Group Bound for 2016 Augustinian Youth Encounter (AYE) in Prague, Czech Republic
Father Tony Burrascano, O.S.A., Named Executive Director of ADROP.
Novices to Profess Vows as Augustinians
On Sunday, July 31, 2016, novices of the three North American Augustinian Provinces will profess their first vows at a Mass in the Saint Rita of Cascia Shrine Chapel, Chicago, Illinois. Two of the novices will be affiliated to the Province of Saint Thomas of Villanova: they are Elizandro Contreras and Daniel Madden. A third, Atsushi Kuwahara, will also profess vows as a member of the Villanova Province several weeks later in Tokyo, Japan. Three of the remaining novices will be affiliated to the Province of California, and five to the Midwest Province.
In Memoriam: John T. Denny, O.S.A. (1957 - 2016)
Wake:
Thursday, June 23, 2016
4:00 PM - 7:15 PM
Our Mother of Good Counsel Church
31 Pennswood Road, Bryn Mawr, PA 19010
Parish Mass:
Thursday, June 23, 2016
7:30 PM
Our Mother of Good Counsel Church
A second wake and funeral Mass will be celebrated as follows:
Wake:
Friday, June 24, 2016
9:00 AM - 10:30 AM
St. Thomas of Villanova Church
(campus church)
800 East Lancaster Avenue
Villanova, PA 19085
Funeral Mass:
Friday June 24, 2016
11:00 AM
St. Thomas of Villanova Church
(campus church)
Burial:
Immediately following the Funeral Mass
Calvary Cemetery
Conshohocken, PA
Father John Thomas Denny, O.S.A., was born on October 19, 1957, in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania. He was one of seven sons and one daughter of Joseph G. Denny and Mary K. Schubert. John was baptized at Saint Laurence Church, Upper Darby, Pa., on November 3, 1957, and attended Saint Laurence Parish School from 1963 to 1971. He then entered Monsignor Bonner High School, Drexel Hill, Pennsylvania, and graduated in 1975. From 1975 to 1979, he attended Boston College, Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts, where he received a BA in History. He entered the Order at Good Counsel Novitiate, Lawrence, Massachusetts, in August, 1980, but withdrew the following March. He then worked for a year in a real estate office and from 1981 to 1985, taught at Monsignor Bonner High School. He re-entered the Order, and began a second novitiate, on August 15, 1985. He professed simple vows on August 2, 1986, and moved to Augustinian College, Washington, D.C. There he pursued theological studies at the Washington Theological Union, and received an MA in Ecclesiastical History. He professed solemn vows on May 20, 1989, and was ordained to the priesthood on August 18, 1990 at Our Mother of Good Counsel Parish, Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania, by Bishop Howard Hubbard, Bishop of Albany, New York.
Father Jack was first assigned to Saint Joseph Friary, Drexel Hill, and to Monsignor Bonner High School, where he served as a teacher from 1990 to 1999, as chaplain from 1990 to 1993, principal from 1993 to 1999, and school president from 1999 to 2001. In 2001 he was appointed the Province's Vocation Director, and a member of Fray Luis de Leon Friary on the campus of Villanova University. From 2002 to 2007 he was Adjunct Professor of Theology at the University, and chaplain of the University Law School. In 2004 he was assigned to the Saxony Hall community in Rosemont, and in 2007 he was appointed pastor of Saint Margaret of Scotland Parish, Maggie Valley, North Carolina.
When the Province withdrew from ministry in Maggie Valley in 2011, Father Jack was assigned as pastor of Our Mother of Good Counsel Parish, Bryn Mawr. In August, 2014, he was appointed prior of the community as well. For some time he suffered with ailments of the back and leg. Due to progressive weakness he moved to the infirmary wing of the Villanova Monastery on March 24, 2016. Shortly after, it was discovered that he was suffering from cancer. He underwent a series of treatments, and on June 13th was admitted to Bryn Mawr Hospital for additional tests. He died there peacefully in the early morning hours of June 20, 2016 accompanied by several friars and family members.
Father Jack was a keen gardener and planted flower beds around the friaries where he was assigned. While at Monsignor Bonner High School, he assigned students in detention to care for these at the school. He was also a devoted student of American Presidential history and enjoyed visiting various significant presidential sites. He was possessed of a good sense of humor, an infectious laugh, and deep appreciation of, and dedication to, his vocation as an Augustinian and a priest.
