A Grateful & Restless Heart: Provincial Fr. Anthony B. Pizzo Reflects Pope Leo XIV's First Year as Pontiff: Our Augustinian Brother Students Gather for Annual Augustinian Values Institute Thank You For Attending Our 14th Annual Augustinian Gala
Letter from the Prior Provincial
Very Rev. Anthony B. Pizzo, O.S.A.
Dear Friends,
As I prepare to conclude my second term as Prior Provincial, I find myself reflecting on the many blessings of the past eight years and, above all, on the people who made them possible.
Serving the Province of Our Mother of Good Counsel as Prior Provincial has been a great privilege and responsibility. Together, we have celebrated professions, strengthened our ministries, supported our mission in Peru, and continued sharing the Gospel through our Augustinian parishes, schools, and communities. Through moments of joy and moments of challenge, I have been reminded time and again that we do not walk this journey alone.
St. Augustine teaches us that the Christian life is a shared pilgrimage toward God. I am deeply grateful for my Augustinian brothers, our dedicated lay collaborators, our benefactors, and all those who support our mission through their prayers, generosity, and friendship. Thank you for joining us on this pilgrimage.
This past year has also been a remarkable one for the Augustinian family with the election of Pope Leo XIV, a reminder that the values of our tradition continue to speak to the needs of our world.
As I look ahead to the next chapter of my own journey, I carry with me a grateful heart and one simple request: please continue to pray for our Province, for vocations, and for all those whom we serve.
Thank you for walking with us. Thank you for your support. And thank you for being part of our Augustinian family.
May God bless you always.
With gratitude,
Rev. Anthony Benedetto Pizzo, O.S.A. Prior Provincial
Fr. Tony Pizzo, O.S.A., is greeted by his Augustinian brother, Pope Leo XIV
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Around the Province
New Augustinian Pre-Novice
Admitted at St. Clare Friary
Fr. Bernie Scianna appointed VP for Mission and Ministry at Villanova University
100th Anniversary of St. Clare of Montefalco Parish, Michigan
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North American Province Councils Meet in California
Fr. Jack Tierney earns Ph.D. in Public & Social Policy
Fr. Danber and Deacon Donahue
Honored at St. Rita High School
Bishop Daniel Turley Honored at Merrimack College
Students Gather for Annual Augustinian Values Institute
Provincial-Elect visit to Peru
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Cover: Fr. Anthony B. Pizzo, O.S.A., Prior Provincial, in his office at the Province headquarters in Chicago.
Listen: Fr. Tony Pizzo Reflects on Eight Years of Augustinian Leadership as Prior Provincial 8 10 14 15 16 20 27 28
Participation in Peru Pilgrimage
The Midwest
Augustinian
THE MIDWEST AUGUSTINIAN Summer 2026
The Midwest Augustinian is a publication of the Province of Our Mother of Good Counsel. For additional copies, or to unsubscribe, please contact the Province Office:
Province of Our Mother of Good Counsel 10161 S. Longwood Drive, Chicago, IL 60643
PHONE 872-265-1100 WEB www.midwestaugustinians.org
Updates from the Marylake Shrine Project in Canada
MIDWEST AUGUSTINIANS
PRIOR PROVINCIAL
Very Rev. Anthony B. Pizzo, O.S.A.
PROVINCE COUNSELORS
Rev. Raymond J. Flores O.S.A.
Rev. William E. Lego, O.S.A.
Rev. John D. Merkelis, O.S.A.
Rev. Bernard C. Scianna, O.S.A.
Rev. Jack B. Tierney, O.S.A.
PROVINCE SECRETARY
Br. Nicholas J. Mullarkey, O.S.A.
PROVINCE TREASURER
Rev. James R. Halstead, O.S.A.
PROVINCE ARCHIVIST
Br. Thomas Taylor, O.S.A.
El P. Tom McCarthy, O.S.A., provincial electo, visita Perú
El P. Tony Pizzo celebra la solemnidad de San Benito en la Archiabadía de St. Vincent en Latrobe
El obispo Dan Turley, O.S.A., da una charla en Merrimack
«Escucha» El P. Tony Pizzo, O.S.A., reflexiona sobre el liderazgo y la espiritualidad agustinos
PROVINCIAL OFFICES
VOCATION MINISTRY OUTREACH
Rev. Thomas McCarthy, O.S.A.
Rev. Jack B. Tierney, O.S.A.
CHIEF ADVANCEMENT OFFICER
Mr. Edward Barrett
MANAGER OF DONOR RELATIONS
Ms. JoAnn Foertsch Altenbach
FINANCE OFFICE
Mr. Patrick Griffin
DIRECTOR OF LAY ENGAGEMENT
Mrs. Maryellen Harrington
MAGAZINE PRODUCTION
Mr. Rory Dayton
Ms. Abigail Leali
Mission Statement of the Midwest Augustinians
We, the Augustinians of the Province of Our Mother of Good Counsel, are members of the worldwide Order of St. Augustine in the Roman Catholic Church. Centered in the Eucharist and prayer, we search for God in community by sharing our lives, goods and spiritual journey with each other and the people of God. In harmony of mind and heart on our journey toward God, our experience of common life flows into and shapes our ministries. We continue to serve the Church in schools, parishes and missions as we seek to discern new paths of service to which God calls us.
AROUND THE PROVINCE
As we bask in the joys of summer, our parishes, schools, and ministries continue to thrive. Our friars have been busy supporting our various ministries, and our communities have been celebrating their Augustinian heritage and traditions. The following sections include quick recaps of what’s been going on around the Province. To stay up to date with the most recent happenings, subscribe to our e-newsletters, daily reflections, and social media accounts by visiting our website at www.midwestaugustinians.org
New Augustinian Pre-Novice Admitted at St. Clare Friary
The Midwest Augustinians are pleased to welcome Michael Bourke as a new Pre-Novice at St. Clare Friary in Chicago. Michael was formally admitted to the prenovitiate program on February 9, joining a community dedicated to prayer, discernment, study, and shared Augustinian life.
The pre-novitiate provides men discerning a vocation to the Augustinian Order with an opportunity to deepen their relationship with God while learning more about religious life and community. Michael joins fellow pre-novice Zachary Lange of the Villanova Province as they continue their vocational journeys together.
Present for the admission were Fr.
Thomas McCarthy, O.S.A., Prior of St. Clare Friary; Bishop Daniel Turley, O.S.A., Director of Pre-Novices; Brian Kempiak; Zachary Lange; and Fr. Samuel Joutras, O.S.A., Associate
Pastor of St. Rita of Cascia and St. Clare of Montefalco Parishes.
We ask for continued prayers for Michael and all those discerning a call to Augustinian religious life.
Cascia Hall Preparatory School Hosts Annual Social Justice Concert
On March 11, Cascia Hall Preparatory School in Tulsa hosted its annual Social Justice Concert, welcoming students, families, and members of the community for an evening of music and reflection.
This year’s concert, titled “ How Indigenous and Immigrant Cultures Have Shaped America ,” explored the many ways diverse cultural traditions have contributed to the nation’s history and identity. The event was free and open to the public, reflecting Cascia Hall’s ongoing commitment to education, dialogue, and social awareness through the lens of faith and justice.
In the spirit of service, attendees
The Cascia Hall students collected supplies to donate to Catholic Charities of Eastern Oklahoma.
were invited to bring donation items for the Women’s Health and Pregnancy Clinic at Catholic Charities of Eastern Oklahoma. The
concert provided an opportunity not only to celebrate cultural diversity, but also to support local families and individuals in need.
AROUND THE PROVINCE
Fr. Bernie Scianna, O.S.A., appointed Vice President for Mission and Ministry at Villanova University
The Midwest Augustinians congratulate Fr. Bernie Scianna, O.S.A., on his appointment as Vice President for Mission and Ministry at Villanova University, effective June 1.
In this role, Fr. Bernie will oversee the Office for Mission and Ministry, which advances Villanova’s Augustinian Catholic identity through academic, pastoral, and spiritual initiatives that serve students, faculty, and staff across the University community.
