Celebrating the Augustinians in the Merrimack Valley

PROVINCIAL ADMINISTRATION

The Constitutions of the Augustinian Order provide that the Prior Provincial be assisted in the ministry of pastoring and governing the Province, by friars whose advice, collaboration and consent help to ensure that the needs and duties of the Province and its individual members are prudently and adequately addressed.

Fr. Michael F. Di Gregorio, O.S.A. Prior Provincial, Province of Dear Friends of the Augustinians, Saint Thomas of Villanova This year marks the 200th anniversary of the arrival of an Irish Augustinian missionary in what is now the Fr. Francis J. Horn, O.S.A. Archdiocese of Boston. Indeed, a reason to celebrate the Treasurer of the Province Augustinians in the Merrimack Valley! Our Augustinian presence in Massachusetts began modestly, but since that time, many friars have ministered in Merrimack schools PROVINCIAL and parishes founded by our friars and served by us COUNSELORS through many generations. Today, we serve at St. Augustine Parish in Andover and Fr. Francis J. Doyle, O.S.A. St. Mary of the Assumption in Lawrence as well as Prior, Blessed Stephen Bellesini Friary Merrimack College. Although we are not present at Austin Preparatory School, our values and tradition still permeate Fr. Robert P. Hagan, O.S.A. throughout the school. Many friars also extend their Associate Athletics Director, service in parishes where they minister on the weekend. Villanova University On behalf of my Augustinian brothers, I want to thank Fr. Robert J. Murray, O.S.A. our benefactors who have responded generously to our Head of School, needs. It is important that we continue to collaborate with St. Augustine Preparatory School all who have been so generous to us. Your partnership with us is critical to our future success and to the future of Fr. Joseph L. Narog, O.S.A. the Province. Director of Vocations, Saint Thomas of Villanova Parish Let us celebrate together our ministry in the Merrimack Valley and look to continue to be present in this region for Fr. Arthur Purcaro, O.S.A many years to come. May God bless you and reward you Assistant Vice President for Mission and for your kindness. Ministry, Villanova University In Augustine,

Fr. Luis A. Vera, O.S.A. Pastor, Saint Nicholas of Tolentine Parish Father Michael F. Di Gregorio, O.S.A. Prior Provincial 1 The Augustinians in the Merrimack Valley

Augustinian presence in what is now the Archdiocese of Boston began with Father Philip Lariscy, O.S.A., an Irish missionary who, in 1818, built Saint Augustine Chapel in Dorchester Heights, South Boston. This place of worship is recognized as “the oldest standing Catholic church building in the Archdiocese.” During the four years that he spent in the Boston area, Father Lariscy served the faithful of Salem, Lynn, Lowell and New Bedford. Bishop Cheverus wrote of him, “He is strong and robust and pious. He has already brought back some hardened sinners. He preaches in Irish every Sunday at the first Mass…. He is a humble man and asks for nothing except work.”

We would love to think that the character and work of Father Lariscy set the tone for the many friars who would follow him later throughout the Merrimack Valley when, beginning with Father James O’Donnell, O.S.A. in 1848, and continuing through to today, Augustinians have served the people of Lawrence, Andover, Wilmington, North Reading, and beyond, in a succession of parishes, schools and various other works. Father O’Donnell’s pioneering efforts at Saint Mary’s Parish, Lawrence and Saint Augustine Parish, Andover, not only brought the Augustinian charism to this corner of the archdiocese, but also opened a path for a steady stream of vocations over many years from these same parishes — and others — into the Order. We need think of the names of some of the many native sons of the l-r: Very Reverend Henry E. Greenlee, O.S.A., Provincial, region who have served the Order Mr. Edward F. Williams, His Excellency, Richard J. Cushing, and the Church well throughout D.D., Mrs. Edward F. Williams, Reverend Vincent A. the years as Augustinians: the three McQuade, O.S.A. Fathers Lamond and two Fathers Merrimack College, 1958 Walsh, McCranor and Lehane; Frs. Caffrey, O’Connor, McCarthy, Fenton, D’Angelo, Dennis, Hanouille, McNally, Sullivan, Murphy, O’Brien, Moriarty, Cullinane, Regan, Hughes, Kennedy, Nugent, Driscoll, Riordan, Dorgan and many more.