Augustinian Friar Joseph A. Murray, O.S.A. is Ordained to the Priesthood
On Saturday June 18, 2016, Brother Joseph A. Murray O.S.A. was ordained to the priesthood by Bishop Louis Anthony DiSimone, Auxiliary Bishop Emeritus of Philadelphia, PA and an Augustinian affiliate. The Mass was celebrated at 10 A.M. at Saint Thomas of Villanova Church on the campus of Villanova University. At the conclusion of the Mass, Father Michael Di Gregorio, O.S.A., Prior Provincial of the Province offered his thanks to Father Joseph for answering the call that the Lord extended to him to become a priest for his people and for the church. He said Augustine knew that priesthood is not a call to honor, it is not an award, but rather it is a call to service, a responsibility. He said Augustine even called it a burden. Father Michael expressed that with Jesus the burden is light and asked Father Joe to remember that, for an Augustinian, priesthood is always manifested in the context of community. In fact, many friars from all communities of the Province, including Rome, Peru and Japan, were there to concelebrate the Mass, which was held the day after the weeklong Province Mid-Chapter concluded.
Father Joe extended a blessing to all at the conclusion of the Mass and many family, friends and friars received a personal blessing from him after the Mass.
Father Joe's Mass of Thanksgiving (his first celebration of a Mass), will be celebrated at 3 P.M. today, June 19, at Our Lady Of Good Counsel Church, Staten Island, NY.
Catholic Press Association Awards the Augustinian First Place, General Excellence: Religious Order Magazine
The Augustinian, a magazine publication of the Province of Saint Thomas of Villanova, was awarded First Place, General Excellence: Religious Order Magazine by the Catholic Press Association. This is the 5th consecutive year the Catholic Press Association has awarded The Augustinian a General Excellence award for a religious magazine. "We are proud to receive this honor, particularly for issues produced during The Year of Consecrated Life, said Teddie Gallagher, editor of The Augustinian.
Judges comment: "As a trained historian, I was delighted by the detail and execution of the pieces with history with its loving attention to detail...Creative in content and design...The Augustinian stands as a model for those seeking to create a heavyweight publication for a religious community. This magazine represents careful, thoughtful editorial decision making coupled with a fine sense of visuals ranging from classic to contemporary art which enrich the the well-written work of scholars. In a word, Elegant."
In addition, the Catholic Press Association awarded First Place for Best Essay Originating with a Magazine or Newsletter: Religious Order Magazine, to Father Art Purcaro, O.S.A., for his essay, "Freedom of Religion," which appeared in our Winter Issue of Friar Reflections & Essays.
Judges comment: "Wisdom, warmth and intelligence are present in this well argued, logically laid out essay on a relevant and pressing current topic." It can be read at the link below.
Finally, an Honorable Mention was awarded in the category of Best Personality Profile for "Saint Augustine from Doubt to Certitude," a profile of Saint Augustine given in a lecture by Father George P. Lawless, O.S.A., transcribed with chronology by Teddie Gallagher. Father Lawless, who died in March 2016, was an Augustinian scholar and had authored several books on Augustine. For many years, he taught at the Augustinianum in Rome, Italy. The profile can be read at the link below.
Bonner-Prendie Students Attend Assembly About Father Atkinson, O.S.A.
CatholicPhilly.com does a nice job capturing the spirit and message of an all-class assembly held in the Bonner-Prendergast auditorium on May 19, 2016. Read the article and see the pictures by Deacon John Rodgers.
U.S. Provincials Attend Midwest's Diamond Jubilee Closing Mass
Father Michael Di Gregorio, Prior Provincial for the East Coast Province of Saint Thomas of Villanova (right) and Father Kevin Mullins, O.S.A., Prior Provincial of the West Coast Province of Saint Augustine (Center), joined Father Father Bernie Scianna, Prior Provincial of the Midwest Province(left) and the Midwest Province friars for the closing celebration Mass of the 75th Anniversary of the Midwest Province.
Bishop Dan Turley, O.S.A. (next to Father Di Gregorio), a native of Chicago, ordained as an Augustinian in the Midwest Province in 1968 and the current Bishop of Chulucanas, Peru since 2000, was the principal celebrant of the Diamond Jubilee Closing Mass, held on April 23, 2016 at St. Rita of Cascia Shrine Chapel, Chicago, Illinois.
Augustinian Named Bishop by Pope Francis
A Time of Transition for Three Augustinian Parishes
Last weekend, pastors in 3 parishes staffed by the Augustinian Province of Saint Thomas of Villanova, announced to their communities that we Augustinians will complete our ministry in these parishes this June and that the parishes will be returned to the pastoral care of their respective bishops.