A 1987 graduate of Villanova, Fr. Bernie brings decades of experience in education, administration, and Augustinian leadership. He
previously served as Senior Associate Dean of Students for Student Support at Villanova and has held a variety of leadership roles throughout his ministry. Most notably, he served as Prior Provincial of the Midwest Augustinian Province for eight years, guiding the Province’s ministries and communities across the United States, Canada, and Peru. He also served for 13 years as Headmaster of Cascia Hall Preparatory School in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Fr. Bernie’s appointment reflects a lifelong commitment to Augustinian values, Catholic education, and the pastoral care of students and
communities. We join the Villanova community in congratulating him and praying for him as he begins this important new ministry.
100th Anniversary of St. Clare of Montefalco Parish, Michigan
On February 14–15, 2026, Fr. Tony Pizzo, O.S.A., joined parishioners and guests at St. Clare of Montefalco Parish in Grosse Pointe Park, Michigan, for a special celebration marking the opening of the parish’s centenary year.
Founded by the Augustinians in 1926, St. Clare of Montefalco Parish was served by Augustinian friars for 86 years, leaving a lasting legacy of pastoral care that has been continued by the parish.
During the weekend's celebrations, the parish honored that history with the presentation of a commemorative marble plaque recognizing the pastoral contributions of the Augustinians from 1926 to 2012.
The plaque was presented by the parish’s current pastor, Fr. Andrew Kowalczyk, and serves as a permanent reminder of the generations of Augustinian friars who helped build and sustain the parish community.
Throughout the weekend, the parish's committment to community and fellowship was clear, mirroring the Augustinian charism.
The centennial celebration offered an opportunity to give thanks
for the parish’s rich one-hundredyear-long history while honoring the enduring bond between St. Clare of Montefalco Parish and the Augustinian Order. Here's to the next 100 years!
Fr. Bernie Scianna, O.S.A., now serves as the Vice President for Mission and Ministry at Villanova.
Fr. Andrew Kowalczyk and Fr. Tony Pizzo, O.S.A. with a commemorative marble plaque celebrating the parish's relationship with the Order of St. Augustine.
AROUND THE PROVINCE
North American Province Councils Meet in California
The three province councils of the Federation of Augustinians of North America (FANA) gathered in San Diego on March 5th and 6th for a strategic planning meeting focused on the future of Augustinian ministry and collaboration across North America.
Facilitated by Dr. Larry Sykoff, the meeting brought together leaders from the Midwest, Villanova, and California Provinces to discuss opportunities for greater cooperation and shared planning. Also participating were Prior General Fr. Joseph Farrell and Assistant General Fr. Kevin DePrinzio, both of the Villanova Province.
During the gathering, participants reflected on the challenges and opportunities facing the Order and explored ways the provinces can work together to strengthen ministries, support vocations, and advance the Augustinian mission in the years ahead.
Fr. Jack Tierney, O.S.A., Earns Ph.D. in Public & Social Policy
On May 2, 2026, Fr. Jack Tierney, O.S.A., successfully defended his doctoral dissertation at Saint Louis University and earned a Ph.D. in Public and Social Policy with distinction.
Fr. Jack's dissertation, titled "Liturgical Policy Development and its Regulatory Effects with Catholic Communities," explores the intersection of Church governance, policy development, and the lived experience of Catholic communities. His successful defense marks the culmination of years of study, research, and academic achievement.
Members of his dissertation committee included Dr. Morgan Hazelton, Bishop Thomas John Paprocki of the Diocese of Springfield, and Dr. Chris Duncan.
This academic milestone comes as Fr. Jack prepares to begin a new chapter of ministry and leadership.
This summer, he will assume his role as Headmaster of Cascia Hall Preparatory School in Tulsa, Oklahoma, where he will
help guide the school's mission of academic excellence, faith formation, and Augustinian values.
We congratulate Fr. Jack on this outstanding accomplishment and pray for God's blessings as he begins this new ministry.
Fr. Tom McCarthy Leads Chicago's St. Patrick's Day Parade
Fr. Tom McCarthy, O.S.A., had the honor of serving as Grand Marshal of the 2026 Chicago St. Patrick’s Day Parade, one of the largest and most celebrated St. Patrick’s Day events in the United States.
Leading the parade through downtown Chicago, Fr. Tom joined civic leaders, community organizations, and thousands of participants and spectators in a longstanding tradition that celebrates Irish heritage and culture.
Fr. Tom’s participation as Grand Marshal provided a visible witness to the contributions of the Augustinians to the life of the Church and the local community.
St. Rita High School Honors Fr. Danber and Deacon Donahue
On May 28, St. Rita of Cascia High School hosted its Annual President’s Reception, celebrating the leadership and service of Fr. Bernard Danber, O.S.A. ’68, and Deacon John Donahue.
During the event, the school dedicated The Rev. Bernard R. Danber, O.S.A. ’68 Alumni Walkway in honor of Fr. Danber’s 40th anniversary of priesthood and his contributions to St. Rita, including his leadership in relocating the school to its current campus. Deacon Donahue was also recognized and named an Honorary Alumnus for his distinguished service as president of the school.
Fr. Tom McCarthy poses with Illinois Governor JB Pritzker, Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson, and others outside Old St. Patrick's Church in Chicago, before the St. Patrick's Day Parade
Fr. Bernie Danber, O.S.A.
Deacon John Donahue
AROUND THE PROVINCE
Fr. Tony Pizzo Celebrates Solemnity of St. Benedict at Saint Vincent Archabbey in Latrobe, PA
On March 21, Fr. Tony Pizzo, O.S.A., Prior Provincial of the Midwest Augustinians, served as celebrant and homilist for the Solemnity of the Passing of St. Benedict at Saint Vincent Archabbey in Latrobe, Pennsylvania.
The liturgy brought together members of the Benedictine community and guests to honor the life and legacy of St. Benedict, whose Rule has guided monastic communities for more than
fifteen centuries. In his homily, Fr. Tony reflected on the importance of listening in the spiritual life, drawing connections between the teachings of St. Benedict, the wisdom of St. Augustine, and the challenges of modern society.
Referencing Benedict’s invitation to “listen with the ear of the heart,” Fr. Tony encouraged those gathered to seek moments of silence and reflection amid the noise of daily life. He noted that
authentic listening opens the door to deeper communion with God and one another, helping to build a culture of peace, unity, and understanding.
Fr. Tony’s participation in the celebration reflected the longstanding friendship and shared spiritual heritage between the Augustinian and Benedictine traditions, both which encourage us to desire to seek God through prayer, community, and service.
Bishop Dan Turley, O.S.A., Speaks at Merrimack College
On April 8, 2026, Bishop Daniel Turley, O.S.A., visited Merrimack College as the featured speaker for the annual Augustinian of Note program, sharing reflections from more than five decades of missionary service in Peru.
Addressing the College’s Austin Scholars, Bishop Turley spoke about the lessons he learned while serving remote communities throughout Peru, where he ministered for over 50 years before returning to the United States in 2020. Reflecting on his experience, he emphasized that true missionary service is not simply about giving to others, but about recognizing the presence of Christ already at work in the people being served.
Through personal stories and reflections, Bishop Turley
highlighted the importance of humility, trust, and faith. He encouraged students to remain open to the ways God works through others and to recognize that some of life’s greatest lessons come through relationships and service.
The visit provided students with a firsthand opportunity to learn from one of the Midwest Augustinians' most accomplished missionaries and church leaders, whose decades of ministry continue to inspire Augustinians throughout the world.
From left are Fr. Dan Madden, O.S.A.; Br. Nathan Fernandes, O.S.A.; Bishop Daniel Turley, O.S.A.; Rev. Ray Dlugos, O.S.A.; and Br. Frank Connor, O.S.A.
AROUND THE PROVINCE
Students Gather for Annual Augustinian Values Institute
From April 9–12, students from Augustinian schools across the United States and Canada gathered at Austin Preparatory School in Reading, Massachusetts, for the annual Student Augustinian Values Institute (SAVI).
The event brought together 66 students, along with 22 faculty chaperones and Augustinian friars, for a weekend focused on deepening their understanding of the shared Augustinian values of truth, unity, and love. Through prayer, discussion, and fellowship, participants explored what it means to live these values in their schools, communities, and daily lives.
