Now an annual Thanksgiving Weekend tradition, the St. Augustine Friary Community in Chicago gathered for its' annual Christmas photograph. The Friary is the community in which student friars of the Province of St. Augustine in California study graduate level theology. Picture- (top- left to right) Br. Robert Carroll, OSA; Br. Maxime Villeneuve, OSA; Br. Joseph Roccasalva, OSA; (second row) Br. William Gabriel, OSA; Br. Jeffrey Raths, OSA; Br. Samuel Joutras, OSA; Br. Jeremy Hiers, OSA; Br. Daniel Madden, OSA: Br. Atsushi Kuwahara, OSA; (bottom 5) Br. Adnan Ghani, OSA; Br. Bryan Kerns, OSA; Fr. James Thompson, OSA; Br. Thomas Taylor, OSA; Fr. Joseph Mostardi, OSA; and Br. Elizandro Contrera
During the course of a novitiate year, special speakers and presenters are brought in from around the Augustinian world to present classes on various themes related to Augustinian life. In recent years, Fr. Richard Cannuli, OSA, a professor of art at Villanova University, has been invited to give a week long class on icon writing to the novices. This year, Br. Manny Isaac was able to journey with his fellow novice mates as they tried their hands in a new craft. The beginning, he admits, was a bit rough,"When I started on the first day my hands were shaking while painting," however he continued, "But three days later I could feel the confidence and growth of being so comfortable with painti
With the completion of the Fall 2017 semester at Catholic Theological Union, Br. Adnan Ghani, OSA finished his studies and will be moving back to St. Augustine Monastery in San Diego. There, Br. Adnan will begin his pastoral year, a highlight of which will be a Clinical Pastoral Education program. There are many things that Br. Adnan enjoyed about living in the Chicago formation community and his schooling. "I enjoyed many of the classes, especially presiding and preaching. I also gained many friendships with students from other Orders, and was able to learn a little more about them." Reflecting on community life during his stay in Chicago, Br. Adnan said, "I enjoyed cooking, watching TV
The recent fires which have devastated various parts of Southern California have especially hit hard in the Ojai valley. It is in Ojai where the Augustininians have servved for many decades at both St. Thomas Aquinas Parish and Villanova Prep school. Br. Michael Bube, OSA provided this update on how the friars were serving amidst the disaster, "I am with the kids at the hotel [Villanova Prep is a boarding school with international students]... Fr. Fernando decided to stay at the parish because many of the Hispanic parishioners are spending the night in the parish parking lot. Fr. Bill Ryan is staying as well... There is a fire on the hillside in Matilija that can be seen from the church.