September 14, 2019 — Augustinian eNews

Augustinian eNews
Augustinian eNews
Opening Mass of the General Chapter
The Augustinian General Chapter has begun in Rome with the opening Mass in the Basilica of Saint Augustine on September 1.

Pictured : The 186th Ordinary General Chapter of the Order of Saint Augustine (O.S.A.) Chiclayo Bishop Robert F. Prevost, O.S.A., D.D., together with the Vicar General of the Order, Fr. Joseph L. Farrell, O.S.A. and the Prior General, Fr. Alejandro Moral Anton, O.S.A. after the Opening Mass for the 186th Ordinary General Chapter of the Order at the Basilica of Saint Augustine in Campo Marzio, Rome, Italy.
Fr. Alejandro Moral Antón, O.S.A. 
Re-elected as Prior General
Monday, September 9, 2019, at their meeting in Rome of the 186th General Chapter of the Order of Saint Augustine, the chapter members reelected Alejandro Moral Antón, O.S.A. as Prior General, as well as Jospeh Farrell, O.S.A., to a second term as Vicar General . We offer our heartfelt gra titude to Fr. Alejandro for accepting this service to continue to guide the Augustinian Order in the next six years in the role of Prior General. 

We pray for Fr. Alejandro and ask God to bless, guide, inspire and protect him and all the members of the Order of Saint Augustine as the Ordinary General Chapter 2019 continues its work in discussions, deliberations and decisions.  Congratulations, Fr. Alejandro!
On September 13 at 10:20 am in the Clementine Hall of the Apostolic Palace, the Holy Father Francis received in an Audience the Participants in the General Chapter of the Order of St. Augustine.

Welcome 20th Class of Augustinian Volunteers!
On August 25th, Fr. Arthur Purcaro, O.S.A. celebrated the Commissioning Mass as the 20th Class of AV's dedicated themselves to a year of service.

Channel 10 News team was there! Watch here:  https://bit.ly/2ZmBsIW
The Augustinian Friars of the Province of Saint Thomas of Villanova are grateful to the many donors who provide support for our way of life and the ministries we perform.
A.D.R.O.P. Welcomes New Employee
A.D.R.O.P. recently hired Unity Clinic volunteer and A.D.R.O.P. board member, Jessica Eischen (pictured on left) to run the newly acquired English as a Second Language Program.

Jessica has years of experience teaching ESL in the community and will be an excellent asset to the team. Welcome to Jessica!
"I was in prison and you visited me"
A National Catholic Reporter Article
by Fr. Paul F. Morrissey, O.S.A.

"David enters the glass-enclosed room and greets me. We've met before, at the time he
was first arrested years ago. Like then, his
eyes strike me. Back then, I felt like Jesus Christ was looking out at me from his catatonic stare. It isn't the same stare now. In his orange jumpsuit, with his hands and arms tightly
cuffed and chained together at his waist, he smiles tentatively. I glance at his feet where another set of chains
constrain him. Like an animal, I think. Could he be dangerous? Might
he feel extra vulnerable? I ask anyway,  "Can I hug you?" He nods yes
and I do. We sit in the two facing plastic chairs, and I move the small round table between us..."

Augustinian Laity Groups
The Secular Augustinian Chapter is open to practicing lay men and women who are willing to receive a Christian formation according to the Augustinian spirit and accept the responsibility of participating in the life of the Chapter.

Want to begin or join a group? Contact Fr. John Deary, O.S.A., Director of Augustinian Laity at jfdosa@yahoo.com or visit our website .
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August 17, 2019 — Augustinian eNews

Augustinian eNews
Augustinian eNews
First Profession of Vows

With gratitude for God's blessings, the Augustinian Province of Saint Thomas
of Villanova received
Michael Riggs, O.S.A. into
the Order on August 3rd, 2019. 

Thank You for Sharing!
Thank you for sharing the Good News! The video of Fr. Bill Atkinson now has over 7,000 views from our Facebook page and we are grateful to all of those that have watched and shared.

If you have not yet seen the video, click on the image to watch.

Healing Masses Begin Again
The National Shrine of Saint Rita of Cascia
Healing Masses begin next month!

Every third Sunday of the month, join us for a Mass with anointing of Saint Rita holy oil and the recitation of the Novena to Saint Rita, Saint of Impossible Cases.

Sunday, September 15 will be celebrated by Fr. Joe Genito, O.S.A.

Thank You to A.D.R.O.P. Summer Interns
This summer A.D.R.O.P. was fortunate to have two summer interns, Mishelley Low and Angel Mawardy.

They worked for six weeks through the VietLead RICE Work Ready program.

They recently produced a video about A.D.R.O.P. and the work they did there. Click the image to watch!
Celebrate A Profile in Augustinian Leadership!
Join us on September 26, 2019 with guest speaker, Fr. Rob Hagan, O.S.A.
at the Overbrook Golf Club. Proceeds will benefit Augustinian Formation
and the Care of the Elderly and Infirm Friars.

Michael Riggs

July 23, 2019 — Augustinian eNews

Step of Faith: The Bill Atkinson Story
Step of Faith:
The Bill Atkinson Story
In 1965, an accident confined Bill Atkinson to a wheel chair. Tragedy gave way to an incredible journey. He touched countless lives and became the first quadriplegic priest in the 2000 year history of the Catholic Church.

Help us tell the world about this Augustinian Friar's life in Step of Faith: The Bill Atkinson Story
Please email us with your story about Fr. Bill at communications@augustinian.org

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July 20, 2019 — Augustinian eNews

Augustinian eNews
Saint Rita and Cascia Center Move Forward
The long-awaited plan to construct the National Shrine of Saint Rita’s Cascia Center to provide services affiliated with the mission and ministry of the Shrine is closer to fruition with a tax credit allocation of some $12 million for the development of Saint Rita Place. The Shrine is working in partnership with Catholic Housing and Community Services of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia to construct a five-story mixed-use space with 46 one-bedroom apartments for income eligible seniors 62 and older, with the ground floor dedicated to the outreach ministries of Saint Rita Shrine. Construction of the $16.9 million project is anticipated to begin in Spring 2020.

Understanding Poverty
Father Arthur Purcaro, O.S.A. explains the meaning of Material, Spiritual and Voluntary Poverty and its impact on our lives in this two-part series for Inside CatholicPhilly.com.


On Thursday, July 18th Fr. Art, along with the Augustinian Defenders of the Rights of the Poor team attended the Catholic Day of Action for Immigrants.

Flip through the Summer 2019 Edition of the
AUGUSTINIAN
Freedom Under Grace
Fr. Joseph Farrell, O.S.A., the Vicar General of the Augustinian Order, shared his insight about Saint Augustine's writings on free will and the grace of God at the National Shrine of Saint Rita of Cascia on Tuesday, July 16, 2019.

Annual Board Retreat at St. Augustine Prep
Fr. Michael F. Di Gregorio, O.S.A., Prior Provincial, and Fr. Robert J. Murray, O.S.A. , Head of School at St. Augustine Prep were joined by Mrs. Carole J. Everett, Executive Director, New Jersey Association of Independent Schools. Mrs. Everett traveled to New Jersey to
present at St. Augustine Prep’s annual board retreat at Hidden Creek Golf Club in Egg Harbor Township, NJ. Her presence was also an acknowledgment of the school’s recently updated NJAIS accreditation as well as an opportunity to share the latest trends in secondary education. She was complimentary of St. Augustine Prep’s continued efforts to expand upon Augustinian education in southern New Jersey and lauded the school’s passionate faculty, staff, and administration.