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Welcome To A New Academic Year

Sep 5, 2024 | News

Dear �鶹���� Community,

“Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.” (2 Timothy 1:2 RSVCE)

As we begin the fall semester, I extend my greetings and blessings in the Lord Jesus to you all.

Currently, our campus is being filled with life as our seminarians, student priests, sisters and on-campus commuter students return. I welcome our many students who are joining us online and are part of a robust international community.

I would like to note the appointment of two important administrators Dr. Kristina Olsen Ph.D. as the Vice-President of Academic Affairs and Dr. John O’Neill as the B.A. Theology program coordinator. Dr. O’Neill will also serve as an Assistant Professor of Theology.

Our fall semester and new academic year began on Monday, August 26 with the celebration of �鶹���� Mass at 11:30 a.m. It was followed by the Opening Convocation Ceremony for the 2024-25 academic year. It included the official installation of Dr. Olsen in her new role as Vice-President of Academic Affairs and also the faculty taking the Profession of Faith and Oath of Fidelity.

Left to Right: Very Rev. Peter S. Kucer, MSA (President-Rector), Very Rev. Martin Rooney, MSA (Chancellor), and Dr. Kristina Olsen (Vice President of Academic Affairs)

We look forward to on-campus retreats and online webinars this year including some that are outlined in this newsletter along with our first HACS Scholarship Dinner being held on October 26 in Cromwell, CT.

Please reach out to Cristi Shaw at [email protected] with any suggestions and feedback as we work to make the year ahead fulfilling and engaging for our community.

United in the Lord Jesus,

Father Peter Kucer, MSA STD
President-Rector

�鶹���� Strengthens Global Ties for the Church’s Future

Aug 27, 2024 | News

�鶹���� College and Seminary continues to foster its global outreach to form future leaders of the Church. This summer, Fr. Peter Kucer, MSA, President-Rector, with Fr. Son, MSA, and Fr. Declan, embarked on significant recruitment trips to Vietnam and the Philippines.

Foundations for Future Growth

In Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, Fr. Peter and Fr. Son spent time with several religious communities, deepening relationships that have been nurtured over the years. Their efforts resulted in exciting news: a Cistercian community has committed to sending one of their seminarians to �鶹����.

After their time in Vietnam, Fr. Peter traveled to the Philippines, where he began building new relationships with bishops and religious superiors.

In Cebu, Fr. Peter, Fr. Declan, and Sister Giselle Santos, SPD, engaged with several key figures, including Fr. Ambrose Kulandairaj, Superior General of the . Here, discussions centered on establishing a formation house at �鶹���� and potential online theological studies.

A meeting with led to an invitation for Fr. Peter and Fr. Declan to present the �鶹����’ mission to the regional board of bishops. This invitation is a clear sign of the growing respect and recognition for �鶹���� in the Philippines.

The journey continued with meetings across the country, from Tuguegarao to Malolos and Virac. In every instance, each encounter reinforced �鶹����’ commitment to supporting the Church’s mission of evangelization and the formation of priests who will serve with love and dedication.

A Global Commitment to the Church’s Mission

These trips to Vietnam and the Philippines are a reflection of �鶹���� College and Seminary’s deep commitment to the global Church and the seminary’s role in fostering strong relationships that will support the Church’s mission of evangelization.

Leading with Faith: Prominent Alumni of �鶹����

Aug 6, 2024 | News

�鶹���� College and Seminary alumni are valuable members of a lifelong community and global network. We hear many stories about how the education they received at �鶹���� helped to support their work in Catholic ministry.

We are proud of our alumni for living the mission of �鶹���� in evangelization as “co-workers in the vineyard” whether clergy, laity, or religious.

Many of our alumni are doing exceptional work for the church and some have reached national and international recognition. Recently we posted an impressive list of these recognized leaders here.

We thank all alumni for your role as important ambassadors for the college and seminary and trailblazers for the faith.

�鶹���� looks forward to increasing our programs and offerings for our alumni community. Please stay in touch and let us know the good work you are doing!