2 Back Row, l-r: Father Mariano Arconada, O.S.A., Father John Lamond, O.S.A., Father Emile Misson, O.S.A., Father Edward Carney, O.S.A., Father William Donovan, O.S.A., Father John McCusker, O.S.A., Father Joseph Conroy, O.S.A., Father Hugh O’Neill, O.S.A. Front Row, l-r: Father William “Pete” Kelly, O.S.A., Father John B. Martin, O.S.A.- Pastor, Father John J. Corr, O.S.A. Augustinian Community of Saint Mary of the Assumption, Lawrence, Mass., June, 1949

Saint Mary’s Parish in Lawrence produced a great number of mission churches, most of which grew into parishes in their own right, which were also served by the Augustinians: Immaculate Conception; Saint Augustine, Tower Hill; Saint Laurence O’Toole; Holy Rosary; Assumption; Saints Peter and Paul; Saint Augustine, Andover; Saint Thomas of Villanova, Wilmington. In the educational sphere, friars founded and staffed Merrimack College and Austin Preparatory School and the Augustinian charism continues to characterize these institutions, friars continue to serve on the Boards of both, and in the case of Merrimack, a community of friars is still present and active in various ways.

While changing times and circumstances have affected the numerical presence of the friars in the Merrimack Valley, the institutional commitment of the Province of Saint Thomas of Villanova continues on with a dozen friars still present and active in the region. The memory of scores upon scores of Augustinians laboring in this area for over 200 years, bears witness to the desire of the Province to serve generations of the faithful, even as the graves of many of those same friars in Saint Mary Cemetery is testimony of an enduring bond of friendship forged with the people they served.

Though none of us knows what the future will hold for society, the Church and our Province, please God, what was begun in faith, and sustained in love, will find new expressions in which the Augustinian way of life may continue to contribute to the proclamation of the Gospel and the coming in fullness of the Kingdom.

3 The Augustinian Fund

VOCATION AND FORMATION Vocation programs, by which we seek to respond to inquirers interested in Augustinian religious life, and accompany those who are accepted as candidates, have many expenses: the production of promotional materials, professional vetting of inquirers, the travel of vocation promoters, etc. The Province assumes all costs of housing, education and insurance of candidates for the duration of the formation process.

CARE OF THE SICK AND ELDERLY The Province owns and operates Saint Thomas Monastery on the campus of Villanova University where many of our retired and infirm friars reside. The Province is solely responsible for the expenses connected with the monastery, including nursing and health care, health insurance, housekeeping and dining services.

The Augustinians are financially independent of their sponsored schools and parishes. They rely on the generosity of benefactors to sustain their way of life and ministries. The Augustinian Fund provides a reliable source of revenue to care for elderly and infirm friars, the education and training of future Augustinians, and the friars’ ministries that serve the poor and the disenfranchised.

4 Key Ministries

THE AUGUSTINIAN VOLUNTEERS College graduates work in partnership with the Augustinians in service to the needy in schools, clinics, social services and foreign missions. They live a community life in the spirit of Saint Augustine and are in partnership with friars in various regions of the U.S. and Peru.

FOREIGN MISSIONS The friars of our Province serve presently in Japan and Peru, but were missionaries also in Cuba and South Africa as well. Missionary work has always been one of the services of the Mendicant Orders of the Church.

OFFICE OF JUSTICE AND PEACE The Province is committed to various works which are in direct service to the poor and marginalized: new immigrants, the imprisoned, youth, etc. One vehicle of our outreach is the Augustinian Defenders of the Rights of the Poor (A.D.R.O.P.), which operates a health clinic in South Philadelphia.

