Ten of the men in formation with the Province of St. Augustine in California got together for a picture at the reception which celebrated the Profession of Vows of Mass. Pictured (left to right), Br. Dominic Smith, Br. Mauricio Morales, Br. Philip Yang, Br. Sarfraz Alam, Br. Nicholas Porter, Br. Adnan Ghani, Br. Maxime Villeneuve, Br. Arturo Renteria, Br. Robert Baiocco, and Br. Emmanuel Issac. (Not pictured- pre-novice Danish George).

At Vespers on August 16th, 2017, Br. Emmanuel Isaac was blessed by Fr. Gary Sanders, OSA Director of Formation, and Fr. Kevin Mullins, OSA Prior Provincial, in a Rite of Sending service. The Rite was celebrated as a community send off for Br. Emmanuel, who completed his year of pre-novitiate formation at the St. Augustine Monastery, San Diego, and now looks forward to beginning his novitiate year in Racine, Wisconsin.

At a Vespers service on August 16th, 2017, Br. Sarfraz and Br. Adnan were both instituted to the minor ministries of Acolyte and Lector by Fr. Kevin Mullins, OSA, prior provincial. These ministries are stepping stones on the path of ordination, uniting a friar more closely to public roles of service in the Liturgy.

On August 5th, 2017, the Augustinians of North America gathered in San Diego for the Profession of Vows Mass. In the service, Br. Philip Yang and Br. Nicholas Porter made their Solemn Profession of Vows, Fr. John Arulthas made his re-profession of vows, and the novice class of Br. Jeremy Hiers, Br. William Gabriel, Br. Arturo Renteria, and Br. Mauricio Morales made their First Profession of Vows. Videos of the ceremony can be found HERE and HERE.