Throughout the weekend, students formed new friendships with their peers from other Augustinian schools while participating in a variety of activities. Highlights included a service project building beds for children in need, visits to historic sites along Boston’s Freedom Trail, and opportunities to learn more about Augustinian heritage at Merrimack College, St. Mary’s Church in Lawrence, and St. Augustine’s Church in Andover.
The annual gathering continues to strengthen the bonds among Augustinian schools while helping students grow as leaders focused on faith, service, and community.
AROUND THE PROVINCE
Fr. Robert Dueweke, O.S.A., Presents to International Interfaith Conference on Global Peace with Other Faith Leaders
On May 26, Fr. Robert Dueweke, O.S.A., represented the Augustinian Order as a featured speaker at the International Interfaith Conference on Global Peace, a virtual gathering focused on promoting peace, dialogue, and mutual understanding among people of different faith traditions.
Hosted by Global Ministries University in collaboration with the
Institute of Interreligious Dialogue and Islamic Studies at Tangaza University in Nairobi, Kenya, the conference brought together religious leaders and scholars from around the world. This year's theme, "Interfaith Solidarity Beyond Politics: Seek Peace with One Another Through Spiritual Nourishment," explored how faith communities can work together to foster reconciliation, understanding,
and peace in an increasingly divided world.
Fr. Dueweke joined a distinguished panel of international speakers representing Christian, Muslim, and Jewish traditions, contributing an Augustinian perspective on dialogue, community, and the shared search for truth.
The conference was offered free of charge and livestreamed globally, allowing participants from around the world to engage in conversations centered on peacebuilding and interreligious cooperation.
To watch the recorded presentation, scan the QR Code here or visit: https:// www.youtube.com/ watch?v=po7BHilDAjE
Congratulations, Augustinian High School Classes of 2026
This summer, the Midwest Augustinian Province of Our Mother of Good Counsel joins in celebrating the graduates of our Augustinian high schools and educational ministries. Across the United States and Canada, thousands of young men and women completed an important chapter of their lives, carrying with them the lessons, friendships, and values formed through an Augustinian education.
We send our congratulations to the graduates of Austin Catholic High School in Chesterfield, Michigan; Cascia Hall Preparatory School in Tulsa, Oklahoma; Providence Catholic High School in New Lenox, Illinois; St. Rita of Cascia High School in Chicago, Illinois; and Villanova College in King City, Ontario.
While each school has its own
unique history and traditions, all share a common commitment to the Augustinian values of Truth, Unity, and Love. Through academic excellence, faith formation, service opportunities, and community life, these schools strive to help students grow in knowledge, wisdom, character, and compassion
As the members of the Class of 2026 continue their journeys
to colleges, universities, careers, military service, and other pursuits, they remain part of a larger Augustinian family that spans generations and continents. We pray that they will continue to seek truth, build community, and share Christ's love wherever life leads them.
Congratulations to the Class of 2026, and may God bless you in all that lies ahead.
Provincial-Elect Fr. Tom McCarthy, O.S.A., Visits Peru
From April 28 to May 2, ProvincialElect Fr. Tom McCarthy, O.S.A., visited the Augustinian Vicariate of Chulucanas in Peru, accompanied by Fr. Homero Sanchez, O.S.A., Pastor of St. Rita Parish in Chicago, who assisted with translation throughout the trip.
During his visit, Fr. Tom met with Augustinian communities in Lima, Pacasmayo, Trujillo, Pacaipampa, Morropón, and Chulucanas, including friars in formation. The gatherings provided opportunities for fraternity, dialogue, and mutual support as Fr. Tom prepared to begin his service as Prior Provincial. In each location, members of the Vicariate came together for festive meals and community celebrations.
In addition to group meetings, Fr. Tom made time for individual conversations with many of the friars, allowing him to learn more about their ministries, hopes, and experiences. As a sign of support from the Midwest
Province, he also brought several gifts, including a financial donation of $10,500 from collections at St. Rita High School to support scholarships for students attending the new
Augustinian school in Trujillo. He also delivered a $200 donation collected by second-grade students at St. Christina Catholic School in Chicago for the same scholarship fund.
Augustinians Participate in Pilgrimage To Historic Site
Brothers from the Augustinian communities of St. Augustine in Lima, Our Lady of Guadalupe in Pacasmayo, Santa Rita, and Montserrat in Trujillo recently gathered for a pilgrimage through the historic Convent of St. Augustine of Guadalupe in northern Peru.
The pilgrimage offered participants an opportunity to walk in the footsteps of the Augustinians who helped establish and sustain the Order’s presence in the region for generations.
Beyond exploring the past, the gathering also strengthened the bonds of fraternity among the communities. Through fellowship and prayer, the brothers renewed their commitment to living the Augustinian charism and serving the people entrusted to their care.
The 14th Annual Augustinian Gala
Friends, benefactors, friars, alumni, and supporters of the Midwest Augustinians gathered at Chicago's historic Drake Hotel for the 2026 Augustinian Gala on April 24th.
The annual celebration brought together members of the Augustinian family from across borders to honor individuals whose lives and service embody the values of St. Augustine.
This year's honorees represented diverse paths of service and leadership.
Fr. Jim Halstead, O.S.A., received special recognition for his decades of ministry, scholarship, and spiritual
leadership. Despite the challenges presented by ALS, Fr. Jim continues to offer a powerful witness of faith, courage, and perseverance that has inspired generations of Augustinians and friends of the Order.
Clare Napleton was honored and Affiliated to the Order for her longstanding support of Augustinian ministries and her commitment to strengthening the communities and institutions that advance the Augustinian mission. Through her generosity and leadership, she has helped ensure that future generations
will continue to encounter the Augustinian values of faith, friendship, learning, and service.
Paul Paradiso was recognized for his dedicated service and steadfast commitment to the Augustinian community. His founding of Villanova College, an Augustinian school in Ontario, Canada has enriched the lives of young people, and leaves a legacy of academic excellence for the future.
Thank you to all who attended this years' celebration - we cannot wait to celebrate again with you at next year's 15th Annual Augustinian Gala!
Gala Honoree Fr. Jim Halstead, O.S.A. Gala Honoree Paul Paradiso
Gala Honoree Clare Napleton
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Annual Augustinian Women's Retreat: To Breathe Again
Finding Space to Breathe: Women Gather for Lenten Retreat
From February 20–22, 2026, women from across the Midwest Augustinian community gathered at the Carmelite Spiritual Center in Darien, Illinois, for the annual Women’s Retreat, a weekend of prayer, reflection, and spiritual renewal.
Held during the Lenten season, this year’s retreat invited participants on a gentle yet meaningful journey inspired by Sacred Scripture and the wisdom of St. Augustine. Through guided reflections, storytelling, personal prayer, and communal experiences, attendees explored the ways God invites renewal, healing, and deeper trust amid the demands of daily life.
The retreat provided a welcoming space for women to step away from their routines, deepen their relationship with God, and strengthen connections
with one another. Participants reflected on themes of grace, restoration, and hope while embracing Augustine’s call to seek God within the heart.
Fr. James Keating, O.S.A., of the Villanova Province joined retreatants throughout the weekend, along with Augustinian Sisters Sr. Amaya Hernandez-Muniz, O.S.A., Sr. Elisabeth Doerflinger, O.S.A., and Sr. Andrea Rollings-Sanchez, O.S.A. Maryellen Harrington, Director of Lay Engagement for the Midwest Augustinians, planned and led the annual retreat.
The yearly gathering continues to be an important opportunity for spiritual growth and fellowship, bringing together women who share a desire to deepen their faith through the rich traditions of Augustinian spirituality.
St. Rita of Cascia "Twin" City Pilgrimage - Cascia & Chicago
Chicago had the privilege of being the twin city of Cascia in Italy for this year's special St. Rita celebrations.
On March 14th, 2026, Augustinian friars and the community of St. Rita of Cascia Parish in Chicago welcomed Italian Consul General Mario Alberto Bartoli, delegations of Cascia and Chicago city officials, and pilgrims from the Basilica of St. Rita of Cascia in Italy to light the torch of Forgiveness & Peace during a special Mass.