5 Augustinians in Formation

Brother Javier Aguilar, O.S.A. Brother Elizandro Contreras, O.S.A. Brother Bill Gabriel, O.S.A. Choluteca, Honduras La Vega, Dominican Republic Dover, New Hampshire

Brother Jeremy Heirs, O.S.A. Brother Bryan Kerns, O.S.A. Hebron, Kentucky Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Brother Atsushi Kuwhara, O.S.A. Brother Dan Madden, O.S.A. Kitakyushu, Fukuoka, Japan New Hope, Pennsylvania

6 Augustinian Formation Program

The Augustinian Formation process unfolds in community, but begins with honest self- awareness and the companioning of experienced friars who are available for this task. A regimen of prayer, community living, service and study become for the candidate a full-time occupation. Those who are called to serve and enter religious life commit an intense journey of academic and spiritual formation that focuses on the development of a mind and heart prepared both for life with others and generous service.

The Province of Saint Thomas of Villanova assumes all costs related to Formation including education, living expenses, health insurance and other associated costs. The Augustinian Fund provides the necessary resources to support the journey of these young men who are studying to become spiritual leaders of tomorrow in the spirit of Saint Augustine. Your generosity of the Augustinian Formation process allows those who are called to focus on their education and spiritual training which will help to preserve a strong presence of Augustinians now and into the future.

WWW.AUGUSTINIANVOCATIONS.ORG

BLOG: WWW.AUGUSTINIANVOCATIONS.ORG/BLOG

Thank you for your generosity and kindness to support our Formation program and for your belief in the Augustinians and what we do.

7 MERRIMACK VALLEY EVENT COMMITTEE

Mr. and Mrs. Rick Blain Mr. Thomas Carroll Mr. and Mrs. James J. Connolly Mr. and Mrs. Michael Crowe Mr. and Mrs. Roger A. Desjardins Rev. Raymond F. Dlugos, O.S.A. Mr. and Mrs. Daniel G. Gabriel Mr. Daniel Gibson Rev. Peter G. Gori, O.S.A. Mr. and Mrs. Brad Heim Dr. and Mrs. James Hickey Dr. Christopher E. Hopey Rev. Arthur D. Johnson, O.S.A. Mr. and Mrs. Francis R. LeBlanc, Chair Marybeth McInnis, Esq. Ms. Karen Miller Mr. and Mrs. Robert A. Norbedo Mr. and Mrs. Michael O’Dea Mr. and Mrs. Rick Torres Fr. Carlos Urbina, O.S.A. Mrs. Mary Wesson Ms. Kerry White

PROVINCE OF SAINT THOMAS OF VILLANOVA CONTACTS

Father Michael F. Di Gregorio, O.S.A. Prior Provincial [email protected] 610.527.3330

Joanna Bowen Cher Rago Director of Augustinian Volunteers Director of Communications [email protected] [email protected] 610.527.3330, ext. 290 610.527.3330, ext. 248

Father John E. Deegan, O.S.A. Madonna Sutter Director Director of Advancement Office of Justice and Peace [email protected] Founder, Augustinian Defenders 610.527.3330, ext. 265 of the Rights of the Poor (A.D.R.O.P.) Augustinian Provincial Office [email protected] Saint Augustine Friary 215.925.3566 214 Ashwood Road Villanova, PA 19085 Father Joseph L. Narog, O.S.A. 610.527.3330 Director of Vocations www.augustinian.org [email protected] 610.519.4674 8 Thank You to our Sponsors and Benefactors!