A Few Good Men

Aug 2, 2024 | News

CROMWELL. As you drive out the entrance road of the �鶹���� College and Seminary campus you’ll see a sign declaring: “Entering Mission Territory.” That statement admits that the faith — in what used to be “one nation under God,” — is waning. Atheism is the basis for the “ideological colonization” that is swamping our culture so that “missions” are right in our backyard. So what are we doing about it? Well, it may be politically incorrect to say it, but the old Marine Corps recruitment motto: “We’re looking for a few good men,” still applies to the priesthood of the Roman Catholic Church. No apologies!

And the charism and mission of the Missionaries of the �鶹���� is precisely suited for the task. We exist to “promote, form and accompany youth and adults in their vocation to the priesthood and to other ministries in the Church.” And so our Founder, Fr. Eusebe Menard, founded �鶹���� College and Seminary (HACS) as our principle apostolate and place to train “a few good priests” to go on mission, right here in the good ‘ol USA.

How do we do it? The administration and faculty at �鶹���� are committed to teaching the “mind of Christ” (1 Corinthians 2:16) by providing faithful, orthodox instruction and formation to give solid, holy priests to the Church. They pledge, by an oath of fidelity called the Mandatum, to teach according to the Church’s Magisterium regarding faith and morals — so their charges may be spiritually well armed, servant soldiers of “salt and light,” that can inspire and guide the Church and evangelize the world-at-large. With this in mind, and with the approval of HACS Rector Fr. Peter Kucer, a vocation discernment opportunity, aka, a “Come and See” retreat, was offered inside the St. James House of Discernment on campus over 3 days, June 6, 7 & 8, 2024.

Whodunit? MSA Vocation Coordinator Fr. Skip Thompson flew cross-continent from Southern California to first attend the MSA-USA Provincial Assembly in late May; and secondly, multi-tasked by preparing and delivering an MSA vocation retreat. MSA Brs. Bobby Cantoni and Ronnie Aucoin were instrumental in preparing for and participating in the retreat program. And daily served and accompanied our “few good men.”

Three men “came and saw” — to discern and reconnoiter — our college and seminary and our MSA community of priests and brothers — who in turn discerned right back! They were: Michael Gillespie of Walnut Creek, CA; Steven Roque of Winooski, VT and Chris Woods of Wantagh, NY on Long Island. The consensus was that a good experience was had by all! Good men, good time, good God!

Inside St. James’ House of Discernment chapel. Seated from left to right are our “Aspirants” – Chris Woods, Mike Gillespie, and Steve Roque.  Standing from L to R are Br. Ronnie Aucoin, yours truly, and Br. Bob Cantoni.

Special presenters to the retreat program included the MSA Provincial Animator and HACS Chancellor, the Very Reverend Marty Rooney; HACS Rector, the Very Reverend Peter Kucer, Provincial Bursar Reverend Ed Przygocki and our newly ordained Reverend Dan Valente — all MSA members.

Of the hundreds of writings by MSA founder, Fr. Eusebe Menard, OFM, one was specially printed and bound and shared with the men: “Guidelines for Life”. Also provided for their reading and inspiration was Archbishop Fulton Sheen’s classic “The Priest is Not His Own,” the 2019 book by Catholic layman Kevin Wells, “The Priests We Need to Save the Church,” and other materials related to the challenges of our times. Fr. Skip will follow up with each man individually — and more meetings will ensue with MSA leadership over the coming months as the “dance” continues. Please pray for Michael, Steve and Chris and our MSA men discerning with them.

If you think you are — or you know a man you think is — called to serve the Church as a priest please contact Fr. Skip in Oxnard, CA at his Retreat House in California. You can email: [email protected] . Or call him at 805-330-8260. BTW: Pacific Time is 3 hours earlier than Eastern; please don’t call too early. Mercy! He will be very glad to speak with you.

Fr. Skip Thompson is a “second career” priest with the Missionaries of the �鶹���� and was ordained in 2015. He has 3 children. He serves as the MSA Vocation Director and after concurrently serving as Director of Lay Ministries, Dean of Men at HACS from 2015 to 2020, and Provincial Bursar (whew!) he was sent to California. There Fr. Skip was installed by former Auxillary Bishop Robert Barron to begin ministry at the Retreat House at the Santa Clara Parish in Oxnard, CA. He arrived there on March 26, 2022, the feast day of MSA Founder Fr. Eusebe Menard. You can’t make this up!

Our Faithful Parish Priests

Jul 4, 2024 | News

For most Catholic parishioners, priests have been reliable figures surrounding them throughout their lives. They signify the stability of the Catholic faith that can be counted on in times of trouble.

