April 21, 2024
My dear friends in Christ,
On this World Day of Prayer for Vocations, my heart is filled with gratitude for each of you. Just as each Augustinian Friar has a vocation, you do as well. Whether your vocation is to marriage, religious life, or the single life, all of these callings are ordered to bring us closer to God.
It is an especially fitting day to announce, with great hope and joy, that Fr. Jeremy Hiers, O.S.A. is assuming the role of Director of Vocations for the Province of Saint Thomas of Villanova. Many of you are familiar with Fr. Jeremy’s work as director of our Office of Peace, Justice, and Evangelization, which he will continue. This new position is a natural outgrowth of the outreach and ministry that is already taking place, and will continue to help our province engage many people – including those who may have a calling to be an Augustinian Friar.
Additionally, I would like to echo our debt of gratitude to Fr. Joe Narog, O.S.A. for his tireless work, dedication, and fidelity to vocation development during his tenure as vocation director. He has been fully invested in the work of vocation formation for many years, and his work across provinces will bear fruit for future vocation development for years to come.
In the spirit of listening to and answering God’s call to each of us, may we all remain faithful to our commitments with the help of God’s grace. Let us continue to live and pray our Augustinian Prayer for Vocations:
Let us pray to the Lord of the harvest who calls men and women to loving service:
All glory and praise are yours, God of truth, light of our hearts,
for you guide your people in the ways of holiness.
Help those who follow in the footsteps of Augustine
to seek you through mutual love and worship
and to be servants of your Church as examples that others may follow.
Enlighten men and women to seek the beauty of common life in the spirit of Saint Augustine,
and strengthen them in your service. Amen.
Peace always,
Fr. Robert P. Hagan, O.S.A.
Prior Provincial
