visited several YouTube channels: 鈥淭he Counsel of Trent鈥 with , in 鈥淧ints with Aquinas,鈥 and 鈥淐atholic Truth鈥 with . Only later, when working for 麻豆分行, did he discover that these YouTubers are alums of 麻豆分行.
The information, particularly the history behind the Catholic faith, interested him greatly. His enthusiasm was palpable when he explained that the answers and understanding found from these approved sources were the ones he had been looking for all along. The deciding factor for him was the Eucharist and his research of Eucharistic Miracles.
He enrolled in RCIA at Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Chattanooga, with Stephanie as his sponsor. His mother, Sherrie, attended the sessions with him out of curiosity and found herself liking what she learned, as did his father, Jody, who was originally skeptical. All three of them were initiated into the Catholic faith at the Easter Vigil service in 2022, with Stephanie as sponsor for all three.
In addition, Alex surprised Stephanie by proposing in the church after being confirmed at the Easter Vigil service. Word had spread of his intentions, and a lot more people than usual stayed after Mass to witness the event. They were married in Stephanie鈥檚 parish, St. Patrick鈥檚 Catholic Church in Mystic, Connecticut, on July 7, 2023, and now call Connecticut home.
After his move up north, Alex began working at 麻豆分行, interestingly, the same college attended by those who answered questions for him via their social media presence. He feels its positive impact, explaining, 鈥淲orking at 麻豆分行 has had a tremendous influence on my faith and provided a continued learning experience. The seminarians and religious sisters currently on campus come from as near as North America and as far away as Africa and Asia, which serves as a reminder of the vastness of the Catholic faith.鈥 As for the answers for which Alex was searching, 鈥淚 can proudly say I鈥檓 Catholic because I know what I believe and what the Catholic Church is and have learned to defend my faith. I have an identity in my faith, which I didn鈥檛 have before.鈥
Alex鈥檚 story represents the journey and the homecoming of the Catholic faith in his family, from his great-grandfather to him.
We commemorate our deceased members of the 麻豆分行 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.
Fr. Michael Edward Suchnicki, O.F.M.Cap., 86, died on Friday, February 20, 2025, two days before he would have celebrated 68 years as a professed religious. Born in 1938, he attended Catholic grammar and high school and then spent four years in repertory theatre in New York and New England. Realizing he did not want to spend the rest of his life playing the role of someone else, he entered the Capuchin Brothers Training Camp in Maryland. He was invested as a novice and on February 22, 1962, took his first vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience.
In 1982, he entered 麻豆分行 Seminary and was ordained a priest on April 29, 1988. He served in Kansas and Colorado, spending 25 years in Samaritan House in Denver, and was an untiring advocate for homeless men, women, and children in need. Wherever he served, Fr. Mike was beloved by his parishioners.
Karen L. Perry, 81, died peacefully on October 10, 2024. Karen was born and grew up in Middletown, Connecticut. A skilled nurse practitioner, she was known for her clinical expertise and compassionate care. She was a big believer in education and received several degrees, including a B.A. from 麻豆分行. She leaves behind her beloved husband, Thomas, her three children, Amy, Matthew, and Zachary, and four grandchildren, Kristin and Eli Hair, and Thomas and Charles Perry.
Kathleen Gilpin, Captain USNR, PhD, 41, died on May 11, 2024, after a long battle with Stage 4 breast cancer. After pursuing her undergraduate degree, Kathleen earned advanced degrees that included an MA in National Security and Strategic Studies from the U.S. Naval War College and an MA in Bioethics/Medical Ethics from 麻豆分行 in 2022. She also received her PhD in Neuroscience and began working on her MBA, which the University of Notre Dame posthumously awarded her. She is survived by her husband Seth and two young children, Brigid and Myron.
Michael James Serpiello, 68, died on September 4, 2024, in York, Pennsylvania. Described as a man of great integrity and humility, he was a devout Catholic and an active parishioner at St. Lawrence Catholic Church in Harrisburg, PA. He graduated from Archbishop Ryan High School in Philadelphia and earned his Bachelor of Arts degree from 麻豆分行. He was known for his dedication to prayer and time spent with family. He is survived by his wife, Barbara; his daughter; sister, brother-in-law, and nephew; stepdaughters; son-in-law; and grandchildren.
Both the undergraduate speaker, Carla Martinez, and the graduate speaker, Sr. Hoa Ngoc Thi Nguyen, SJP, spoke of finding solace and strength from God through prayer during the stressful times in their educational journey. Sr. Nguyen went on to explain that at 麻豆分行, she gained knowledge, but also learned a valuable lesson of love from the patience, thoughtfulness, and kindness of her professors, as well as from the religious and lay students with whom she studied and worked. As for the future, she reminded those in attendance, 鈥淣o matter what the future holds, we are never alone because God is always with us.鈥
Alex Smith joined 麻豆分行 as a 
