Celebrating One Year of Pope Leo XIV’s Papacy
May 8, 2026 Dear Friends in Christ, It’s hard to believe it’s a year already since our brother, Pope Leo XIV, was elected to the papacy on May 8, 2025. Anniversaries are a wonderful time to reflect and to look back, but also to look forward. Everyone can remember where they were on that special day. […]
Remembering 2025 as We Enter 2026
January 6, 2026 Dear Friends in Christ, As we take our first steps into 2026, I am reminded of the many gifts that 2025 brought to our community. Together, we celebrated the election of our brother, Pope Leo XIV, to the papacy. Many of you were with us as we honored him with the Saint Augustine Medal […]
A Transformative Experience: Insights from the Augustinians’ General Chapter
September 27, 2025 During the first three weeks of September, I had my first opportunity to attend the General Chapter of the Augustinian Order. Held every six years, the Chapter gathers around 80 Augustinians from 46 countries and 41 jurisdictions to pray, listen, discuss business, connect with each other in Augustinian community, and elect the […]
Augustinians of North America Gather During Convocation
July 15, 2025 The Augustinians of North America gathered for convocation on June 9-12, the first time that all three Provinces gathered in such a way since 2018. We call ourselves FANA: the Federation of Augustinians of North America. It was a wonderful opportunity to be together, to share our excitement over our brother Pope […]
Celebrating the Reinterment of Servant of God Fr. John McKniff, O.S.A.
July 8, 2025 Dear Friends in Christ, The Province of St. Thomas Villanova has a longstanding tradition of faith-filled service to the people of God. Our friars today stand on the foundation of many good friars who spent their lives sharing the gospel and Augustinian values with people around the world. One such friar was […]
Welcome Pope Leo XIV, the First Augustinian Pope
May 8, 2025 Dear Friends in Christ, What a wonderful day to be an Augustinian as we welcome our brother Robert Prevost, O.S.A. to the papacy as Pope Leo XIV! We’re overjoyed because of what we already know him to be, and what a gift he is to the Church and to the world at […]
Remembering Pope Francis: A Life of Compassion | From the Desk of Fr. Rob
April 22, 2025 Dear Friends in Christ, We join the faithful around the world in deep sadness over the passing of Pope Francis, and in profound gratitude for his life of service to our Church and to all of God’s people. Pope Francis was a servant leader who lived a life of outward simplicity. He […]
Reimagining and Revitalizing the First Foundation of the Augustinians in the United States | From the Desk of Fr. Rob
February 13, 2024 Dear Friends in Christ, Fathers Matthew Carr (pictured at right) and John Rosseter, O.S.A., the first two Augustinians on American soil, responded to a call to provide spiritual direction, support, and education to Irish immigrants in the city of Philadelphia, who were discriminated against because of where they came from and their […]
Future Saint Father Bill Atkinson Reinterred in St. Thomas of Villanova Church | From the Desk of Fr. Rob
June 26, 2024 Dear Friends in Christ, Our Augustinian brother, and Servant of God, Fr. Bill Atkinson, O.S.A. has returned home. On June 14, in a private ceremony, Fr. Bill’s remains were translated and reinterred to the church of St. Thomas of Villanova on the campus of Villanova University. He was laid to rest forever […]
Introducing our New Director of Vocations | From the Desk of Fr. Rob
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 […]