This spring, our Augustinian Community has been full of activity. We are deeply grateful for your involvement, ongoing support, and prayers as we continue to grow together in faith.

The Midwest Augustinians

The pilgrimage group gathers outside Pope Leo's childhood home in Dolton, IL, on the anniversary of his election.

Fr. Pizzo presents the portrait of Pope Leo to Dolton Mayor Jason House. (Courtesy of James Ferrell)

On May 8th, pilgrims observed the Pope's first anniversary by visiting his childhood parish (St. Mary of the Assumption) and his family home in Dolton, where Provincial Anthony Pizzo led a prayer and presented a portrait of the Pope that was installed in the house. He also presented a miniature of the bust that was made of the Pope (there are two full size busts: one at CTU and one in Peru). These events were captured on the news as well as the Facebook page of the Village of Dolton.

In the evening, the Midwest Province celebrated the Pope's anniversary with a special Mass of Thanksgiving at St. Jude Parish in New Lenox. The Mass had a special emphasis on Mary since it was both the Feast of Our Lady of Pompeii and the Augustinian Feast of Our Lady of Grace. ABC 7 was there to cover the event: 

Several Augustinians were also interviewed by news channels in anticipation of the anniversary.

Fr. Ray Flores joined Affiliate John Prevost for an interview with Erin Burnett on CNN. Watch here. The two were also featured on EWTN here and on NBC here.

While the two were in New York, they were able to meet up with Archbishop Ronald Hicks, who was previously the Bishop of the Joliet Diocese.

In May, a delegation of Chicagoans including parishioners of St. Rita and St. Clare parish visited Cascia, Italy, and several other sites as part of special celebrations honoring St. Rita of Cascia.

The group visited Cascia, Italy, to celebrate the Feast of St. Rita of Cascia, as well as touring Roccaporena (where St. Rita was born and grew up). They saw St. Rita's incorrupt body and visited her convent. They also visited Rome and the Vatican, where they attended a special audience with Pope Leo XIV and met with Chicago Cardinal Blase Cupich.

The group was also able to visit many other holy places in Italy, including Montefalco, where they saw St. Clare of Montefalco's body (she's incorrupt too!), as well as Assisi and the tombs of St. Francis, St. Clare of Assisi, and St. Carlo Acutis.

To see a full series of photos from the Chicago delegation's visit to Italy, click here:

Previously, on March 14th, Augustinian friars and the community of St. Rita of Cascia Parish in Chicago welcomed Italian Consul General Mario Alberto Bartoli, delegations of Cascia and Chicago city officials, and pilgrims from the Basilica of St. Rita of Cascia in Italy to light the torch of Forgiveness & Peace during a special Mass.


Visit our website for a full photo gallery of the Italian Delegation's Visit to Chicago:

Here is a video of the event in March that was shared by the Archdiocese of Chicago:

The St. Rita of Cascia Feast Day celebration in Cascia, Italy, is a major event for the town, and includes decorations, processions, and a special Mass attended by locals and pilgrims.

Here, the group meets with local government officials.

The “garden of the rose”. On her deathbed, St. Rita asked her cousin to go find a rose in January. Miraculously, there was a rose there and her cousin brought it to her. St. Rita is often depicted with roses as a result and is known as “saint of the impossible”. 

Outside the Basilica of St. Rita of Cascia, posing with one of the roses handed out to participants in the Feast Day festivities.

The full group from Cascia and Chicago poses with the Torch of Forgiveness and Peace in St. Peter's Square.

Fr. Homero Sanchez, O.S.A., with Cardinal Cupich.

On Feb 24th, Fr. Anthony Pizzo gave a Lenten mission at St. John Neumann Parish in St. Charles, IL. He shared stories and reflections on Pope Leo and his spirituality. Click below to watch the whole video.

On March 9-11, Fr. Thomas McCarthy, Br. David Relstab, and Br. David Marshall led a Lenten parish mission at St. Edna Parish in Arlington Heights titled “Walking in the Footsteps of St. Augustine.” The event was sponsored by St. Clare of Assisi, St. Mary, St. James, Our Lady of the Wayside, and St. Edna Parishes. 

