Delivered by the Very Rev. Bernard C. Scianna, O.S.A., Ph.D., Prior Provincial of the Midwest Augustinians, on February 16, 2017 at St. Rita of Cascia Chapel at Cascia Hall, Tulsa, OK

For his work in the last eight years as Director of Augustinian Vocations alone, Father Tom McCarthy, O.S.A., deserves to be honored at this year’s gala. When you add to this his tenure as President of St. Rita of Cascia High School and his direction of numerous life-changing parish retreats, we become immeasurably indebted, as a family and community, to his selfless service.

At the Fifth Annual Augustinian Gala, on April 28, we will be celebrating the service of four very special honorees: Fr. Jim Friedel, O.S.A., Fr. Tom McCarthy, O.S.A., and Augustinian Affiliates Anne and Don Berschback. Over the next couple weeks we will be posting profiles of each of these honorees, and today, we are very pleased to begin with the Prior of St. Jude Parish, New Lenox, Fr. Jim Friedel.

The Augustinians mourn the loss of another brother, as Fr. Daniel Hartigan, OSA died on February 17, at Mercy Circle in Chicago. At age 99, Dan was the eldest Augustinian friar in the United States and Canada.

It is with a heavy heart that we share the news that Fr. Bill Perez, OSA, passed away suddenly in his home at Cascia Hall's St. Augustine Monastery on Saturday afternoon.

Today the Universal Church joins in prayer for the men and women in consecrated life. The day was first inaugurated in 1997 by Pope John Paul II and is combined with the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord on February 2.

This past January, Patrick completed nearly seven years of working with the Augustinians and has taken a new position as the Director of Development for the George M. Pullman Educational Foundation.  

In his trip to Peru, Prior Provincial Fr. Bernie Scianna, O.S.A attended the profession of vows from 17 men. Among these, 3 were from the Midwest Augustinian's vicariate  of Chulucanas. This is an extraordinary testament to the strength of the Midwest Augustinians mission in Peru

It is our great honor to announce that the Augustinians began the new year by welcoming two of our friars into the diaconate. On January 7, 2017, the Feast of the Holy Epiphany, the Most Reverend Daniel Turley ordained Deacon Stephen Isley, O.S.A., and Deacon Aldo Potencia, O.S.A. 

In his message for the 50th World Day of Peace, Pope Francis pleads for a rise in strategic non-violence within the global community. This is a non-violence that begins within one’s heart, is nurtured at the level of the family, and blossoms within the larger political order.