The delegation from Italy visited several sites across Chicago, including the National Shrine of Saint Frances Xavier Cabrini (herself an Italian and the first US saint), Holy Name Cathedral, Catholic Theological Union (where Pope Leo was a student), and Dolton (the suburb where Pope Leo XIV was born).
In return, in May, a delegation of parishioners and community members from St. Rita and St. Clare in Chicago, led by Fr. Homero Sanchez, O.S.A., traveled to Italy to visit Cascia and the Vatican during St. Rita's Feast Day.
The international pilgrimage included a visit to the monastery where St. Rita served, as well as a procession throughout the city of Cascia bearing the Torch of Forgiveness and Peace that was previously lit in Chicago. Additionally, the delegation visited the Vatican, and was greeted personally by Pope Leo XIV.
Opportunities like this are a wonderful example of the universal nature of the Catholic Church, and the ways our Augustinian community transcends borders, language, and culture.
A joint group of Italian and American Augustinian friars, sisters, community members, and the delegations from Cascia and Chicago pose with Pope Leo XIV outside St. Peter's Basilica in May 2026.
The visiting Italian delegation from Cascia went to Chicago's Holy Name Cathedral for Mass celebrated by Cardinal Blase Cupich in March 2026.
The visiting Italian delegation from Cascia at St. Rita Parish in Chicago, May 2026.
Mass at the National Shrine of St. Frances Xavier Cabrini in Chicago, March 2026.
The tomb of St. Rita of Cascia, Italy, visited by the Chicago delegation in May 2026.
"Listen"
Fr. Tony Pizzo, O.S.A., Reflects on Augustinian Leadership and Spirituality at the End of His Term as Prior Provincial
On the morning of May 11, 2025, Fr. Anthony B. Pizzo, O.S.A., stood beside the newly elected Pope Leo XIV at the tomb of St. Peter.
Only days earlier, Cardinal Robert Prevost, O.S.A., a fellow Augustinian and longtime friend, had become the first Augustinian pope in the history of the Catholic Church. Now, in one of Christianity's most sacred places, Fr. Tony found himself concelebrating Mass with the Holy Father on the anniversary of his own ordination to the priesthood.
The moment carried a symbolic weight neither man could have anticipated decades earlier as young students at Villanova University.
For Fr. Tony, however, part of the significance of the experience lay elsewhere: he speaks of the power of letting go.
When Fr. Tony arrived in Rome on May 9th, the day after the election, he decided not to ask to see or greet the new pope. It was a media frenzy, and he did not want to "put anybody out." However, in letting go of his desire to see the pope, he nonetheless was given the gift of spending Saturday afternoon praying with the pope at the Basilica of Our Mother of Good Counsel. He was then invited by the Holy Father to concelebrate the Mass of the Good Shepherd on Sunday, May 11th, which
coincided with his 41st anniversary as a priest. The holy father remembered his anniversary. Fr. Tony will always consider this to be a great gift.
In retrospect, this has been a recurring theme in Fr. Tony’s understanding of leadership. Through his two terms as Prior Provincial, he learned that some of the most important ministry moments arrive not through planning, ambition, or control, but through openness and acceptance.
That lesson has shaped much of Fr. Tony’s vocation as an Augustinian friar. It informed his ministry in Chicago's changing neighborhoods, his years as pastor of St. Rita Parish, and ultimately his eight-year tenure as Prior Provincial of the Midwest Augustinian Province of Our Mother of Good Counsel.
As the Province prepares to welcome new leadership this summer, the conclusion of Fr. Tony’s second term
provides an opportunity to reflect not only on the events that defined those years, but also on the spiritual vision that guided them. Looking back, Fr. Tony speaks more about relationships than administration, more about listening than strategy, and more about accompaniment than authority.
"The question about leadership is not, 'Do you want this?'" he says. "The question is, 'Are you willing to serve?'"
That distinction, simple as it may seem, reveals much about the man who has led the Province since 2018.
But long before his election as Provincial, Fr. Tony was content exactly where he was.
Serving as pastor of St. Rita Parish on Chicago’s Southwest Side, he found deep fulfillment in parish ministry, community organizing, social justice
initiatives, and the daily work of accompanying people through the joys and hardships of life.
When fellow friars first began approaching him about the possibility of becoming Provincial, his reaction was immediate and unambiguous.
"I was very happy doing what I was doing," he recalls. "My mind was not moving in that direction."
Yet his name continued to surface. A year before the 2018 Provincial Chapter, several friars approached him to say that he was being discussed as a possible successor to then-Provincial Fr. Bernie Scianna, O.S.A. The conversations gradually became more serious.
Augustinian governance differs in important ways from the political culture that often surrounds elections. Provincials are chosen through a process of communal discernment requiring prayer, consultation, and trust. Leadership is a responsibility accepted when called by one's brothers, not something pursued.
"If you're asking me if it's something I wanted, I can honestly say I was not actively pursuing it," he says. "But if you're asking whether I was willing to serve, that's a different question."
Recognizing that he might be elected, Pizzo began preparing months in advance. He approached friars whom he would consider working with on a future
council, drafted his Provincial address, and began reflecting on the priorities that would guide a potential administration.
"I thought to myself, if this happens, I don't want to be caught unprepared."
The preparation reflected a characteristic blend of pragmatism and humility. There was no guarantee of election, but there was a responsibility to be ready.
When the Chapter ultimately elected him Provincial, he experienced the moment as an expression of communal trust.
"The Spirit speaks through the community," he says. "If my brothers voted for me, perhaps they saw something that I did not see within myself."
If there is a single thread connecting Pizzo's reflections on leadership, it is the Augustinian conviction that genuine authority begins with self-knowledge.
Again and again, conversations about administration, personnel decisions, community life, and ministry eventually return to Augustine's famous prayer: "Lord, let me know myself that I may know You." For Fr. Tony, the phrase has become more meaningful with age and experience.
"There are things about myself I prefer not to face," he says with a laugh. "But if I want to move forward, if I want to love myself and embrace myself as God loves me, then that's what I have to do."
The comment is characteristic of Fr. Tony’s leadership style, what he sees less as a matter of directing others than an ongoing exercise in conversion. The office of Prior Provincial did not remove him from that process. If anything, it intensified it.
One of Fr. Tony’s formative experiences as a leader occurred during his years at St. Clare of Montefalco Parish in Chicago. Early in his ministry there, he presided at the funeral of a teenager who had been shot and killed. Faced with consoling grieving family members and a traumatized community, he quickly realized that leadership did not mean having answers.
"I couldn't make that kid come back," he says. "I had to learn to be quiet. I had to learn to be present for people and listen. You learn to let go of the idea that leadership means having an answer for everything.”
A similar realization emerged years later during the housing crisis that devastated many neighborhoods on Chicago's Southwest Side. Driving through the area surrounding the parish, he noticed growing numbers of vacant homes. The crisis felt immense and seemingly beyond the reach of any individual response.
Then a parishioner arrived at the
Blessing of the St. Joseph's Table at the Sicilian Society of Chicago.
Visit with the Italian Consul General in Chicago, Mario Alberto Bartoli and Francesco Augurusa, President of the Fondazione Augurusa.
Mass of the Good Shepherd, May 11th, 2025, at the Tomb of St. Peter. By invitation of Pope Leo XIV, on Fr. Tony's 41st Anniversary of Ordination to the Priesthood, Fr. Tony concelebrated along with Augustinian Prior General Alejandro Moral Antón.
rectory carrying large maps covered with red dots, each representing a vacant house.
"Father," she told him, "look at our neighborhood. It's hemorrhaging."
The image struck him immediately: clustered red dots resembled blood spreading from a wound.
The response that followed would become one of the defining examples of his approach to leadership. Rather than imposing solutions, he worked alongside parishioners, community organizations, religious leaders, and local residents to help people recognize their own capacity for action. Looking back, he describes it as a missionary approach.
"You don't go in and impose Christ on people," he says. "You help people realize Christ has been there the whole time."
The same principle would later inform his work as Prior Provincial.
