This Day in Province History: January 16, 1883
On this date in 1883 a committee of friars was appointed by the Definitory “to meet our creditors at St. Mary Parish, Lawrence, and to consult with the Archbishop of Boston due to the failure of the ‘parish bank’, to the tune of $558.800.” The debt was paid off by 1890.
This Day in Province History: January 15, 1895
Father Laurence Delurey was appointed 16th president of Villanova College at 31 years of age and held the office for the next 15 years, the longest of any incumbent up to that time. As president he continued to teach Latin, Greek, elocution and bookkeeping and was moderator of the Dramatic Society.
Br. Dan Madden, O.S.A. Ordained to the Diaconate
On January 11, Br. Dan Madden, O.S.A. was ordained to the diaconate at St. Rita of Cascia Parish Chicago. Prayerful good wishes to Br. Dan!
This Day in Province History: January 14, 1755
Matthew Carr, the father of the American Province, was born on this day in 1755, in Dublin, Ireland, to Michael Carr and Mary McDaniel.
This Day in Province History: January 13, 1837
James O’Donnell was ordained priest today in 1837, the first Augustinian ordained in the United States, by Bishop John Dubois of New York.
This Day in Province History: January 12, 1879
A friar from Villanova celebrated the first Mass in Berwyn on this day in 1879 in the home of Mr. James Kelley, which was to serve as the area’s Catholic religious center until the Town Hall was rented shortly afterwards.
This Day in Province History: January 10, 1912
A disastrous fire destroyed Villanova’s original monastery in 1912, the old Rudolph mansion, renamed St. Rita’s Hall, and dedicated to house the Province’s students in formation. Everyone escaped safely.
The Baptism of the Lord
The New Year always brings fascinating rituals, rituals we do not question. Balls dropping. Pots and Pans banging. Whistles blowing. Mummers strutting (at least in Philadelphia; the rest of the world may still question that!). All of this is very normal to us. However, one thing I don’t think I’ll ever accept as normal are polar bears plunging! The “polar bear plunge” is a ritual on New Year’s Day and sometimes throughout the month of January, when crazed groups of individuals drop to their bathing suits and jump into the frigid Ocean.
My Augustinian Inspiration, by Fr. Gary McCloskey, O.S.A.
Learn what inspired Fr. McCloskey to become an Augustinian.
Two Friars Solemnly Professed
On Saturday, December 21, 2019, Fr. Michael Di Gregorio, O.S.A.,Prior Provincial received the solemn vows professed by Br. Dan Madden, O.S.A. and Br. Elizandro Contreras, O.S.A.