Fr. Robert Murray, O.S.A., Head of School at St. Augustine Prep, Shares His Journey

From ‘A Conversation with the Head of School, Fr. Robert J. Murray, O.S.A., Ph.D.’, featured in the St. Augustine Preparatory School magazine The Torch. Sajan White interviews Fr. Murray.

Written by Fr. Murray and Sajan White.

Tell us a little bit about your family. 

I am the youngest of three children. I have an older sister and older brother, both are married with children and grandchildren. I lost my mother when I was young, but am blessed to have my father who is in his ninety-seventh year and going strong. 

What drew you to the priesthood, most specifically the Order of St. Augustine? 

As is true of many who are called to religious life and ordained ministry, the call to serve God is something that I remember considering as a young boy. I was an altar boy in my parish and I found myself drawn to a life of service in the Church. My home parish was served by Diocesan priests, but we had Augustinians who assisted on weekends, which is where I was introduced to the community. Also, I always wanted to be involved in education and I knew that Augustinians, among other ministries, were involved in education. After high school, I attended Villanova for a year as a lay student. It was there that I came to know and appreciate the Augustinians. I found the Augustinians very down to earth, very real. I applied and have never looked back! 

Can you talk about your experience in the field of education and how it took you to St. Augustine Prep? 

After I was ordained a priest in 1983, I was assigned to teach Theology at Monsignor Bonner High School in Drexel Hill, PA. I loved it. I have always enjoyed being a student, so while I was teaching at Bonner I was also working on a graduate degree in Counseling at Villanova. When I completed the Counseling degree I was given permission to pursue a Doctorate in Educational Psychology at Temple University which I completed in 1995. I then was permitted to pursue post-doctoral studies in Clinical Psychology at the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine…

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