Augustinians Receive Accolades for Ministry

Several communications have been sent recently to the Augustinian Provincialate praising Augustinian Friars for the ways in which they share their gifts in ministry. We give thanks and praise to God for the gifts we have received, and for the opportunity to give guidance and share Divine Love and Mercy with others. Here are excerpts from some of these letters and e-mails:

• “We were visiting (The Immaculata) Parish (San Diego) for Mass. At the 9 a.m. Mass, a priest from the Augustinian Missions (Mission Director Christopher Steinle, O.S.A.) celebrated Mass. Our 14-year old daughter was with us. After Mass she told us she usually does not hear the homily because her mind wanders. However, on Sunday she said she listened to the priest's homily regarding missions. She stated that she enjoyed his homily and got something out of it. I thought you might like to hear that his message was heard. I hope you will pass this on to him so he knows he inspired at least one young person.” -- C. S., California

  
  
  

• A visitor to Bl. Stephen Bellesini Friary, Lemont, Illinois, located at Franciscan Village, where elderly Augustinian friars in need of assisted living or skilled nursing care reside, recounted her experience during a recent visit: “One of the attendants stopped me to say, ‘I was away from the Church for a very long time. Then Father Dan (Hartigan, O.S.A.) and Father (Francis) Lawlor (O.S.A.) moved into assisted living. I soon noticed how these two men seem to be at prayer whenever I come to their rooms . . . . This impressed me for months. Finally I asked Father Dan to hear my confession, and I’ve been “home”ever since. I look forward to work each day. These men have blessed assisted living.’ ” -- J. C., Illinois

  
  
  

• “Thank you so much for assigning Fathers Tim Cuny, O.S.A, John Flynn, O.S.A. and Jim Sheridan, O.S.A. to Saint Peter Parish in Douglas, Michigan. All three of these fine Augustinians are a true example of the love of Jesus in action for his people - especially in troubled times. Each man mentioned above has [his] own unique way of teaching the gospel message - Father Tim is a true blessing and a very effective Pastor and Father Flynn is amazing - he is also a brilliant homilist and a warm and kind individual who is always delightful to encounter - the same about Father Jim, who is a most welcome addition to our parish! I am so blessed to belong to this parish and to experience the leadership of these fine ministers of the word of God! Thank you.” -- B. R., Michigan

  
  
  

• “Father James Friedel, O.S.A. just finished doing a retreat for our church (in) Texas. Our parish so enjoyed Father Friedel's stories . . . . His message was so heart warming and very enlightening. I pray Father Friedel's message continues to fall on open hearts, minds, and ears.... Thank you and God bless you all for your mission.” --R. V., Texas

  
  
  

• “I’m a member of St. Peter Parish in Douglas, Michigan. I would like to thank you for sharing your Augustinian priests with us! They have meant a lot to us. We have been lucky to have had pastors all of these years! Each has been a blessing in his own way. In the past we have been especially blessed by Fr. John Flynn, O.S.A. . . . he is wonderful . . . and now most especially by Fr. Tim Cuny, O.S.A. There is something that is extraordinarily special about priests who are associated with a community . . . and certainly it shines through in Fr. Cuny. He is so well versed in Scripture . . . he makes it come alive for us . . . he is constantly teaching us, directing us, leading us on our journey toward Christ. Fr. Flynn in the past and Fr. Cuny now are true representatives of Jesus on Earth. Thank you ever so much for your part in sending them to us!” --B. U., Michigan

  
  
  

• “I would like to send a thank you note to Fr. Terry (Deffenbaugh, O.S.A.) for his wonderful book No Longer a Stray (Scepter Publishers (Opens new window), $9.95). I am not a child or youth but a 50 something caregiver for my 90 year old mom who has advanced Alzheimers and is in a nursing home after an emergency hospitalization. I am literally taking her back to my house today to die in peace. I have been reading Fr. Terry’s book off and on for months and was getting to the last pages today where Pup Pup is facing the reality of the resurrection of his master Christ and I found more hope in those simple lines than all the other religious books I have tried to read in these last two plus months. I want to thank him for writing such a wonderful book and encourage him to do another. I too believe animals have special God given charisms that can point us to a simpler and more profound love of our Lord than all the scholars.” --C. W., California

  
  
  

• “The generosity (of Christopher C. Steinle, O.S.A.) and his availability for service to his neighbor most in need has been very edifying to us. His missionary spirit and zeal for the salvation of souls are noteworthy. These cause him to find new ways of reaching our people, always with enthusiasm and renewed strength. Our people have been comforted by the Word of God, purified by Confession, and fed with the ‘Bread of Angels’. His pastoral ministry in Challhuahuacho, Pampa Bellavista, Mara, Carmen Alto, Huancuiri, Patario and Haquira has been arduous. This is a Quechua-speaking area, and in a few instances, we had to help him with translations. In this region there is still a high incidence of alcoholism and illiteracy. Father Christopher, with good judgement and insight, has presented Catholic doctrine clearly.” --Madre Buenaventura, M.J.V.V., Pastoral Coordinator, St. Peter Parish, Haquira, Peru

  
  
  

• “Most of all, I want you to realize that I have a foundation of faith because of the Catholic education that my parents provided me, which includes those values learned at Cascia Hall (Augustinian school in Tulsa, Oklahoma) through the Augustinians. I can still hear and see Father (James) Sinnott teaching Catholic philosophy during my Senior Year. He drove home points that I still vividly recollect, utilize, refer to, and live, as well as preach, every single day. He was not the only one who had an impact on me, but he is just an example. So this Augustinian impact is well served, and do not let it ever be otherwise.” --The late Ray H. Siegfried (1943-2005), Oklahoma, in a letter written in 2003 after he was diagnosed as having Lou Gehrig's Disease (A.L.S.)

  
  
  

• “(T)he life I lead . . . is a direct and telling result of the call that I heard during my years at St. Rita (High School, Chicago, Illinois) to be a good, productive, knowledgeable man. Those teachers and guides that I had during those years were the catalysts for the reach and determination that I -- and most of my friends -- took away to help establish our purpose on God’s earth. . . You and your fellow Religious and teaching laity have established a place where young men can grasp the torch offered them to light the way for each through life. Please cherish your roles . . . The young men that the Father brings to you have need of the best expression of gifts He continues to give each of you.” --T.S., Michigan