Augustinian Communications
Fr. Robert Hagan, O.S.A, is Officially the New ...

Fr. Robert P. Hagan, O.S.A., who was installed on June 13, 2022, as the new Prior Provincial of the Province of St. Thomas of Villanova!

Fr. Robert Hagan, O.S.A, is Officially the New Prior Provincial

Fr. Augustine M. Esposito, O.S.A., September 10, 1951 - January 9, 2021

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Augustine Michael Esposito was born on September 10, 1951, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the son of Augustine M. Esposito and Emma R. Magliocco. He had one brother and four sisters. He was baptized on October 14, 1951 at Saint Edmond Church, Philadelphia, and attended Saint Edmond School and Blessed Virgin Mary School, Darby, and Msgr. Bonner High School, Drexel Hill. He then worked for three years while pursuing college studies. He entered the province’s pre-novitiate program in September 1971 and was received into the Order as a novice on August 29, 1972. After a year at Good Counsel Novitiate, New Hamburg, New York, he professed simple vows on August 28, 1973. He then attended Villanova University, where he received his BS in Education in 1975. Gus moved to Augustinian College, Washington, DC, where he attended the Washington Theological Union and received his M. Div. degree. He also studied at Middlebury Language School, Vermont, and received an MA in Spanish Language. He professed solemn vows on January 8, 1977. In 1978, he was assigned to Saint Nicholas of Tolentine Parish, Bronx, New York. He was ordained to the priesthood on June 2, 1979, at Saint Denis Parish, Havertown, PA, by Bishop Edward Hughes, Auxiliary Bishop of Philadelphia.

Father Gus continued in Hispanic Ministry at Saint Nicholas of Tolentine Parish, Bronx, until 1980, when he was assigned to Msgr. Bonner High School. He then returned to the Bronx until 1984 when he began PhD studies in Spanish at Temple University, Philadelphia, as a member of Saint Thomas Monastery, Villanova. After completing his doctorate, he taught at Villanova University from 1988 to 1990, and from 1991 to 2001, was professor of Spanish, Spiritual Director and Chair of the Pastoral Theology Department at Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary, Philadelphia. In 2002, he was assigned as president to Msgr. Bonner High School. When Msgr. Bonner and Prendergast High Schools became co-institutional in 2007, Father Gus was named President of the two schools.

Father Gus received the Papal Honor of the Cross in 2006 and was inducted into the Bonner Hall of Fame in 2008. He gave retreats in many places in the United States, and internationally. In 2009, he was assigned to St. Augustine Friary, Malvern, Pennsylvania, and the following year served at St. Augustine Preparatory School, Richland, New Jersey. From 2011 to 2012, he was a member of St. Augustine Friary, Villanova, and in August 2012 of Saxony Hall, Rosemont, while teaching at Villanova University. In 2013 he was engaged as an associate professor at St. Charles Seminary and later appointed temporary Vice-Rector in 2014, and Director of Pastoral and Apostolic Formation the following year. From November 1, 2014, he was a member of St. Thomas of Villanova Monastery, Villanova.

In the days before Christmas, 2020, Father Gus was admitted to Bryn Mawr Hospital after testing positive for Covid-19. He passed over to the Lord there on January 9, 2021.

Father Gus was a widely known and admired religious and priest, spiritual director, mentor to seminarians, educator, and preacher. He died at the age of 69, in the 47th year of his religious profession.

Friday, January 15, 2021

Viewing and Mass:

Priests of the Archdiocese, faculty, and seminarians

St. Charles Borromeo Seminary Chapel, Overbrook, PA

(Reception of Body and Viewing) - OPEN TO PUBLIC

4:00 - 6:00 pm

(Mass) - OPEN TO AUGUSTINIANS, NOT PUBLIC

7:00 pm

Saturday, January 16, 2021

Viewing and Funeral Mass:

Family members and Augustinian community

[Due to the number of Augustinians and family members attending, viewing the Funeral Mass by live stream is encouraged and will begin at 10:25 am. Click button below to enter.]

St. Thomas of Villanova Church, Villanova, PA

(Viewing)

9:00 - 10:30 am

(Funeral Mass)

10:30 am

Burial:

Following the Funeral Mass

Saturday, January 16, 2021

Augustinian plot, Calvary Cemetery

West Conshohocken, PA

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Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord.

