As summer comes to a close, members of our schools, parishes, and ministries of the Augustinian community continue to celebrate fellowship. We are deeply grateful for your ongoing support and prayers as we continue to grow together in faith.

The Midwest Augustinians

On August 28, the Novices attended the St. Augustine Medal Dinner in Pennsylvania in honor of Pope Leo.

Left to right: Jun Maranan (Midwest), Kurt Bragg (Midwest), Bishop Daniel Turley, John Bernardo (California), Brent Faubert (Midwest)

On September 7, the Novices joined several Villanova students to attend Polish Fest at the National Shrine of Our Lady of Czestochowa in Doylestown, PA.

Left: John Bernardo (California) and Jun Maranan (Midwest). Right: Kurt Bragg (Midwest) and Brent Faubert (Midwest)

Novices and Villanova students with Fr. Jeremy Hiers (Villanova Province Vocation Director) and Fr. Bernard Scianna (Senior Associate Dean for Student Support)

On September 14th, the formation community at St. Augustine friary had their first monthly outing of the year. They played mini golf and visited the Chicago’s famous bean!

Front (left to right): Fr. John Lydon (Villanova), Br. Javier Medina (California), Br. Justin Ma (California)

Back (left to right): Br. Gary Hresil (Midwest), Br. Jeremy Welch (Midwest), Br. Nicholas Anderson (Villanova)

Front (left to right): Br. Justin Ma (California), Br. Javier Medina (California)

Back (left to right): Br. Jeremy Welch (Midwest), Br. Gary Hresil (Midwest), Br. Nicholas Anderson (Villanova)

On September 2-11, Fr. Joseph McCormick led a group of 39 pilgrims, mostly from St. Bernard’s in Homer Glen, to Portugal, Spain, and France.

Here they are in Fatima, Portugal. Fr. McCormick celebrated Mass in the outdoor chapel that marks the spot where the apparitions took place. Deacon Joe Ferrari assisted, Julie Kane played music and was joined by St. Bernard Choir members, and Shawn Kane was the lector.

The group also visited the Shrine in Lourdes, France. Click the link below to watch a video of the Rosary Procession they participated in:

Here is Fr. Joe McCormick near Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris!

This year marks the 125th anniversary of the canonization of St. Rita of Casia and St. John Baptist de La Salle. To mark the occasion, Fr. Thomas McCarthy joined De La Salle Brothers Matthew Kotek and David Caretti to give presentations at St. Rita High School and the De La Salle Institute to celebrate their respective patron saints.  Pope Leo also sent a message that was shared with each school community!

Fr. Thomas McCarthy was joined by Br. Paul Koscielniak, Br. Joe Ruiz, Fr. Stephen Isley, and Fr. Bernard Danber at St. Rita High School for a special Mass with several De La Salle Brothers.

De La Salle Brothers David Caretti and Matthew Kotek with several St. Rita High School students.

Fr. Thomas McCarthy was joined by Bishop Daniel Turley and the new Pre-Novices (second from left: Zachary Lange, Villanova Province; third from left: Brian Kempiak, Midwest Province) for a special Mass at the De La Salle Institute with several De La Salle Brothers.

Bishop Daniel Turley blessed statues of the newly canonized St. Carlo Acutis at St. Rita Parish. 

On September 5-7, St. Rita and St. Clare Parish hosted their annual Fiesta Mexicana! It was a joyous celebration with lots of food and music.  

Bishop Daniel Turley (Director of Pre-Novices), Fr. Homer Sanchez (Pastor), Fr. John Lydon (Villanova Prov., Formation Director at St. Augustine Friary)

Fr. Samuel Joutras (Associate Pastor), Br. Gary Hresil, Bishop Daniel Turley (Director of Pre-Novices), Br. Jeremy Welch, Fr. Thomas McCarthy (Vocation Director and Prior of St. Clare Friary)

Fr. Fidel Alvarado (Vicariate of Chulucanas), Fr Wilson Posligua, OSA (El Salvador), Bishop Daniel Turley (Director of Pre-Novices), Fr. John Lydon (Director of Professed), Fr. Samuel Joutras (Associate Pastor)

Br. Gary Hresil, Br. David Marshall, Br. Nicholas Anderson (Villanova)

Fr. Stephen Isley, Br. Jeremy Welch, Br. Justin Ma (California)

Miriam Arredondo, Fr. Samuel Joutras (Associate Pastor), Lupita Gutierrez

Fr. John Lydon (Director of Professed), Br. Javier Medina (California)

On Sept. 9, the Mendel Catholic High School Alumni Association hosted a very special event. Through the generosity of Terry Johnson and Chicago Line Cruises, the Mendel Alumni, Midwest Augustinians, St. Rita High School staff, and several altar servers went on a 2-hour cruise down the Chicago River to enjoy the views, fellowship, and wonderful food. Mendel Alumni President Tom Gavin also presented a special $5000 donation to the retired Augustinians who worked at Mendel. To read the full article about this wonderful event, click the link below:

Front: Br. Fred Kaiser, Fr. Thomas Griffin, Bishop Daniel Turley, Fr. Thomas McCarthy

Middle: Manny Toledo (discerner), Zachary Lange (Pre-Novice, Villanova), Brian Kempiak (Pre-Novice, Midwest), Br. Javier Medina (California), Br. Justin Ma (California), Br. Joe Ruiz

Back: Br. Nicholas Anderson (Villanova), Br. Gary Hresil, Br. Jeremy Welch, Fr. John Lydon (Director of Professed)

Front: Art Gillespie ('84), Terry Gainer ('65), Bill Duffy ('65), Mike Dreznes ('68) , Ed Carik ('65)

