Brs. Barney and Max Celebrate Graduations

The end of the month of May brings with it graduations across the country. This is also true for our Augustinian friars who engage in full or part time study. Because formation and ongoing formation is often "one size fits one" in any given year different Augustinians might be in very different programs crafted for them and their own educational goals. This can be seen in Br. Barnaby Johns, OSA and Br. Maxime Villeneuve, OSA both graduating from two institutions nearly 2,000 miles apart from one another.

For his part, Br. Barney, graduated from the University of San Francisco with a Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) with a concentration in Catholic Education. Br. Barney, who has previously served as a teacher at St. Augustine High School in San Diego, and now serves as a campus minister at Villanova Prep in Ojai, chose the program to further develop his skills and allow him to better serve the educational apostolates of the province. Br. Barney studied in his program over many years, using summers at the Province Cole Street house in San Francisco to complete courses, along with online classes while teaching full time. Previous graduates from the same program at USF include Fr. Alvin Paligutan, OSA, who has also served as a teacher and chaplain in our two schools.

Br. Max on the other hand graduated from Catholic Theological Union in Chicago with a Masters in Divinity (MDiv) degree. This degree program is designed to prepare candidates for ordination to the Catholic priesthood. Br. Max completed the degree over four years of study, including a pastoral year of service for credit at St. Augustine High School. Having completed his program, Br. Max will now prepare for his Solemn Profession of Vows and ordination to the Diaconate this summer, with his ordination to the Priesthood to be scheduled later in the year.

Congratulations to our graduates!