The Midwest Augustinians comprise a remarkably diverse community of friars engaged in a wide range of ministries. Parish priests, educators, retreat directors, missionaries, campus ministers, and formators each bring different experiences and perspectives to Province life. Added to this diversity are the increasingly international dimensions of the Province, particularly its longstanding relationship with its Peruvian mission.
"[As Provincial] I'm dealing with a whole slew of brothers who are
different from one another," Pizzo says. "My responsibility was to approach them where they are."
The emphasis on listening reflects a distinctly Augustinian sensibility with a focus on community and companionship.
"The image of St. Augustine as a companion speaks to me," he says. "If he were here, he would engage you in conversation. He would walk with you… The Confessions are always near my chair," Fr. Tony says. "You can open them to almost any page and find an insight."
What continues to captivate him is Augustine's transparency in publicly examining failures, contradictions, desires, and weaknesses. For Fr. Tony, that honesty offers a model not only for spiritual growth but for leadership itself.
"The most essential journey in life is our journey towards God through self-awareness."
Holding the office of Prior Provincial exposed Fr. Tony to extraordinary moments of grace and joy and profound moments of sorrow. He presided at professions and ordinations, celebrated jubilees, visited Augustinian communities throughout the Province, participated in General Chapters of the Order, and represented the Province on an international stage.
During Fr. Tony’s years as Provincial, the Midwest Province has continued to confront the challenges associated with an aging membership. Joining his fellow
caretaker brothers in accompanying other friars through illness and death became a significant part of Fr. Tony’s ministry, and some of those experiences remain among the most meaningful of his leadership.
"There were times when I arrived just in time," he says. "Just in time for that transition from this life to the next."
For him, such moments reveal something essential about the vocation of a priest and the privilege of sharing in those powerful sacramental moments.
Whether preaching, hearing confessions, or accompanying people through moments of grief, Fr. Tony repeatedly returns to the mystery of grace operating in ways beyond human calculation.
He recalls occasions when he considered a homily unsuccessful or disorganized, only to have parishioners approach afterward to say that it was exactly what they needed to hear. Experiences like these have reinforced his conviction that ministry isn’t about the minister.
"The Spirit led," he says simply. The same could be said of much of the Province's activities during his tenure. The Province continued its commitment to schools while supporting Augustinian educational initiatives more broadly. Vocations and formation remained priorities, resulting in new professions and ordinations that offered signs of hope for the future.
Meanwhile, the Province's relationship with Peru continues to
Fr. Tony and Fr. Walker Dávila Ríos, O.S.A. at the soccer tournament they sponsor in Iquitos, Peru.
Fr. Tony riding a horse while visiting parishioners in Durango, Mexico.
Fr. Tony receiving the Papà León XIV medal with elected officials in Trujilio, Peru.
deepen. A 2024 visit allowed Fr. Tony to participate in the Intermediate Chapter of the Augustinian Vicariate, attend celebrations honoring El Señor de los Milagros, and engage directly with students and local communities.
Such experiences reinforced his appreciation for the global dimensions of Augustinian life.
"I have great relationships with brothers in other cultures," he says. "I never would have had those connections if it weren't for this position."
The international scope of his leadership also included participation in three General Chapters of the Order, an unusual distinction for a Provincial. Through these gatherings, he witnessed the challenges and opportunities confronting Augustinians around the world and gained a broader perspective on the future of religious life.
Yet when asked about accomplishments, he invariably redirects attention elsewhere: he speaks of community, of relationships, and of gratitude.
Perhaps nowhere was that gratitude more evident than in his descriptions of the men who served alongside him. Besides the respective Councils of both terms, he credits fellow friars such as Fr. Jim Halstead, O.S.A., Fr. Richie Mercado, O.S.A., and Br. Nick Mullarkey, O.S.A., with providing particular support, counsel, and friendship throughout his administration. Their collaboration helped create the sense of trust he considered indispensable to effective leadership.
"I always felt the full support of these guys," he says.
Community, however, is not sentimentality and Fr. Tony is equally candid about its difficulties.
"It's okay that I get frustrated," he says. "It's okay that we don't agree all the time. It's okay that we argue."
"Listen with the ear of your heart."
Religious life, he insists, is no different from family life in this regard. Disagreements are inevitable. Frustrations arise. Personalities clash.
What matters is remaining committed to one another despite those tensions.
The insight echoes a homily he delivered during the General Chapter in Rome while celebrating the fortieth anniversary of his profession as an Augustinian. Reflecting on community life, he encouraged fellow friars to remember that the best way to navigate its challenges is often surprisingly simple.
"Do good - and forget about it."
When people learn to see challenging times as opportunities to encounter Christ, he suggested, even difficulties acquire meaning.
The final years of Fr. Tony’s provincialate coincided with one of the most extraordinary events in Augustinian history: the election of Pope Leo XIV, an Augustinian from the Province of Our Mother of Good Counsel.
For generations of Augustinians, the possibility seemed almost unimaginable. Then, in May 2025, Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, O.S.A., became Bishop of Rome.
The election carried particular significance for Fr. Tony.
The two men had known one another for decades. They studied together, served, and maintained a fraternal friendship through years of ministry and leadership.
"He always seemed to know when to show up at significant events in my life," Fr. Tony says.
He recalls the future pope's presence at the funerals of both his parents, gestures that reflected a thoughtfulness he had observed throughout the years.
When Prevost became pope, Pizzo experienced the moment with the pride of an Augustinian and the affection of a friend. The invitation to concelebrate Mass at the tomb of St. Peter only deepened the experience. What remains most striking, however,
is not the historical significance of the event but Fr. Tony’s interpretation of it. Again, he returns to the theme of surrender: "The power of letting go."
He had not expected the invitation. He had not sought it. Yet grace arrived nonetheless.
As his term concludes, Fr. Tony finds himself entering another chapter, listening for the guiding voice of the Spirit.
He turns seventy this year. He has survived cancer, heart disease, surgery, and numerous health challenges. Yet he remains reluctant to define what comes next too precisely.
For the first time in decades, he is not moving directly from one assignment to another.
Instead, he finds himself listening. He frequently returns to a phrase associated with both Augustine and Benedict: "Listen with the ear of your heart."
The word that matters most, he says, is the first one: listen.
It is a fitting conclusion to eight years of provincial leadership.
Throughout his ministry, Fr. Tony has resisted the temptation to portray leadership as certainty, authority, or control and has instead come to understand it as attentiveness to God, to community, to the needs of others, and to the often surprising movements of the Holy Spirit.
As he prepares to hand the Province to his successor, Fr. Tom McCarthy, O.S.A., his message remains characteristically simple: “thank you.”
Thank you to his fellow friars. Thank you to the Province's benefactors, collaborators, and friends. Thank you to the people whose lives have intersected with his own. Thank you to the Peruvian Augustinians who have enriched the life of the Province. Thank you to those who have prayed for him.
And finally, one request.
"Pray for vocations," he says. "Pray that we all listen carefully. Pray that we listen with the ear of our heart."
"Peace be with all of you."
Celebrating the First Anniversary of the Election of Our Augustinian Brother, Pope Leo XIV
One year after Cardinal Robert Prevost, O.S.A., became Pope Leo XIV, Augustinians and friends of the Order gathered throughout the Chicago area to celebrate the historic anniversary and give thanks for the first Augustinian pope in the history of the Church.
On May 8, 2026, celebrations centered on two special events that highlighted both Pope Leo’s Augustinian roots and his upbringing in the Chicago area.
At St. Jude Parish in New Lenox, parishioners, friars, and members of the wider Augustinian family gathered for Mass and a festive reception commemorating the first anniversary of Pope Leo’s election. The parish holds a special connection to the Holy Father, as his brother is
a parishioner there. Pope Leo also visited the community in August 2024 while serving as Prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops.
The celebration provided an opportunity to remember the excitement of the election and to reflect on the impact Pope Leo’s first year has had on the Church and the Augustinian Order. For many in attendance, the anniversary felt deeply personal. The pope known to the world as Leo XIV is still remembered by many Augustinians simply as “Bob,” a fellow friar whose vocation was nurtured in the same Augustinian communities and missions that continue to minister to the Midwest Province today.
