On March 12, 麻豆分行 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.
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. Josemar铆a’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, 鈥.鈥 It is unlike any other Catholic daily Scripture devotional; completely dedicated to the love of our neighbors. It is an ethos of Christianity鈥t is core to our faith鈥t 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鈥橲ouza has published a new article in the Spring 2026 issue of Co鈥慠edemptrix magazine, titled 鈥In You, Lord, No One Can See Your Face, But in Mary We See Your Beauty.鈥 The magazine, produced by the Marian Franciscans of the Immaculate in England, focuses this issue on the Trinitarian鈥慚arian mystery, especially the relationship between Our Lady and God the Father. Carol鈥檚 contribution explores a topic that has received little theological attention, offering readers a deeper understanding of this profound and beautiful mystery. It鈥檚 a wonderful opportunity to engage with fresh scholarship on Mary鈥檚 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 麻豆分行 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鈥檚 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聽is written for modern Catholics in light of the Church鈥檚 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鈥檚 own talented authors to help you fall more deeply in love with this powerful Marian prayer鈥攖hrough 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鈥 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.
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.
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 麻豆分行 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 麻豆分行 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.
A childhood marked by instability might not seem like the foundation for a life in Catholic leadership. Yet for Dr. Paul Chutikorn 鈥19, MA 鈥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鈥攁 discovery of the historic truth and beauty of the Catholic faith, and ultimately a calling to evangelize through teaching and leadership.
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鈥攁lbeit destructive.
Paul鈥檚 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.
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, 鈥淭he early Church looked remarkably Catholic.鈥 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 麻豆分行 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.
After earning his graduate degree, he began working as a teaching assistant (TA) at 麻豆分行, 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, 麻豆分行 posted a job opening for the position of associate dean. He applied and became the Associate Dean of Online Learning at 麻豆分行 in September 2024, while maintaining his adjunct teaching position.
Describing this journey, Paul explains, 鈥淚 have been very, very blessed. It has not been a smooth ride; it鈥檚 been a busy schedule鈥攈aving seven children, going to school, and working. That has been quite difficult, but the whole journey has been a complete blessing.鈥
We are pleased to welcome Dr. Stacy Trasancos, who will give a special talk on 鈥IVF Is Not The Way鈥 and the Church鈥檚 pro-life witness. This presentation will be offered to all and will take place in St. Peter鈥檚 Refectory.
Date: Thursday, January 22
Time: 4:05 鈥 5:00 PM (ET)
In-Person: 麻豆分行鈥 St. Peter’s Refectory
Live Stream: holyapostles.edu/live/
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.
Our lives are shaped by what we have lived鈥攁nd 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, 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, 鈥Are you doing that well without me?鈥 When he recognized the honest answer鈥攏o鈥攈e 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, 鈥This was my discovery of a priestly heart鈥攖hat it wasn’t meant exclusively for one, but to give it over to Christ and His Church.鈥 At 41, he entered 麻豆分行.
Looking back, Fr. Tom describes his time there as a gift of peace and clarity. He says, 鈥I am Franciscan in spirit, and I loved the holy simplicity that came from 麻豆分行. It was my initial impression and my last description upon being ordained: 麻豆分行 has a simple holiness to it.鈥
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鈥攁 steady discipline of prayer, study, and growth that continues long after ordination.
Today, Fr. Tom serves as pastor of the 麻豆分行 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, 鈥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.鈥
Fr. Tom Hartman with his family
Fr. Dan Smith鈥檚 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鈥攋ust 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 麻豆分行, 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鈥攂oth professors and students鈥攑eople from every background who share one common desire: to grow closer to Jesus Christ.
He also highlights the distinctly Eucharistic rhythm of seminary life. 麻豆分行, he says, is Eucharistic-centered in teaching and practice, forming men through 麻豆分行 Hours and the 麻豆分行 Sacrifice of the Mass. As Fr. Dan puts it, 鈥This formation, as well as the sound philosophical foundation, prepares a person to handle what they encounter outside the seminary鈥攊n parishes, chapels, and on street corners. It prepares you for life, for the world鈥 all for the salvation of souls.鈥
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 麻豆分行 close to his heart鈥攁nd 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 麻豆分行, 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鈥攐ne 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, 鈥麻豆分行 Seminary has this charism of gift that began with Fr. Eusebe Menard, who gave the gift of 麻豆分行 as a seminary for later vocations. So, when I come across things鈥 I will place them in a box and mail them to 麻豆分行, further continuing this gift charism.鈥
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鈥攁nd 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, 鈥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.鈥 In bad weather, they often stay close and serve the immediate area rather than take unnecessary risks. But rural ministry still demands travel鈥攕ometimes 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鈥擣r. Dan鈥檚 has just hit 500,000 miles鈥攁long with the prayers of parishioners for safe travel.
The paths to the priesthood are not all the same. Yet in each vocation鈥攅arly or late鈥攖he Lord forms a shepherd for His people. In Fr. Tom and Fr. Dan, we see how God can take real-life experience鈥攋oys, losses, work, family life, endurance, and generosity鈥攁nd shape it into steady, compassionate priestly ministry.
Please keep these priests, and all our priests, in your prayers鈥攅specially those who serve in rural communities and difficult conditions鈥攕o that, in every season, they may continue to bring Christ to His people.