Parish priests have an enormous responsibility in the Catholic Church. They are responsible for guiding parishioners from birth to death, bringing Catholics into the Church with the sacrament of Baptism and continuing the spiritual guidance by administering the sacraments and proclaiming the Gospel. We would like to feature two of our many alumni who fill this vital role and the path they took to the priesthood.

Fr. John Antonelle, St. Mary Church, Portland, CT

Fr. John Antonelle was born in Brooklyn, New York, and grew up in Rockaway, Queens. A second-generation Italian, he enjoyed a successful career in graphic design and advertising in New York, lived in an apartment in Manhattan that had a doorman, and traveled frequently in his free time. Life was great, but something was always missing. A friend’s sudden death brought the realization that everything could change in a snap, and he began to reassess his life.

After quite a number of years of being involved in his parish but avoiding a further commitment, he spoke to his pastor, who was aware of �鶹���� College and Seminary’s history accepting men with late vocations and set up an interview for Fr. John. While making the drive up from New York for the meeting, he felt a surprising sense of peace and knew that his path to the priesthood was the right decision. Fr. John spent five years in seminary at �鶹����, graduated in May 2006, and was ordained in the same month. His mother, who quietly knew he was drawn to the church from an early age, was there at his ordination to support and celebrate the achievement of his true vocation.

His first assignment was at St. Bernard’s in Rockville, followed by several others, including nearly 12 years as a chaplain at UCONN. Being able to see and guide students as they grew from freshmen to seniors and beyond was a wonderful experience for him.

Fr. John was next assigned to St. Mary Church in Portland, Connecticut, where he is located currently. On June 16, he celebrated his 18th anniversary of ordination to the priesthood. Along the way he picked up an assistant, Patsy (short for Pasquale), his nine-year-old Boxer, who has a large fan base – from UCONN students and parishioners of St. Mary’s to nursing homes residents.

Reflecting now, Fr. John says, “�鶹���� College & Seminary has not only been a gift to me but also to our diocese and church. I and other priests may have otherwise not become priests if it wasn’t for the vision of Fr. Eusebe Menard to accept and prepare older men for the priesthood. I will always be grateful for my years of formation there and to the faculty and staff.”

The road of life has proven interesting for Fr. John, and while the path taken was not the shortest route, this is not a race. You have to go with God’s plan.

Fr. Richard Breton, Guardian Angels Parish, Colchester, CT

Looking back at his path to the priesthood, Fr. Richard Breton understands how the Apostles may have felt. Not knowing the “route” can make for a confusing journey but they followed Jesus anyway. Likewise, Fr. Breton was sometimes unsure of the path but knew he wanted to be a priest and remembered his religion teacher in grammar school saying that we should take Jesus’ hand and he will lead us. Sometimes, when we are not aware of our path it is because we are trying to lead, not follow.

After graduating from high school, Fr. Breton spent a year at St. John’s Seminary in Massachusetts, and then decided to take time off. He worked for four years before returning to the seminary, this time to �鶹���� College and Seminary. During those years, he spent a summer in Mexico learning Spanish, an experience which he enjoyed. He also took a pastoral year, where he enrolled in a clinical pastoral education program that got him involved in a trauma unit in Houston, dealing with people of all faiths. He ministered to trauma cases, as well as to people who were rescued after hurricane Katrina and lost everything but their lives. Here he learned to appreciate the role of hospital chaplains.

Fr. Breton received his Bachelor of Arts in 2007 and completed his seminary education in 2008, both from �鶹����. He was ordained by Bishop Michael R. Cote of the diocese of Norwich, Connecticut, on May 31, 2008. In 2017, he was awarded his Master of Arts in Theology, again from �鶹����. Currently, he is a Parochial Vicar at Guardian Angels Parish in Colchester, Connecticut.

In addition to his parish responsibilities, Fr. Breton is a spiritual director at �鶹����, as well as the Minister Templi to the U.S. Catholic Knights Templar. He also writes a weekly column in the Wanderer, called the “Beacon of Light”, and is currently writing a column titled “A Question of Faith” in the Norwich Diocesan paper.

As Fr. Breton stated, “I have come to realize when you answer the master and accept his call to ‘Follow me,’ you never know where he will take you.”