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Bernard C. Scianna Leads Augustinians of the Midwest

Bernard Carl Scianna began a four year term as Prior Provincial (regional superior) of the Augustinians of the Midwest June 7, 2010 during the Ordinary Province Chapter.

He was born in 1965 in Chicago, Illinois to Michael A. and Genevieve A. Scianna. He was Baptized April 25, 1965 at St. Vitus Catholic Church, Chicago. He received the Sacrament of Confirmation February 21, 1978 at St. Stephen Catholic Church, Chicago.

After graduation from St. Rita High School in 1983, Chicago, Bernard entered the Augustinian Pre-Novitiate formation program at Villanova University, Villanova, Pennsylvania. He earned a B. A. in History from Villanova in 1987.

Bernard was received into the Augustinian Novitiate in 1987. He professed temporary vows in the Order of St. Augustine August 6, 1988 and solemn (permanent) vows April 25, 1993. He was ordained a Priest November 12, 1993.

After professing first temporary vows in 1988, Father Scianna resided at St. John Stone Friary, Chicago, while undertaking theological studies. He earned an M. Div. from Catholic Theological Union, Chicago, in 1993. St. Xavier University, Chicago, granted him an M. A. in Education in 1993. He received a Ph. D. in Education from the University of Oklahoma, Norman, in 2006. His doctoral dissertation, published under the title A Community of Faith, examines how St. Augustine’s philosophy of education has been put into practice throughout the history of Cascia Hall School, Tulsa.

From 1989 to 1991 he was a part-time teacher and campus minister at St. Rita High School. He held these same positions at Providence Catholic High School, New Lenox, Illinois, in 1991-92. He returned in 1992 to St. John Stone Friary to complete his theological studies.

In 1993, Father Scianna was appointed Associate Pastor of St. Clare of Montefalco Parish, Grosse Pointe Park, Michigan. He was again a teacher and campus minister at Providence Catholic High School from 1994 to 1997.

Father Scianna was named Headmaster of Cascia Hall School, Tulsa, Oklahoma, in 1997. He served in this position through the end of the 2009-2010 school year.

In addition, he has served as Chairperson of the Augustinian Secondary Education Association, which promotes communication and collaboration among Augustinian high schools in the United States and Canada. He was instrumental in the development of the Augustinian Values Institute, which holds annual workshops to help lay administrators and faculty of Augustinians schools to know and appreciate the qualities which underlie Augustinian education. He serves as a Trustee of Villanova University, Villanova, Pennsylvania.

Before his election as Prior Provincial, Father Scianna was elected three times to the Augustinian Province Council, serving terms from 1995-99, 2002-06 and 2006 to the present time.