NOVITIATE SPONSOR Patricia and Alan Dextradeur Kerridan and Michael Crowe Father Edward C. Doherty, O.S.A. Marybeth McInnis, Esq. and Stephen Boucher Father Kevin F. Dwyer, O.S.A. Debra and Christopher Falvey SOLEMN VOW SPONSOR John Gaffey Alice and Daniel Gaffney Austin Preparatory School Barbara and Stephen Garrity James Hickey, Ph.D., Headmaster Rosemary and Richard Harrington Merrimack College The Heim Family Christopher E. Hopey, Ph.D., President Virginia and Thomas Heislein PRE-NOVITIATE SPONSOR Joanne and James La Rivee Cindy and John Leahy Austin Preparatory School Katie and Frank LeBlanc James Hickey, Ph.D., Headmaster Connie and George LeMaitre Mary and Tom Carroll Mary Immaculate Health/Care Betty and Roger Desjardins Marilyn and Dennis McCarthy Margaret and Dan Gabriel Claire and William Melahn Joan and Peter Koesterherm Debra and Todd Merrill Nancy and Bob Norbedo Karen and Andrew Miller Saint Augustine Church Judy and David Morton Marilyn and Richard Santagati Mr. and Mrs. Peter Moschetto Christine and James Zampell Carol and John Obert Paula and Michael O’Dea BENEFACTOR Marjory and Frank Odlum Ana Avelina Abascal Carol O’Handley Kathleen Alaimo Ann and Jeremiah O’Sullivan Linda and Larry Ardito Anne and Andre Paradis Julie Bernardin and Dutchy Deacon Lou and Debra Piazza Kathy and Rick Blain Lynn and John Pierog John Blottman, Jr. Louise and Joseph Ponti Marianne and Eric Brainerd Oliver Purwin Sara and Christopher Brazda Judith and William Reghitto Maura and Bill Burke Irene and Charles Richards Chris and Tom Burke Saint Mary of the Assumption Parish Kathy Byrnes and John Immerwahr and Augustinian Communities Eleanor and Tom Caffrey Saint Michael Parish Catherine and Richard Cayer Debbie Scionti Central Catholic High School Helen and James Sellers Christopher F. Sullivan, President Robert L. Tosi, Jr. Gayle and Jim Connolly Kathy and Jack Warnock Nancy Cronin Mary Wesson Cindy and Donald Cummings Nancy and Richard Wilkie Beth and Tony Daigle Susan Wojtas Susan and Ken DeBenedictis Anita and Leverett Zompa 9 Merrimack College You’re the reason for everything we do.

3,300 100+ 25 95% cAreer outcoMes rAte students AcAdeMic Miles FroM oF 2016 grAduAtes AFter nine progrAMs Boston MontHs based on an 86% knowledge rate

From the academics and residence halls to athletics and spirit-rousing traditions—it’s all about you. At Merrimack, we’re devoted to going the extra mile to help students (like you) find your footing, achieve personal and academic success, and make a difference in your community and out in the world.

Greater Boston, MA | merrimack.edu/visit The words printed here are concepts. You must go through the experiences. - St. Augustine

Austin Prep salutes the Augustinian Friars for their service to the Merrimack Valley

Rev. Arthur Johnson, OSA, Founding Friar Rev. Peter Gori, OSA, Class of 1970 Rev. Raymond Dlugos, OSA, Trustee

Austin Preparatory School Founded 1961 by the Augustinians Inspiring Hearts to Unite, Minds to Inquire and Hands to Serve

An independent Catholic day school serving young men and women in grades 6-12

101 Willow Street n Reading, Massachusetts n AustinPrep.org In honor of the Augustinians in the Merrimack Valley

Marybeth McInnis, Esq. and Stephen Boucher The McInnis Family the James W. O’Brien Foundation, Inc. James J. McInnis, Merrimack ’57 Carolyn J. McInnis, Villanova ’96

“There is no hope without love, no love without hope, and neither love nor hope without faith.” –St. Augustine Celebrating the Augustinians from the Merrimack Valley!

A special tribute to Father George F. Riley, O.S.A., Villanova University Ph.D. ’58; ’61 MA Central Catholic High School ’53

We remember fondly and honor our dear friend Father William Garland, O.S.A.

Tom and Mary Carroll Daniel P, Gibson, Villanova School of Law ‘82 Brendan Paul Gibson, Villanova University Bridget Carroll Dearborn Villanova Nursing ’12, Greg Dearborn Villanova Engineering ’12, Andrew Carroll Villanova Liberal Arts ’13, and Sean Carroll Villanova ’18 ’19 Are you considering a YEAR OF SERVICE?