And let perpetual light shine upon him.

May his soul, and the souls of all the faithful departed,

through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.

At the National Shrine of Saint Rita of Cascia

Virtual Christmas Mass at the Shrine

In case you missed it, be sure to check out the National Shrine of Saint Rita of Cascia’s virtual Christmas Mass by clicking the video below. Fr. Bob Guessetto, O.S.A. served as the celebrant and homilist for this special recording of the celebration of the Eucharist from the Shrine for the Nativity of the Lord.

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Join us for the January Healing Mass

Do you find yourself mentally, physically, spiritually, socially, or emotionally burdened? The National Shrine of Saint Rita of Cascia invites you to join us for our next Healing Mass! We will gather on Sunday, January 17, 2021 at 12:00 p.m. in the Upper Church to pray for Saint Rita’s healing intercession, and to offer a special blessing with Saint Rita oil. Fr. Art Purcaro, O.S.A. will serve as the celebrant and homilist. Confessions will be offered beginning at 11:30 a.m. We hope to see you there!

Fr. Dennis J. Gallagher, O.S.A., March 30, 1935 – November 22, 2020

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Dennis Joseph Gallagher was born on March 30, 1935, in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania, the son of Dennis Gallagher and Anne McGlinchey. He was one of five brothers and three sisters, and was baptized on April 14, 1935, at Our Mother of Good Counsel Parish, Bryn Mawr. He attended Saint Thomas of Villanova Parish School, Rosemont, and West Catholic High School, Philadelphia, before entering Augustinian Academy, Staten Island, New York, as a post-graduate postulant in September 1954. Dennis was received into the Order on September 9, 1955, and following his year at Good Counsel Novitiate, New Hamburg, NY., he professed simple vows on September 10, 1956 and solemn vows on the same day in 1959. He attended Villanova University which awarded him a BA in Philosophy in 1960. He then pursued theological studies at Augustinian College, Washington, DC, where he received an MA in Theology. He likewise studied Library Science at Villanova and received a MSLS in Library Science in June 1965. He was ordained to the priesthood on January 30, 1965 at Saint Thomas of Villanova Church, Villanova, by Bishop Gerald McDevitt.

In August 1965, Father Dennis was assigned to Austin Preparatory School, Reading Massachusetts, where he taught Theology, was School Librarian, and Director of Reading Services. In 1969 he was transferred to Malvern Preparatory School, Malvern, PA., where he held the same three positions. He was assigned to Saint John Sahagun Friary, Washington, DC in June 1972 to work on a PhD in Higher Education at Catholic University of America. Upon completion of his degree in 1975, he returned to Villanova University as a member of Saint Thomas Monastery, to teach Library Science in the Graduate School. In 1985 he became the University’s first full time Archivist.

Father Gallagher was the weekend assistant in several parishes in the Diocese of Trenton, New Jersey, and from 1989 until 2016, he exercised this role at Saint Catherine-Saint Margaret Parish in Spring Lake, NJ. On the occasion of his 50th Anniversary of ordination in 2015, Saint Catherine-Saint Margaret was the site of a special celebration hosted by grateful parishioners for his many years of service to them. The following year, he suffered a stroke which necessitated the termination of this parish ministry and retirement as University archivist. Following months of rehabilitation, Father Dennis returned to Saint Thomas Monastery, until declining health and Covid-19 infection caused him to be transferred briefly to Power Back Rehabilitation.

Father Dennis was an avid traveler, who often said, “Life is a journey-ever ancient, ever new.” This wayfaring spirit proved helpful in his convalescence from the effects of the stroke as he worked persistently to regain his strength and retain as much autonomy as possible. The final stage of his journey commenced on November 22, 2020, when he passed over to the Lord.


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Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord.

And let perpetual light shine upon him.

May his soul, and the souls of all the faithful departed,

through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.

Funeral arrangements for

Fr. Dennis J. Gallagher, O.S.A.

are as follows:


Viewing and Funeral Mass:

Monday, November 30, 2020

St. Thomas of Villanova Church, Villanova, PA

9:30 -10:20 am (Viewing)

10:30 am (Mass)


Burial:

Following the Funeral Mass

Monday, November 30, 2020

Augustinian Plot, Calvary Cemetery

West Conshohocken, PA