Back: Billy Hilbring ('81), Jim Panozzo ('73), Tom Gavin ('67), Andy Youpel ('66), Bob Fioretti ('71)

Mendel Men on Cruise not pictured: Jack Dreznes ('66), Fr. Tom Griffin O.S.A. ('72), Terry Lynch ('66), Bishop Dan Turley ('60), & Rick Zarr ('71)

Jack Dreznes (‘66) with Br. Jeremy Welch

Sue and Rick Zarr (‘71)

Fr. Thomas Byrne, Bishop Daniel Turley, and Terry Lynch (‘66)

Fr. Thomas McCarthy, Fr. Thomas Griffin, Br. Frederick Kaiser, Jim Panozzo (‘73)

On September 18th, Habitat for Humanity hosted a special “build day” for their new initiative titled Pope Leo Village. Fr. William Lego and Br. Nathan Fernandes joined them and offered some words about Pope Leo’s work with the poor in Peru.  The Pope Leo Village will include 20 new townhomes in the West Pullman neighborhood, which is where the old Mendel High School was located (Pope Leo's brothers went to school there and his mom was a librarian). Inspired by Pope Leo’s love for Catholic Social Teaching, this project will seek to foster a “beloved community” as envisioned by Martin Luther King, Jr. Along with building houses, Habitat will provide mortgage assistance, education opportunities, and more in collaboration with other local groups.  To learn more, click here. 

Pope Leo and Fr. James Halstead Featured at ALS Walk for Life

On Saturday, September 20, the Les Turner Foundation hosted its annual ALS Walk for Life at Soldier Field. About 2,000 people participated in this wonderful event to raise money to find a cure for ALS. It was a positive environment that provided support and encouragement to those with ALS and their caregivers, as well as to remember those with ALS who have gone before us. Pope Leo sent a special video message that was greatly appreciated by everyone. He was asked to do this by Fr. James Halstead, who has ALS and was present at the event. Fr. Jim was interviewed by WGN and NBC. Click the links below to see the videos:

Fr. Jim with Br. Javier Medina (California), Patrick O'Connor (representing St. Augustine Seminary Alumni), and Br. Nicholas Mullarkey (Midwest)

Fr. Jim with Mike Woitek and Nancy Holdsworth from St. Nicholas Church (St. John XXIII Parish) and Dr. Valentina Tickoff (DePaul University).

Fr. Jim with Bonnie Greene (event host, WTTW), Laura Freveletti (CEO of Les Turner Foundation), and Larry Mowry (event host, meteorologist for ABC7)

Fr. Jim giving his blessing to the mascot of the Chicago Bears! (They won the next day!)

Mike Mueller '68, Larry Kieffer '68, Leo Miceli '68, Ernie Peters '68

Larry Zielinski '68, Joe Calcaterra '68, Greg Brown '68, Gary Mueller '68

Jack Goltschmann '66, Jerry Goltschmann '72, their sons

Charlie Pfeil '73, Rich Gartner '73, Rick Hastings '73, Bob Price '73 (photographer)

Cliff Serati '70 and friends

Bob Bergholtz '69, Chris Hartrich '69

Fr. George P. George '73 (Maronite Diocesan priest), Steve Baker '69

Nick Steska '70, Len Riley '70

St. Nicholas of Tolentine Parish Hosts Augustinians

On September 28th, Fr. Miguel Angel Flores Andrade and St. Nicholas of Tolentine Parish hosted several Augustinians for a special Mass and reception in honor of the feasts of St. Nicholas of Tolentine and the Archangels Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael. St. Nicholas of Tolentine has a newly consecrated shrine to St. Michael.

From left to right: Fr. Raymond Flores, Fr. Anthony Pizzo, Fr. James Keating (Villanova), Bishop Daniel Turley, Fr. Homero Sanchez, Fr. Miguel Angel Flores Andrade (St. Nicholas of Tolentine Parish), Fr. Stephen Isley, Fr. Samuel Joutras

From left to right: Br. Thomas Taylor, Br. David Marshall, Br. Javier Medina (California), Br. Justin Ma (California), Fr. James Keating (Villanova), Br. David Relstab, Fr. Stephen Isley, Fr. Homero Sanchez, Bishop Daniel Turley, Fr. Miguel Angel Flores Andrade (St. Nicholas of Tolentine Parish), Fr. Anthony Pizzo, Fr. Raymond Flores, Fr. Samuel Joutras, Brian Kempiak (Pre-Novice, Midwest), Br. Nathan Fernandes, Zachary Lange (Pre-Novice, Villanova)

On September 14, Pope Leo celebrated his 70th birthday! People from all over the world wished him a happy birthday, including members of our Province. The community in Crown Point sent a video message, as did the formation at St. Augustine Friary in Hyde Park. The parishioners of St. Jude Parish sent their greetings as well. Plus, ABC7 interviewed Pope Leo’s brother, John Prevost, for the occasion, along with Fr. Raymond Flores, Pastor of St. Jude’s. 

On September 21, Br. Jack Hibbard celebrated his 74th birthday!

On September 25th, Fr. Donald Lewandowski celebrated his 82nd birthday with the Crown Point community! Front: Fr. Donald Lewandowski, Fr. David Petraitis Back: Fr. Thomas Griffin

On September 28th, Fr. Bernard Danber celebrated his 75th birthday! Click the link below to watch a video of the faculty and staff of St. Rita High School helping him celebrate!

If you have pictures of any celebrations or events involving the Augustinians and/or the places they serve, please send them to secretary@midwestaugustinians.org.