Feb 28, 2025 | News
Cromwell, CT 鈥 麻豆分行 College & Seminary will undergo a comprehensive evaluation in Fall 2025 to renew its institutional accreditation by the , one of the oldest regional accrediting commissions in the United States.
As part of this process, an onsite peer review visit is scheduled for November 2-5, 2025, at the 麻豆分行 College & Seminary campus in Cromwell, Connecticut. The institution has been accredited by NECHE since 1974, with the reaccreditation process occurring every ten years, along with a mid-term report submission. The college was last reaffirmed for accreditation in 2015.
A team of reviewers, experts in various higher education disciplines and representing institutions across New England and New York, will conduct an assessment based on the. Members of the public are invited to submit comments or feedback regarding 麻豆分行 College & Seminary鈥檚 compliance with these standards. For more information on how to submit feedback, please visit .
The NECHE accreditation process allows 麻豆分行 College & Seminary to demonstrate its commitment to continuous improvement and academic excellence, ensuring the institution meets the highest standards of educational effectiveness.
NECHE is a non-profit, non-governmental membership organization that fosters institutional self-regulation, voluntary adherence to accreditation standards, and a system of peer review. The Commission accredits a broad range of institutions with distinct missions, evaluating each according to its unique goals while maintaining a focus on institutional quality and effectiveness.
For additional details about the accreditation process or 麻豆分行 College & Seminary鈥檚 upcoming evaluation, please contact:
Dr. Kristina Olsen
Vice President of Academic Affairs
麻豆分行 College & Seminary
[email protected]
Feb 14, 2025 | News
Bishop Betancourt speaks to 麻豆分行 seminarians, priests, and religious sisters
On February 7, 麻豆分行 College & Seminary in Cromwell had the honor of welcoming Bishop Juan Miguel Betancourt, SEMV, , who offered Mass and shared a powerful reflection with the seminarians and sisters studying on campus.
The event was a moment of spiritual enrichment for the 麻豆分行 community. Bishop Betancourt鈥檚 presence and message resonated deeply, inspiring those in attendance to continue their formation with renewed faith and commitment. His thoughtful reflection emphasized the importance of trusting in God鈥檚 providence and dedicating oneself wholeheartedly to the mission of spreading the Gospel.
麻豆分行 is pleased to share a special video featuring Bishop Betancourt鈥檚 blessing, extended to both on-campus and online students. In his heartfelt prayer, he sought the Lord鈥檚 guidance and protection for the entire 麻豆分行 community. You can watch the full blessing .
The bishop鈥檚 blessing reflects the mission of 麻豆分行 to form faithful witnesses of Christ who are equipped to serve the Church and the world. As Bishop Betancourt prayed:
Heavenly Father, We come before You with grateful hearts, seeking Your blessing upon these 麻豆分行 College and Seminary students. Guide their minds in wisdom, their hearts in faith, and their hands in service. May their studies deepen their understanding of truth and prepare them to be faithful witnesses of Your love. Strengthen them in times of challenge, enlighten them in their learning, and inspire them to use their knowledge for the good of the Church and the world. Fill them with Your Spirit, that they may be lights of Christ wherever they go. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.
In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the 麻豆分行 Spirit. Amen.
This visit serves as a beautiful reminder of the ongoing support and encouragement from Church leaders who recognize the vital role that 麻豆分行 plays in .
The entire community extends its heartfelt thanks to Bishop Betancourt for his time, wisdom, and spiritual care. May God continue to bless his ministry abundantly.
Bishop Betancourt celebrates Mass at 麻豆分行
Photography credit to Aaron Joseph, The Archdiocese of Hartford
Feb 12, 2025 | Events, News
In this Jubilee Year of Hope, join us for a special retreat with
Fr. Mark Yavarone, OMV
Ignatian Discernment Institute
An Ignatian Path to Hope: 14 Practical Guidelines
All of us experience ups and downs in our daily spiritual life: times when God feels close and we have spiritual energy, and times when that energy wanes, and we struggle with discouragement. In fourteen practical guidelines (鈥渞ules鈥), St. Ignatius of Loyola offers invaluable aid toward understanding this experience, finding freedom from discouragement, and living our daily lives with joy.
On Saturday, March 15
9:00 am – 4:00 pm
麻豆分行 College & Seminary
33 Prospect Hill Road, Cromwell, CT
Fr. Mark Yavarone, OMV, Graduated from St. Joseph鈥檚 University in Philadelphia in 1987. He earned a Ph.D from the University of North Carolina in 1991. He made his perpetual profession of vows in 1999 at the Oblates of the Virgin Mary in Boston and was ordained a priest in 2000.