This is sad news for the parishioners of these parishes - two of them in Florida, Cape Coral and Bokeelia, and one in Staten Island, New York. It is also sad for the friars, especially those who have served in these parishes over the years.
These difficult decisions, arising from the deliberations of the Provincial Council, were deemed necessary as we do not have friars available to serve in these ministries. 14 of our friars have passed away in the last 2 years; only one friar will be ordained this year. Like many religious communities and the diocesan clergy, our community is diminishing in number and we are an aging group. Fr. Michael writes: "We are blessed to welcome new members to our way of life; however their number is not adequate to maintain all of our commitments."
Please keep the parishioners and the Augustinians in prayer during this time of transition.
Fr. Michael Di Gregorio, O.S.A.
Prior Provincial
P.O. Box 340
214 Ashwood Road
Villanova, PA 19085
Who's the Chaplain Behind College Basketball's new Champion?
The Catholic World Report profiles Father Rob Hagan, O.S.A. in its online feature "Who's the Chaplain behind college basketball's new champion?"
Jay Wright on Fr. Rob Hagan; PLUS! Father gives us his Bible readings for tonight!
"I can do all things through HIM who strengthens me!" We can do all things through HIM who strengthens us! I am the vine you are the branches. Abide in me and you will bear much fruit!!!"
Jay Wright: " I think every player and every member of our staff will tell you Father Rob is one of the greatest men any of us have in our lives. He has been an integral part of the program and also of my life...I count on him as a dear friend. Our whole team and staff attend a prayer service before every game. It starts with Father Rob doing a reading from the Bible and then he does a homily. He's never talking about the game. He's talking about life. And what kind of men we are and what kind of Christians we are. I always joke with Fr. Rob, 'Don't make us cry before the game.'
He's one of the most Christ-like people I know, if not the most. And everybody in our program and in my family feels that way. He's so real and so committed to this life of serving Christ. It's inspirational. He's an amazing man, he really is.
Reprinted from an interview with Jay Wright in The Augustinian Magazine Volume VI,. ISSUE II copyright 2012 www.augustinian.org./our-magazine
Go Nova!!
Father Rob Hagan, O.S.A., Chaplain of Villanova Men's Basketball Team
Video: Most Reverend John C. McNabb, O.S.A, 1925-2016
"Bishop. McNabb gave concrete expression to God’s love among the poorest of the poor in the Church of Chulucanas, Peru! As founding Bishop initially for the Prelature and then Diocese, his presence in this world surely is a loss for so many of us.As Bishop and a true follower of Christ, he was first and foremost “real” in every good sense, and at the same time such a pastoral, kind Shepherd!" Jim McMaster
In Memoriam: George P. Lawless, O.S.A. (1930 - 2016)
Shrine of St. Rita of Cascia and Archdiocese Health Care Services to Develop Property for Cascia Center and Senior Housing
Father Art Purcaro, O.S.A., Leads Retreat for the Vicariate of Japan
Co-founders of Siloam Are 2016 Peace Award Recipients
Father Don Reilly, O.S.A., and Sister Bernadette Kinniry, R.S.M., co-founders of Siloam. have been announced as recipients of the 2016 Annual Peace Award, given by the National Shrine of Saint Rita of Cascia.
Siloam is a ministry for those infected, as well as those affected, by HIV/AIDS.
Plan to attend the Annual Peace Award Banquet
Date: Friday. April 15th
Time: Doors open at 6:30 PM
Where: Popi’s Restaurant, 3120 South 20th Street, Philadelphia
Wine, Appetizers, Dinner & Award Ceremony
*** Free Parking Lot ***
Cost: $70/person; cash bar
Call the Shrine: 215-546-8333
See the flyer.
The Cause for Canonization of Fr. Bill Atkinson Receives TV Coverage
Philadelphia’s FOX TV affiliate, WTXF TV, broadcast an interview on its evening news program on Monday, February 15 at 10 PM, concerning the Cause for Canonization of Fr. Bill Atkinson, O.S.A. Fr. Bill was raised in Upper Darby and attended St. Alice's Elementary School and Monsignor Bonner High School in Drexel Hill. Pa. Injured in an accident during his novitiate year in New York, Fr. Bill was the first quadriplegic ordained to the priesthood.
To see read the story and see the video, please click on he link.
Fr. Bill's Cause for Sainthood
