In Paradisum

Why did God make us?’ God made us to know him, to love him, to serve him in this life and to be happy with him forever in heaven. A very simple statement about the purpose of life. And that was the kind of spirit that carried Joe. He was a humble man. He loved God. He loved his neighbor. And as a priest he wanted to help people to be saved. He had a special ministry to the sick and the elderly in the hospital ministry. He was in the parish ministry and visited the hospitals in the nursing homes and in a special way as an Augustinian, he built it. He visited and ministered to the elderly and sick Augustinians over a number of years in an active way. I think he did a total of 20 years doing that. And even when he retired, he was active! I remember regularly seeing him taking communion to those in the nursing care area of the monastery. And he was a lover of scripture. He preached God’s words in his parish ministry and lived God’s words.”

Fr. Thomas Michael Murnane, O.S.A.

t Caroll High School, he caught the Augustinian charism and then spent the rest of his life sharing it as a teacher, a guidance counselor, a headmaster, etc.. He would say one of the greatest joys in his life would be just walking the campus and encountering families and parents who were lost, who needed directions. And he would help them find their way across campus to the admissions office.

We priests were talking about how Tom came out of the seminary just as Vatican II was ending and people he had studied with and priests that he had known were leaving the church. But Tom stayed. He stayed through it all. If we know anything about life, it’s change. We’re living through it now. Health, world, country, pandemic… But he held firm to his faith, his way, and his truth and his life never wavered.

And it’s a great example and inspiration to all of us as we go through the changes in our life, through the sickness in our life, through the losses in our life. To hold on to that constant, ever loving, ever ever forgiving, ever healing presence of Jesus Christ. And as an Augustinian and as a teacher, he spent his whole life helping others find their way, find that truth. And so while we feel that sense of separation and some tears in our eyes, like Tom, we’re very grateful, we’re unafraid, and we’re inspired to go out and live that same way.”

~ Fr. Robert P. Hagan

Looking back over my years as an Augustinian, there are several friars who I consider to be friends as well as brothers in Augustine. John Stack falls at the top of that list. Fr. John Stack had many nicknames or, as one might say, terms of endearment. You may at one time have called him Kiwi at one point in his life, Stacker or just plain old John. Whatever name you may have used has a lot to do with your relationship with him. To me, he was always John.

Growing up as an Augustinian, we never talked about the day that one of us might have to preach at our funerals, but we all know the reality of death that haunts us and eventually catches up with us as we attempt to age gracefully. I have no intention of offering a eulogy, honoring John’s accomplishments. In the true spirit of how I knew John Stack, he would vehemently be opposed to my wasting my time and yours talking about him, when in fact there are many other aspects of his life that can be looked at as teachable moments for us. All that becomes the true legacy of any one of us at death. How will we be remembered?

He was there when it was time for many of his students to grow and mature, as he was there when a family member had passed on. He nourished many of us by his jokes and dry sense of humor at times, maybe bordering on sarcasm, which is a hidden Augustinian talent. Warmly, John, you will be missed, but it’s your appointed time to rest in peace.”

Mostardi, O.S.A.

Fr. George Francis Riley, O.S.A.

He had the beautiful kind of twinkle in his eye, that childlike sense that Jesus celebrates in the gospel, to live like children. Children, they’re simple, enthusiastic, they try to make friends and they laugh. George loved to laugh, love to make us laugh. And he laughed his whole life. It was a theology of laughter for him. It was a way and a means of helping people get close to him and then him helping us get close to God.

And we’ve all seen the pictures, right? He’s with Sinatra, Grace Kelly and Heisman Trophy winners. But he was also with the dishwashers, the guys who pumped his gas, the cooks and the housekeepers. The Lord is his light and in turn shared that light with all of us, all of us here in Villanova, New Jersey. He welcomed everybody in. There was a method to his madness. “I’ll make him laugh.” “I’ll tell the joke.” “I’ll build a relationship.” “I’ll make a friend and I’ll connect my Augustinian heart to his or hers.” And then the second part of that gospel kicks in. Come to me all you who are labored and find life burdensome. And I will give you rest.

George was willing to help others through his sacramental life, through confessions, through the Eucharist, through conversation, through travel, etc. He gently reminded people that maybe felt forgotten or didn’t feel worthy to darken the doorway of church that they were always welcome. And that was George’s gift. It is the Augustinian way to search for God in the company of friends and to see everyone as a potential friend. To not judge and to open your heart to someone else’s, where grace can enter in.”

~ Fr. Robert P. Hagan, O.S.A.

Fr. Francis Anthony Sirolli, O.S.A.

Frank was in many parishes that are listed here in the program. And it was at one parish in Staten Island, New York, Our Lady of Good Counsel that I got to know Frank well because I was assigned with him. And in being assigned with him, it was very easy to see that he was an excellent teacher, an excellent preacher, an excellent writer, an excellent spiritual director, and in his own way, brought people to Christ. He was a great priest, a great Augustinian. Frank did it his way. And as I got to know Frank, he became a very good friend.

There was one word that always stuck in my mind to describe him, and that’s the word juxtaposition, juxtaposition, juxtaposition. I love the word because it’s when you have two totally opposite things that somehow can coincide together. And that was Frank, because Frank had one side of him that was tough. He loved a good argument and he would definitely be the last one standing. And then a couple minutes later, he would be writing a beautiful poem about the delicacy of a flower opening! That was Frank. And in the midst of his own way of doing it, he would make a friend, be a friend and bring the friend to Christ. And I saw how many people he brought back to church, many people he inspired to follow the Lord.

Frank was also able to laugh at his own shortcomings. And what was funny about it was one of his shortcomings is he couldn’t remember people’s names. Remember the birthday party we had for Frank where everyone wore a name tag? Even his mom, his mom, wore a name tag. This smile that’s on the program is the smile you would get because he was able to laugh at his shortcomings. Thank you Frank, for being that smile for us.”