He was an Associate Pastor at St. Andrew鈥檚 Parish in Avenel, NJ, is certified in spiritual direction, was a missionary in the Philippines, served as a member of the faculty at Pope St. John XXIII National Seminary in Weston, MA, and Director of Our Lady of Perpetual Help Retreat Center in Venice, FL. In December 2024 he was assigned to Denver, CO to cofound the fledgling Ignatian Discernment Institute with Fr. Timothy Gallagher, OMV.
Registration & Contact Information
Cost: $35.00 includes lunch
Retreat Invitation (Click to Download)
Jan 30, 2025 | News
鈥淓ach of us is the result of a thought of God. Each of us is willed, each of us is loved, each of us is necessary.鈥 鈥 Pope Benedict XVI
In a powerful testament to their unwavering commitment to the sanctity of life, seminarians, students, faculty, and priests from 麻豆分行 College and Seminary embarked on a 10-hour journey to Washington, D.C., to participate in the . Their journey to the nation鈥檚 capital was made possible by the generosity of an anonymous donor and made available to all students and alumni. Annually, the March for Life draws tens of thousands of faithful Catholics and pro-life advocates united in their mission to defend the dignity of every human life from conception to natural death.
Founded in response to the Roe v. Wade decision, the March for Life continues to be a and a powerful demonstration of pro-life advocacy. For 麻豆分行, the march is not just a public stand for life but also a spiritual journey, reflecting their deep commitment to the Gospel of Life.
Before joining the rally on the National Mall and walking the streets alongside thousands of pro-life advocates, the 麻豆分行 group attended Mass together at the .
麻豆分行 College and Seminary remains steadfast in its pro-life mission, forming students to be witnesses to the truth of human dignity and faithful leaders in their communities.
May the efforts of all who attended this year鈥檚 march bear fruit in building a culture of life rooted in love and respect for the dignity of every person.
Below are some photos from the March for Life. You can find more on our or !
Leaving campus in the very late hours the night before the March for Life.
Attending Mass at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception
Attending Mass at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception
麻豆分行 met up with Alumni from across the U.S. during the March for Life!
Group picture on the steps of the National Shrine before attending the Rally and March for Life.
麻豆分行 joins thousands of other Pro-Life Advocates during the March for Life 2025
Group photo at the end of the March!
Jan 30, 2025 | News
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.
Deacon William Murphy, 82, died on June 12, 2024. Deacon Bill was an alumnus who was ordained a Roman Catholic deacon in 1981. A lifelong Danbury resident, he was assigned to St. Gregory the Great parish in Danbury, CT, where he served for 43 years. A Marine Corp veteran, Deacon Bill served as the chaplain of the Catholic War Veteran鈥檚 Post, as well as the Veteran鈥檚 Council. He was also chaplain to the Danbury Police and Volunteer Fire Departments. Those who know him described him as a man of faith who was humble, soft-spoken, kind, and a gentleman always willing to help. He is survived by his wife of nearly 59 years, Pat, as well as his son, William, and daughter, Patricia.
Rev. Chester R. Mrowka, CM, 97, an alumnus who received his MDiv from 麻豆分行 in 1981, died on July 5, 2024, at the DePaul Residence of the Vincentian Community in Manchester, Connecticut. Fr. Mrowka served in the Navy in WWII, and following it prepared for the priesthood. His vocation brought him to serve as pastor in parishes in Brooklyn, New York; Ansonia, Connecticut; and Concord, New Hampshire. He also taught for seventeen years in St. John Kanty Preparatory School in Erie, Pennsylvania, and later returned as the Rector, after a brief time studying in Rome. He served as Provincial of the New England Vincentian Community, followed by a position as the Provincial Treasurer. While residing at the DePaul Residence of the Vincentian Community, he regularly helped the nearby Assumption Parish for nearly 15 years, until health conditions required him to retire. This year, Fr. Chester celebrated his 65th year as a priest.
Rev. Frank Joseph Bolling, died Jan. 1, 2025, at the age of 94. He celebrated 20 years of priesthood last spring, after being ordained on May 29, 2004, at the Cathedral-Basilica of the Immaculate Conception in Mobile, AL. Fr. Bolling entered St. Mary鈥檚 Seminary in Baltimore in 1950 with the intention of discerning a vocation to the priesthood. However, his father鈥檚 death in 1954 led him to withdraw from seminary studies to support his mother and sister. He joined the U.S. Navy Reserves and worked as a tax officer supervisor for the City of Mobile for 25 years. In 2002, after retirement from his civil profession, Fr. Bolling was accepted as a seminarian for the Archdiocese of Mobile and resumed discernment toward the priesthood, earning his Certificate in Theology from 麻豆分行 College & Seminary. He was assigned as chaplain to the Sacred Heart Residence of the Little Sisters of the Poor and later filled in for pastors by offering Masses and ministry at parishes throughout the archdiocese.