The anniversary was also marked by an inaugural pilgrimage to sites
connected with Pope Leo’s early life on Chicago’s South Side and in the south suburbs. Organized by the Pope Leo XIV American Legacy Foundation, the pilgrimage brought participants to Christ Our Savior Parish in South Holland, St. Mary of the Assumption Parish on Chicago’s Far South Side, and the Pope’s childhood home in Dolton.
One of the pilgrimage’s highlights took place at the Dolton home where Pope Leo spent his youth. There, Fr. Tony Pizzo, O.S.A., Prior Provincial of the Midwest Augustinians, presented a portrait of Pope Leo XIV during a special ceremony recognizing the historic significance of the site. Village officials, local residents, and pilgrims joined in celebrating a moment that connected a humble neighborhood
Pope Leo XIV at his Inauguration Mass, May 18, 2025
Pope Leo XIV rides in the Popemobile for the first time, May 2025
Fr. Tony Pizzo, O.S.A., at the Pope Leo XIV Celebration at Sox Park, June 2025.
"In Illo uno unum"
"In the One, we are one." - the Papal Motto of Pope Leo XIV
home with the worldwide ministry of the Successor of St. Peter.
Pope Leo, in an email to Fr. Tony in advance of the event at his childhood home, wrote "you can assure the responsible parties of my best wishes and appreciateion of the interest in using the house as a platform for some kind of social development."
The anniversary celebrations offered a visible reminder of how deeply Pope Leo’s election continues to resonate throughout the Augustinian family and the
City of Chicago. While the election brought unprecedented attention to the Order, it also created new opportunities to share the Augustinian charism with people around the world. In the months following the election, the Midwest Augustinians experienced a dramatic increase in website traffic, media inquiries, and vocation interest as Catholics sought to learn more about the spiritual tradition that helped shape the new pope.
Yet for the friars who have known
him for decades, the anniversary was less about publicity and more about gratitude.
Throughout his first year as pope, Leo XIV has consistently introduced the wider Church to the wisdom of St. Augustine, emphasizing themes of unity, listening, community, and the search for truth. As Augustinians gathered to mark this historic milestone, they did so with gratitude for a brother friar whose ministry continues to bring the Augustinian spirit to the universal Church.
The Augustinian community gathered at St. Jude Parish on May 8, 2026, to celebrate the One Year Anniversary of Pope Leo's election.
Augustinians Fr. Jeff Raths, Fr. Ray Flores, and Fr. Tom McCarthy process out of the Anniversary Mass at St. Jude.
Fr. Tony presents at Pope Leo XIV's childhood home in Dolton, Illinois, on the first anniversary of Pope Leo's election, May 2026
Magnifica Humanitas St. Augustine and Technology: Living with Intention in a Distracted World
By Abby Leali
In today’s hyperconnected culture, distraction has become a way of life. Between the buzz of our phones and the flash of notifications, modern life is full of noise. Even brief moments of silence are often filled with mindless scrolling. Yet beneath this constant digital activity lies a deeper reality: humanity’s restless search for meaning and belonging.
Recent habits surrounding mobile technology illustrate just how pervasive distraction has become. Many people instinctively reach for their phones in spare moments, whether waiting in line, riding public transportation, or sitting quietly in a room. Current studies suggest that Americans check their phones 50–75 times per day on average, and a significant number even keep their phones beside them while sleeping or use them in unlikely places, such as the shower. These patterns point to a broader cultural condition in which constant stimulation has
replaced the quiet spaces where reflection once flourished.
But in the Augustinian perspective, technology itself is not the enemy. Pope Leo XIV echoes this in his 2026 encyclical Magnifica Humanitas , reminding us that “technology is never neutral, because it takes on the characteristics of those who devise, finance, regulate, and use it.” The question, then, is not whether to use technology, but how to use it well—and toward what end.
At the root of this overreliance on tech lies a deeper longing. People repeatedly check their phones not just out of boredom but out of a desire for connection and affirmation in community. These desires are deeply human; they correspond with the Augustinian understanding of the person as a being made for communion. The desire to find a place to belong— to know that someone is present and responsive to one’s thoughts and feelings—is a defining characteristic of the human heart. Magnifica Humanitas affirms
that human flourishing cannot be reduced to technological fulfillment. The heart is ordered toward God, not toward a screen.
St. Augustine himself famously described this condition with the words: “You have made us for yourself, O Lord, and our hearts are restless until they rest in You.” Restlessness, in this sense, is not merely a flaw or a weakness. It is a sign of our orientation toward something greater. Augustine’s own life illustrates this dynamic. As a young man, he filled his time with entertainment and diversions, pursuing activities that ultimately left him dissatisfied. These pursuits were more than poor choices; they reflected a deeper sense that something essential was missing from his daily experience.
In the modern world, digital distractions often play a similar role. Endless scrolling or constant notifications can function as small escapes from discomfort, boredom, or uncertainty. In Magnifica Humanitas , Pope Leo
identifies an even subtler danger. He expresses concern not only that we are distracted, but also that we may "gradually lose the very desire to form genuine human connections" altogether. In the Augustinian view, this is precisely what restlessness, misdirected, produces: a turning inward that leaves the heart more isolated, not less.
In the Augustinian model, the key is not to suppress restlessness but to understand it. The impulse driving many modern digital habits may actually be a sign of people’s deeper search for God. The human heart continually seeks truth, unity, and love—goals that cannot ultimately be fulfilled by technology alone.
Pope Francis has echoed this insight when speaking about restlessness in the Christian life. When addressing the Augustinian Order in 2013, he remarked, "Restlessness is also love, always seeking the good of
"In
the era of artificial intelligence, when human dignity is threatened by new forms of dehumanization, ours is the pressing duty to remain profoundly human. We must lovingly safeguard the grandeur of humanity bestowed upon us and revealed in its fullness in Christ, the splendor of which no machine can ever replace."
- Pope Leo XIV
others, of loved ones, with that intensity that also leads to tears . . . The restlessness of the quest for the truth, of the quest for God, becomes the restlessness of always coming to know Him better, and of going out of oneself in order to make Him known to others and this is the restlessness of love."
Restlessness, according to Pope Francis, becomes constructive when it moves a person outward toward deeper knowledge of God and service of others.
Living intentionally in a distracted world, therefore, requires a shift in perspective. Instead of viewing distraction as a moral failure, it may be more helpful to see it as a signal. The urge to check a phone can reveal a deeper longing for connection and meaning. Recognizing this longing allows individuals to redirect their attention toward what truly satisfies.
Practically speaking, this might mean cultivating moments of silence and prayer, deliberately recalling Christ’s presence in daily life. Even small habits, such as setting aside time away from screens, can help restore a sense
of balance.
We can also consider Pope Leo’s call to “invest in education, beginning with ourselves” and to engage the digital world “as an integral part of our education in the faith.” These practices create space for the deeper desires of the heart to surface.
In this way, the challenge of distraction can become an opportunity for encounter with God and neighbor. The restless energy that drives modern habits then guides a person toward greater awareness of God and their community. When directed intentionally, the same longing that once fueled endless scrolling becomes the beginning of a deeper spiritual search.
Pope Leo calls us to nothing less in Magnifica Humanitas : “being builders of communion, rather than architects of Babel... servants of the coming Kingdom, instead of lords of towers destined for ruin.”
For the Augustinians, this is the restless heart finally finding its direction—not in the next notification, but in the living God who made us for himself.
The parish community of St. John XXIII gathers to offer a blessing to Fr. Jim Halstead, O.S.A., in February of 2025 - a reminder of the value and power of community, humanity, and prayer.
Drawing New Maps of Hope
Pope Leo XIV’s Educational Vision
One Year into His Papacy
One year into his pontificate, Pope Leo XIV offered a revealing glimpse of his priorities for the Church in the apostolic letter Drawing New Maps of Hope, issued on October 27, 2025. Published on the eve of the sixtieth anniversary of the Second Vatican Council’s declaration, Gravissimum educationis, the document reflects on the Church’s educational mission while sketching a pastoral vision for the future, in which the Pope emphasizes that education is not a peripheral concern but a central expression of the Church’s mission in the world.