CHECK OUT

WWW.AUGUSTINIANVOLUNTEERS.ORG Grateful Hearts

Make an AFFORDABLE and AUTOMATIC monthly gift. To become a Grateful Hearts donor, visit:

WWW.AUGUSTINIANFUND.ORG/GRATEFUL-HEARTS

or contact Julia Phifer, Assistant Director of Advancement, 610 57-0, ext. 9 or ulia.phiferaugustinian.org.

YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE EVERY MONTH!

As you approach St. Thomas Monastery, on the campus of Villanova University, you arrive in the Prayer Garden of St. Thomas of Villanova, Father of the Poor. The centerpiece of this peaceful and beautiful space is a statue of St. Thomas, created by Anthony Visco, a world-famous and award-winning sculptor.

Surrounding the statue are a beautiful stone walkway, benches to sit and reflect on, and a garden. Each step of the walkway is an opportunity for you to show your support for the Augustinians’ long and faithful service to God’s people.

Dedicate a stone paver to a member of your family or to an Augustinian, maybe the priest who baptized you, married you or buried a loved one, or perhaps taught you at Bonner, Malvern, St. Augustine’s, Villanova or Merrimack. Share this sacred space with the Augustinians today... and always. The Councils & Assemblies of the Merrimack Valley Knights of Columbus express their deepest gratitude to the Augustinian Order and its trailblazing friars for bringing and sustaining our faith in the Merrimack Valley and beyond. The Knights of Columbus is a Catholic mens’ fraternal society promoting the principles of Charity, Unity, Fraternity and Patriotism.

For More information http://www.kofc.org/ http://massachusettsstatekofc.org

Celebrating the Augustinians in the Merrmimack Valley Chris & Jim Zampell

www.zampell.com The Augustinian Friars and the Parish Community at Saint Mary of the Assumption, Lawrence

A Catholic, Multicultural, Bilingual Community Serving the People of Lawrence and the greater Merrimack Valley Since 1849

To our beloved Augustinians

• Thank you for your grace-filled service

• Nancy and Bob Norbedo In loving memory of John B. and Joan F. Blottman, Jr.

Peter and Joan (Blottman) Koesterherm

Our deepest appreciation to the Augustinians who have served in the Merrimack Valley ugust a in Founded and happily t. e s served by the

Augustinian Friars

since 1866

Father Kevin F. Dwyer, O.S.A.

a Father Edward J. Enright, O.S.A. n a d m Father Peter G. Gori, O.S.A., Pastor over, Father Arthur D. Johnson, O.S.A.

! St. Michael Parish of North Andover, MA, is grateful to The Augustinians! We thank you for your life-giving ministry to our parish community and to the wider community of the Merrimack Valley! With admiration and respect to the Augustinians who had such a profound effect on the Merrimack Valley and the students and families who benefitted from their commitment.

Marilyn and Richard Santagati

Grateful to our 150 Years Augustinian of Caring Priests & Alumni Mary Immaculate Health/Care of 172 Lawrence Street Lawrence, MA 01841 Central Catholic (978) 685-6321 www.mihcs.com A member of Covenant Health Grateful toHigh Our Augustinian School Priests & Alumni of Central Catholic High School

Father John Sheridan, O.S.A., Father Jerry Stodder, O.S.A., Father William Faix, O.S.A., Father John Lipp, O.S.A., Father Art Johnson, O.S.A., Father George Burnell, O.S.A., Father Alfred Monte, O.S.A., Father James Cain, O.S.A., Father Art Smith, O.S.A. REV. ROBERT GUESSETTO ’70, OSA REV. GEORGE RILEY ’53, OSA St. Augustine Monastery, Austin Prep., Reading, Mass., 1960’s St. Augustine LEGACY SOCIETY

EMBRACE THE HOPE OF OUR FUTURE.

Create a legacy gift to As you contemplate your future, please consider a honor a friar who has provision in your will to impacted your life. benefit the Augustinians.

VISIT: www.augustinian.plannedgiving.org

For more information, contact Madonna Sutter, Director of Advancement at [email protected] or 610-527-3330, ext. 265.