Above: Fr. Daniel Madden (Director of Campus Ministry), Br. Nathan Fernandes (Midwest Province), Bishop Daniel Turley, Fr. Raymond Dlugos (Vice President for Mission and Ministry), Br. Frank Connor (Campus Ministry), 

On March 24, Bishop Daniel Turley visited Merrimack College for the annual Augustinian of Note event. It is a talk given each year by a noteworthy Augustinian for the Austin Scholars service-learning community highlighting some aspect of the Augustinian tradition. It is an opportunity for students to learn a little bit about the life of the Order and to experience friars who they would not usually come into contact with and their stories. Bishop Daniel shared his experiences as a missionary and bishop in Peru. To learn more about Bishop Daniel’s presentation, read the article here: www.merrimack.edu/news/merrimack-welcomes-former-bishop-of-peruvian-district/

On April 10th, Cascia held its annual Celebrate Cascia fundraiser. This year’s theme was “Party Like It's '99”. It was a total success with approximately 220 in attendance, including many alumni. The outfits everyone had on was by far the highlight of the night. The event was sold out and raised over $350,000.

Pictured here: Bailey Siegfried, Fr. Philip Cook (Headmaster), Br. Jack Hibbard, Fr. Jack Tierney

On April 9-12, students from all the Augustinian schools in the US and Canada participated in the annual Student Augustinian Values Institute (SAVI). This year it was hosted by Austin Prep in Reading, MA. There were 66 Augustinian students who were joined by 22 faculty chaperones and Augustinian friars. The attendees learned more about their shared Augustinian values (truth, unity, love), prayed together and formed connections between schools, completed a service project building beds for children in need, and visited historic sites on the Freedom Trail. They also were able to explore the Augustinian heritage at Merrimack College, St. Mary’s Church (Lawrence, MA) and St. Augustine’s Church (Andover, MA). 

Paul Revere Statue on Freedom Trail

Service project building beds for children in need.

Austin Catholic High School, Chesterfield, MI

Austin Preparatory School, Austin, MA

Cascia Hall Preparatory School, Tulsa, OK (with Fr. Joseph Roccasalva, OSA)

Malvern Preparatory School, Malvern, PA

Monsignor Bonner and Archbishop Prendergast High School, Drexel Hill, PA

Providence Catholic High School, New Lenox, IL

St. Augustine High School, San Diego, CA (with Br. Tony Moreno, OSA)

St. Augustine Preparatory School, Richland, NJ (with Fr. Anthony Burrascano, OSA)

St. Rita High School, Chicago, IL

Villanova College, King City, ON, Canada

Villanova Preparatory School, Ojai, CA

On Easter Sunday, members of the St. Rita Parish, St. Clare, St. Rita High School, St. Turibius, and St. Augustine communities shared Easter dinner together. Alleluias were had by all! 

On April 15, David Marshall led a musical presentation titled "Pascal Joy: A Musical Celebration of the Resurrection" at St. John Neumann in St. Charles, IL. 

Fr. Ramiro Castillo Castro, Vicar of Chulucanas, receiving a $200 donation for scholarships from 2nd graders at St. Christina in Chicago.  

Friars enjoying a gift of Fannie May chocolates brought from Chicago.

Fr. Homero Sanchez served as translator for the visit.

On May 10th, Fr. Bernard Danber celebrated his 40th anniversary of ordination to the priesthood! There was a special anniversary celebration at Annunciation Byzantine Catholic Church in Homer Glen. Fr. Danber has priestly faculties in both the Roman Rite and the Byzantine Catholic Rite.

Front: Br. Justin Ma (California Province), Br. Paul Koscielniak, Br. Joe Ruiz, Fr. Bernard Danber, Br. Nathan Fernandes, Fr. Thomas McCarthy

Back: Br. Jeremy Welch, Br. Gary Hresil, Br. David Relstab, Fr. Stephen Isley

At the end of May, the community at Delta, British Columbia welcomed Fr. Philip Yang from the California Province. Fr. Yang brought young people to the Catholic Christian Outreach (CCO) Activate Youth Conference in Richmond, British Columbia. 

On June 3, Fr. Jack Tierney successfully defended his dissertation at St. Louis University. Not only that, he passed with distinction! He now holds a Ph.D. in Public & Social Policy. His dissertation is titled “His dissertation is titled "Liturgical Policy Development and its Regulatory Effects with Catholic Communities."  Congratulations, Doctor!

Fr. Jack and his Dissertation Committee. Left to right: Dr. Morgan Hazelton; Dr. Jack Tierney, OSA; Bishop Thomas John Paprocki (Diocese of Springfield); Dr. Chris Duncan 

On April 2, Fr. Thomas Griffin celebrated his 72nd birthday! Pictured with Fr. Bill Lego, Fr. Tom Griffin, and Bishop Daniel Turley

On May 28, Fr. Homero Sanchez celebrated his 41st birthday!

On May 6, Fr. Joseph Roccasalva celebrated his 36th birthday!

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.