Leo XIV begins by recalling the historical context of Gravissimum educationis, promulgated in 1965 during the final months of the Second Vatican Council. “With that text,” he notes, “the Second Vatican Council reminded the Church that education is not an ancillary activity, but forms the very fabric of evangelization: it is the concrete way in which the Gospel becomes an educational gesture, a relationship, a culture.”
Sixty years later, the cultural and technological landscape has transformed dramatically. Globalization, digital communication, and rapid social change have reshaped the ways knowledge is transmitted and
received. Yet the Pope observes that the Council’s vision remains strikingly relevant.
To approach a “complex, fragmented, digitized educational environment,” Leo XIV calls for a return to “the ‘cosmology of Christian paideia,” which begins in the Gospel’s “‘educational constellations’: experiences that are both humble and powerful, capable of interpreting the times, of preserving the unity between faith and reason, between thought an life, between knowledge and justice.”
Education, in this model, cannot be reduced to technical training or professional preparation. Instead, it must cultivate the entire human person. Intellectual formation, moral responsibility, spiritual growth, and social awareness all belong to this “integral” approach to education, which he deems “one of the highest expressions of Christian charity” and a necessary “form of hope.”
The “constellations” begun in the Gospel are central to Leo XIV’s vision for Catholic education, indicating that pedagogy is a fundamentally human, relational, and communal effort. He stresses that education takes place not in isolation but within a network of relationships. Families, schools, universities, parishes, and civic institutions all contribute to forming individuals capable of serving the common good. The family remains the primary environment in which the human person learns trust, responsibility, and the basic habits of life together. Schools and universities build upon this foundation, offering intellectual and cultural formation that prepares students to engage society with both competence and conscience.
Leo XIV also addresses the significant impact of digital technology on contemporary education. While acknowledging the benefits of technological innovation, he warns that educational institutions must resist reducing knowledge to information or efficiency alone. Education ultimately concerns the formation of persons
capable of wisdom and discernment. Technology can assist this process, but it cannot replace the personal encounter between teacher and student that lies at the heart of genuine learning. For this reason, the Pope calls educators to cultivate spaces for reflection, ethical formation, and dialogue.
Pope Leo’s treatment of education emphasizes Augustinian principles of truth, unity, and love. Only by pursuing greater knowledge and wisdom in a community founded on charity can human beings reach their full educational potential. Augustine famously described learning as an inward journey toward truth, guided not only by teachers but ultimately by the “inner teacher,” who is Christ. Leo XIV’s insistence that education must address the interior life further echoes this perspective. True formation, he suggests, requires more than the transmission of facts; it involves helping students discover meaning, cultivate wisdom, and orient their lives toward Christ.
The letter’s central metaphor,
“drawing new maps,” captures Leo XIV’s vision for the Church’s educational mission in a changing world. Just as explorers once charted unknown territories, the Church today must navigate new cultural landscapes shaped by technological transformation, globalization, and shifting social structures.
Yet the Pope’s message is not one of uncertainty but of hope. By rediscovering the enduring principles of Catholic education, especially as articulated by the Second Vatican Council, and renewing the Church’s commitment to integral formation, the Church can continue to illuminate the path forward in today’s fragmented pedagogical landscape.
Viewed in the context of Leo XIV’s first year as pope, Drawing New Maps of Hope offers more than a reflection on educational theory. It serves as a pastoral blueprint for the Church’s engagement with contemporary culture: one that emphasizes formation, community, and the search for truth.
Students engage with presenters at St. Rita of Cascia High School in Chicago, Illinois.
A New Chapter in Augustinian Scholarship & Publications
The Augustinian Series with ATF Press
The Augustinian intellectual tradition is based in the thought of St. Augustine and carried forward through centuries of theological reflection. Today, it continues to find new expression in contemporary scholarship. A recent collaboration between the Augustinian community and ATF Press highlights this ongoing vitality through the launch and expansion of the Augustinian Series, a growing collection of books exploring themes central to Augustinian spirituality and social thought.
Published by ATF Press, the series brings together scholars and writers connected to the Augustinian tradition, presenting works that examine both historical foundations and contemporary applications of Augustinian ideas. The books address a range of topics from Catholic social teaching to reflections on faith and community, while remaining grounded in the distinctive spirituality of the Order of St. Augustine. The series serves as a platform for exploring how Augustinian insights continue to shape conversations about faith, culture, and society today.
Recent additions to the series demonstrate the breadth of its scope. Titles available through ATF Press include Building a Better World by Arthur Purcaro, O.S.A., The Social Doctrine of the Catholic Church: Its History and Teachings by John J. Lyndon, O.S.A., An Adventure in Faith: The Story of the Chulucanas Prelature by John J. Kelly, O.S.A., and the recently published, Augustinian, Chicago, and Peru Reflections on Pope Leo XIV, edited by John J Lyndon, O.S.A. By bringing these works together under a unified series, the collaboration provides readers with a curated entry point into the modern discourse surrounding the rich intellectual tradition inspired by St. Augustine.
ATF Press has arranged for books in the series to be printed and shipped from the United States, United Kingdom, and Australia, making them accessible to readers across different regions. Orders can currently be placed directly on www. midwestaugustinians.org or through the publisher’s website (atfpress.com), with payment options including credit card and PayPal. Other ordering alternatives, like
Amazon, will soon be available, as well.
The collaboration with ATF Press reflects a long-standing commitment within the Augustinian Order to intellectual inquiry and education. From Augustine’s own writings in late antiquity to the universities and schools founded by Augustinians throughout the centuries, scholarship as a way of searching for truth has always been a central dimension of the Order’s mission. The new series continues that tradition by encouraging reflection on how Augustine’s thought speaks to modern concerns surrounding theology, ethics, and social engagement.
As the series develops, it promises to become a valuable resource for scholars, students, and readers interested in the Augustinian tradition. By bringing together new research and contemporary reflections under a single publishing initiative, the collaboration with ATF Press ensures that Augustine’s legacy remains a living conversation that continues to shape how faith is understood and practiced in the modern world.
"Take Heart, It Is I. Have No Fear."
Preparations Underway for the Augustinian Youth Encounter 2027
In August 2027, young members of the worldwide Augustinian family will gather in Uijeongbu, South Korea, for an international celebration of Catholic faith and fellowship. The Augustinian Youth Encounter 2027 (AYE27), scheduled for August 8–13 (immediately following World Youth Day in Seoul), will bring together hundreds of young people from Augustinian schools, parishes, and communities around the globe for several days of communal prayer and cultural exchange.
The Encounter takes its theme from Mark 6:50: “Take Heart, It Is I. Have No Fear.” This phrase has long expressed Christian confidence in the face of a world marked by uncertainty, fragility, and many searching questions for meaning and purpose. It emphasizes the Church’s need to unite with our Lord in search of truth and love, regardless of circumstances. AYE27 seeks to embody this vision by creating a space where young people from many cultures can encounter Christ together while discovering the global breadth of the Augustinian tradition.
The gathering in Uijeongbu is envisioned not simply as a conference but as a pilgrimage. Participants will journey from their local communities to join thousands of fellow Augustinian youth, brought together by a common passion for the Augustinian values of truth, unity, and love. Through formative activities, prayer, and service, the encounter will encourage today’s youth to deepen their faith and rediscover St. Augustine’s insights for the modern world.
Preparation for the event has already begun. Organizers have launched a global initiative inviting young people themselves to help shape the identity of the encounter. Through international logo and anthem competitions, the Augustinians are
encouraging artists and musicians to submit creative works that capture the spirit of AYE27 and the “oneness of heart” of the worldwide Augustinian family. Winning submissions will be integral to the event’s brand identity. The initiative highlights one of the encounter’s central tenets: that the Church’s future is not merely prepared for young people but built with them.
This early emphasis on collaboration also reflects the broader mission of Augustinian youth ministry. Across continents, Augustinian schools and parishes seek to form young people who are intellectually curious, spiritually rooted, and committed to building up their communities — both local and across the Church. Global encounters such as AYE27 offer a unique opportunity to bring these ministerial efforts together, allowing participants to see the Church as both deeply personal and profoundly universal.
