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Augustinian Achievers

Several Augustinians of the Midwest have recently received recognition or made significant accomplishments.

          » Read about these Augustinian Achievers

Bernard Scianna, O.S.A. Takes Office as Provincial

Bernard C. Scianna, O.S.A., newly-elected Prior Provincial (regional leader) of the Augustinians of the Midwest, wasconfirmed in office by Prior General (world leader) Robert F. Prevost, O.S.A. during the 2010 Ordinary Province Chapter, held June 7-11, 2010. The Chapter approved entering into a formal Federation of the four North American English-speaking Augustinian Provinces. The Federation will foster increased cooperation among the Provinces in several ways to enhance the quality of Augustinian life, mission and ministries in the United States and Canada. New guidelines were developed for the care of elderly and infirm Friars. A comprehensive four-year program was developed to address various issues related to Augustinian Religious Community life, justice and peace, personnel needs, financial matters, ministries in schools, parishes and foreign misions, vocations and the formation of new Friars. The Ordinary Chapter meets every four years. It is preceeded by prayer for guidance by the Holy Spirit, the election of the Prior Provincial, and a variety of forums for discussion of topics for consideration at the Chapter.         » Learn more about the new Provincial

Prior Provincial Bernard C. Scianna, O.S.A.

Institute Examines Augustinian Values in Education

Teachers and administrators from 13 Catholic High Schools associated with the Augustinians became more aware of the Augustinian underpinnings of their mission at the latest session of the Augustinian Values Institute, held October 9-11, 2009 at St. Augustine Preparatory School, Richland, New Jersey.

Ninety participants from Augustinian Schools in four countries (seven in the U. S., one in Canada, two in Ireland and two in Australia) took part.

Institute participants explored the implications of Augustinian educational values and considered ways in which these values can be applied more effectively in their schools.

Based on the core values of Truth, Unity and Love, workshop sessions examined topics such as

• Augustine: His experience and teaching as inspiration for Christian life and expression of Gospel values

• Truth: The search for truth, love for learning, interiority, the Inner Teacher, Grace

• Community: Unity - one mind, one heart on the way to God

• Love: Compassion, care, love and service

• Institutional Identity and Expression of the Core Values

• Values to Vision to Mission: Next Steps

Augustinian Values Institute Adapted for Student Leaders

Student leaders in Augustinian schools took part in the first Student Augustinian Values Institute, held April 15-18 at St. Rita of Cascia High School, Chicago.

The 51 students and 18 adults from eight Augustinian schools who participated were enthusiastic. The ptogram adapted the structures of the Augustinian Values Institute for adult lay leaders of Augustinian schools in order to help student leader to become more aware of the core values underlying Augustinian education.

With the goal of involving a wider spectrum of students, S.A.V.I. replaced the former annual <&8220;Augustinian Shoot-out” basketball program that brought the school8217; basketball teams together for games and fellowship.

The Augustinian Tradition of Education seeks to educate the whole person (body, mind and spirit), to encourage and develop an ongoing pursuit of the truth, which leads to God, who is ultimate Truth.

9 Experience Vocational Discernment Retreat Week-end

Five men from the central United States joined four men from the East for a vocational discernment retreat April 9-11, 2010. The eight traveled to Philadelphia where they visited Villanova University and the old St. Augustine Church, founded in 1796 by the first Augustinian friars in the United States. The retreat was held in Ocean City, New Jersey. The week-end program consisted of presentations on St. Augustine, religious life, the Rule of St. Augustine, and the process of becoming an Augustinian. Discussion followed each presentation. Daily Mass, community prayer, meals, and free time were also included. Augustinian friars from the Midwest Bernard Scianna, O.S.A., Gary Hresil, O.S.A. and Midwest Vocations Director Tom McCarthy, O.S.A., along with friars from the East Joe Farrell, O.S.A. and Eastern Vocations Director Kevin DePrinzio, O.S.A., facilitated the retreat. Another discernment retreats is planned for the future. Men interested in exploring the Augustinian way of life are invited to contact the Augustinian Vocations Director.

Participants in the March, 2009 Augustinian Vocational Discernment Retreat

North American Augustinians Plan Federation

Augustinians from across the United States and Canada will begin to collaborate more closely if a proposal from the leadership of the four English-speaking North American Provinces is approved.

At the North American Augustinian Convocation of June, 2009, more than 200 friars endorsed the formation of an Augustinian Federation in order to further the Augustinian mission in North America.

The four Provincials and their Councils gathered at the North American Conference of Augustinian Provincials in February, 2010, to make concrete plans for increased collaboration. They proposed the establishment of an Augustinian Federation with the following areas of responsibility:

• Vocations

• Formation (Novitiate and Theologate)

• Missions (Foreign and Domestic)

• Communications

• Development for Common Ministries

• Peace and Justice

• New Initiatives in Ministries

Approval from the Chapters of the four Provinces is necessary before the Federation can be established.

It is hoped that Federation will be a significant step in building a solid foundation for Augustinian life and ministry in the 21st Century.

Province Receives Accreditation for Protection of Young

The Augustinian Province of Our Mother of Good Counsel (Augustinians of the Midwest) has been accredited by Praesidium, Inc. for its policies and practices for the protection of young people.

The Province participates in a program designed by Praesidium called Instruments of Hope and Healing. This program has led the Province through the many steps required for accreditation.

During this process, Praesidium looked at three major areas:

• Prevention of misconduct,

• Response to allegations of misconduct and

• Supervision of any member of the Province who may need it.

The Province was found to be in full compliance with Praesidium's standards.

Praesidium praised the Province leadership team, and Personnel Director Jerome Knies, O.S.A. in particular, for their work and dedication meeting the accreditation standards.

        » Learn more about Augustinian efforts to maintain ethical ministry

        » Read Praesidium's official notification of accreditation (.pdf file -- Adobe Reader required)

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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.

       » Read comments about Augustinians in ministry

Prior General is from Midwest Augustinian Province

The Prior General (worldwide leader) of the Augustinian Order, re-elected to a second six-year term at the General Chapter held in Rome September 3 - 23, 2007, is a member of the Augustinians of the Midwest. He is Fr. Robert F. Prevost, O.S.A., a native of Chicago, Illinois.

In addition to the Prior General, International Augustinian leaders are:

• Vicar General: Michael DiGregorio, O.S.A., of the Province of Villanova (U.S.A.)

• Assistants General:

  • Alejandro Moral, O.S.A., of the Province of Spain

  • Franz Klein, O.S.A., of the Province of Germany

  • Luciano De Michieli, O.S.A., of the Province of Italy

  • Fernando Zarazua, O.S.A., of the Province of the Michoacán (Mexico)

  • Rommel Par, O.S.A., of the Province of Cebu (Philippines)

• Secretary General: Miguel Angel Martín Juárez, O.S.A., of the Province of Spain

• Econome General: Martin Micallef, O.S.A., of the Province of Malta

• Procurator General: Alejandro Moral, O.S.A., of the Province of Spain

Most Recent Deaths

    » Donald E. Brennan, O.S.A., died June 24, 2010

    » John T. “Jack” Shirley, died November 27, 2009

    » Henry V. Spielmann, O.S.A., died November 2, 2009

Earlier Deaths

    » Read about those Augustinian friars who entered eternal life at an earlier time