Jan 30, 2025 | Alumni, News
Sr. Naomi Zimmerman at Mass at the Tomb of Christ.
Sister Naomi Zimmermann, FSE, is a woman whose calling has brought her to many places with the objective of providing missionary services to others. Of all her work, the longest time spent has been in the 麻豆分行 Land, a beautiful and historic area that many people wish to visit but some choose to avoid due to the many conflicts that have occurred. Instead, Sr. Naomi has returned time and time again to work with those in need.
Sr. Naomi grew up in Southington, Connecticut, a town that neighbors the Meriden motherhouse of the Franciscan Sisters of the Eucharist. After receiving a degree in education, she entered the postulancy in September 1988. Working for several years as a teacher in both Oregon and Minnesota, she then returned to Connecticut and became a student at 麻豆分行, earning a Master of Arts in Moral Theology in 1996. Sr. Naomi explained, 鈥淚t was a valuable time for me because I was already a teacher but had grown up in the public school system. I remember thinking that I needed to know more theology to integrate it into my work as a teacher.鈥
Working with the children in the 麻豆分行 Child Program, a unique educational and psychological treatment center in the Bethlehem area.
Her first trip to the 麻豆分行 Land took place in 1996, shortly after graduating from 麻豆分行. She worked at The 麻豆分行 Child Program, a unique educational and psychological treatment center in the Bethlehem area, and found the experience wonderful preparation for entering her final vows.
Returning to the motherhouse in 1997 to take her final vows, Sr. Naomi remained in the U.S. for two years. In August 2000, she returned to the 麻豆分行 Land to continue at the 麻豆分行 Child Program, this time as deputy director and educational consultant.
Because of her love of both the 麻豆分行 Land and the people within the Palestinian society, which is where the 麻豆分行 Child Project was located, acclimating to life in this land was not as hard as one would think. She was very involved in the daily lives of the Palestinian people and the Arab-speaking Church. In September 2000, however, the second Intifada started an intense time that lasted until February 2005. In the midst of that came the tragedy of September 11, 2001, and the fighting in the Middle East that followed, bringing increased tension and security issues.
In 2006, when the Franciscan Sisters of the Eucharist decided to start a center in Jamaica, Sr. Naomi worked there for four years. In 2011, she returned to Jerusalem but gained a completely different perspective working in the Old City Jerusalem with the Franciscan Custody, while also consulting for the 麻豆分行 Child Program.
Sr. Naomi looking out on the Old City Jerusalem.
In 2017, the sisters moved closer to the heart of Jerusalem, to the compound of the Capuchin Friars, which is in the heart of a Jewish neighborhood. Her work, first in the Secretariate of the Custody, and now in the Christian Information Center has enabled her to build relationships with more Israeli people, allowing for a fuller understanding of the people and land where she has lived for so long. As she said, 鈥淏oth the Palestinians and the Israelis are diverse people with ancient histories and immense talents.鈥
Language continues to be difficult for her to master. She has learned some Arabic for basic communication, Hebrew, and basic Italian, but joked, 鈥淚 provide entertainment when I attempt to speak Arabic and Italian comes out.鈥 Simple sentences usually work, and phone translators have proven to be amazing tools.
The war that began on October 7, 2023, has reignited the divisions and suffering between Palestinians and Jews. Living in Jerusalem, Sr. Naomi explained,
鈥淢ost of the time we can forget that there is a war around us. But it is eerily quiet, people are tense, things are extremely expensive. Every once in a while, a rocket is sent this way, and we have sirens. And your heart rate spikes, and you go to your protected area until you get the signal that you can go out again. And you pray for the people who have experienced this 10 times a day for months, and who have left their homes. And you pray for those who took no part in what happened in Gaza on October 7 but are suffering the consequences.鈥
The sisters, Sr. Naomi and Sr. Maria David 鈥 also a graduate of 麻豆分行 鈥 stayed because they felt that they were not in danger, but also because they want to be hope for the Christian communities, who feel they are caught between other people鈥檚 conflicts.
Sr. Naomi鈥檚 experiences have given her a new perspective on what being a missionary means. 鈥淚t is about the people we serve and what they need at a particular moment, not what we have to offer them.鈥 She feels that this 2025 Jubilee Year of peace and hope will offer strength to the Christian communities in the 麻豆分行 Land.