Hosting the encounter in South Korea alongside World Youth Day international Augustinians to move from the larger ecclesial celebration to a particular Augustinian
experience of hospitality, spiritual formation, intercultural encounter, and shared mission. By gathering youth from many regions—Europe, the Americas, Africa, Oceania, and Asia—the encounter will highlight the diversity of cultures that now share in the Augustinian charism while affirming the unity that binds them together in faith.
AYE 2027 is also marked by special grace, as it is the first Augustinian Youth Encounter after the election of Pope Leo XIV. The event is a special opportunity for young Catholics to accompany his mission with prayer and zeal, as well as to rediscover the beauty and responsibility of the Augustinian charism in the service of the Church and for the world.
In the spirit of St. Augustine, whose own restless search led him to discover God in community, the encounter calls young people to walk together toward truth and holiness. For the Augustinian youth of the world, the road to South Korea has already begun. It is a renewed invitation to live fearlessly, with one mind and one heart, on the way to God.
Continued Collaboration at Marylake Shrine
Progress continues at the Augustinians' Marylake property in King City, ON
The following is a message delivered by Prior Provincial Fr. Tony Pizzo to the Marylake Banquet fundraising event in Ontario.
Dear Friends and Neighbors of the Marylake Community,
I write this message with deep gratitude for the continual support you offer to the significant projects that are transforming the landscape of Marylake.
There is something truly special about Marylake. It is a place of peace, connection, and shared history—a sanctuary where we come together to support one another and grow as a community. As we look toward the future and the continued care of our beautiful grounds and spiritual outreach, we are thrilled to invite you to this evening’s Marylake Banquet surrounded by the impressive landscape of Eaton Hall.
This is a celebration of everything we have achieved together thus far and a launchpad for where we are going next. As the construction of the Long-Term Care facility moves into its final stages, the very heart of Marylake—the Shrine Church—is preparing for its own vital renovation. Sponsored by the Augustinian community and the AFOI (Augustinian Fathers of Ontario, Inc), and supported by the Archdiocese of Toronto, this year’s fundraiser shares in the anticipation of both projects simultaneously working toward completion. We especially look forward to the opening of the Shrine Church and the pastoral vision of our future. Remember that the strength of this community belongs to all of us.
Your presence and generosity tonight ensure that Marylake, under the patronage of Our Lady of Grace, continues to be a beacon of hope, peace, and fellowship in the Archdiocese of Toronto. Thank you for walking alongside us as we build a vibrant future together.
With peace and blessings, Fr. Anthony B. Pizzo, O.S.A. Prior Provincial
Watch a special video about the project at Marylake on the Midwest Augustinians' YouTube channel, or scan the QR Code.
AUGUSTINIAN SAINTS & BLESSEDS
Blessed Mariano de la Mata, O.S.A.
Education and Service for Those in Need
Blessed Mariano de la Mata, O.S.A., was a Spanish Augustinian missionary who committed his life to pastoral service and educational work in Brazil. Even before he was beatified by Pope Benedict XVI in 2006, he was remembered for his quiet dedication to ordinary ministry carried out within the framework of his Augustinian religious vocation.
Mariano de la Mata Aparicio was born on December 31, 1905, in Barrio de la Puebla in the province of Palencia, Spain, to a strong Catholic family. His parents’ example of faith fostered the boy’s vocation, and he would ultimately be the fourth of his brothers to enter the Augustinian Order. In 1921, he began formation, eventually making his solemn profession in 1927 and being ordained a priest in 1930.
The Augustinian tradition’s focus on intellectual formation and service to the Church shaped the course of de la Mata’s ministry from the beginning. After ordination, he initially taught at an Augustinian school in Llanes, Spain. But after only a year, he was sent as a missionary to Brazil, where he would spend the remainder of his life.
Upon his arrival in Brazil, de la
Mata joined the growing network of Augustinian institutions serving local Catholic communities. Much of his ministry was connected to education at Augustinian schools, where he served as a teacher and spiritual guide. He was also deeply involved in pastoral outreach among the poor and the sick. He could frequently be found visiting families, assisting those suffering from illness, and supporting students facing hardship. Those who knew him later recalled his consistent availability and his preference for direct, personal forms of service.
De la Mata was also involved in organizing charitable workshops devoted to St. Rita of Cascia. St. Rita is an Augustinian saint widely venerated in Brazil as a stigmatic and as the patron of desperate causes. These workshops provided employment for economically vulnerable women, who produced clothing for distribution to families in need. Over time, he helped expand the network to hundreds of small workshops, combining practical assistance with spiritual direction.
Despite contracting cancer later in life, de la Mata continued his
pastoral work, remaining active in the Augustinian community and local parishes until his death in São Paulo on April 5, 1983. The Spanish consulate posthumously awarded him the Order of Isabella the Catholic, and his remains are located in the church of Saint Augustine in the same city. His cause for canonization opened in 1996, and in 2004, Pope John Paul II declared him Venerable after recognizing the heroic virtue of his life. A child’s miraculous healing was attributed to his intercession soon after, and his beatification took place at the São Paulo Cathedral on November 5, 2006.
Observers of de la Mata’s life often recall that his sanctity emerged not through extraordinary achievements but through the consistent fulfillment of his ordinary religious duties. For many within the Augustinian Order, Blessed Mariano de la Mata represents a model of the Order’s commitment to truth, unity, and love. Religious community structured his life and mission, allowing him to dedicate himself fully to education and service for those living in material and spiritual poverty.
Thank you for supporting the Augustinians
The 2026 Annual Gala was a wonderful opportunity to reflect on another year in the life of the Midwest Augustinians. I am so filled with gratitude for the many people who make our mission possible.
The Gala was another joyful reminder of the strength of our Augustinian family. It was inspiring to see friars, alumni, parishioners, benefactors, and friends gathered together to celebrate our Augustinian and Catholic values and honor individuals whose lives reflect the very best of the Augustinian spirit. Thank you to everyone who attended, supported, volunteered, sponsored, and prayed for the success of this year's event.
This year has been especially memorable for our Augustinian community. We have witnessed historic moments for the Order and the Church, celebrated the accomplishments of our ministries, and continued the important work of forming future Augustinians who will serve God's people for generations to come. None of this happens without your partnership.
Every gift, whether large or small, helps support our friars in formation, strengthens our ministries, and allows us to respond to the needs of the communities we serve. Your generosity is not simply a financial contribution, it is a tangible expression of faith and a commitment to the future of the Augustinian mission.
I am particularly grateful for the many benefactors who continue to walk alongside us year after year. Your steadfast support provides stability, encouragement, and hope. It reminds our friars that they are part of a much larger community of people who believe in the importance of Augustinian values and ministry.
On behalf of Fr. Tony Pizzo, our friars, and the entire Advancement Office, thank you for your friendship, prayers, and generosity. As we look toward the future, we do so with confidence because of supporters like you.
Thank you!
Ed Barrett
Province Advancement Director
P.S. Please plan to join us at next year's Gala where we will celebrate and honor Fr. Joe Stobba, O.S.A., Mr. Frank Palmasani, and Mr. Shawn Gammill.
Province Advancement Council 2025-2026
The following individuals generously advance our mission with the leadership and support they provide the Midwest Augustinian Province of Our Mother of Good Counsel.
Ed Barrett | Province Advancement Director
Norma Berman
Anne Berschback
Joseph Brennan
Dr. Kevin G. Burns
Fr. Jim Halstead, O.S.A. | Province Treasurer
Catharine Hennessy | Council Chair
Edward Hennessy | Council Chair
Manuel Jimenez
Anthony Lauinger
Rob Martin
Fr. Anthony B. Pizzo, O.S.A. | Prior Provincial
William Reilley, Sr.
Margaret Coughlin Reimann
Fr. Bernie Scianna, O.S.A. | Province Advancement Counselor
Eugene Tierney
Robert Utter
David Vaughan
Peggy Walsh
Martin Wojcik | Emeritus
Thank
you for your
continued support of the Augustinian Mission.
Thank You, Gala Sponsors
Overall Event Sponsor
Friend of the Midwest Augustinians
Gala Co-Sponsors
Airdo Werwas, LLC
Howard Ludwig and Family / Country Landscape
Révérence Table
Little Company of Mary Sisters
Reception Sponsors
Little Company of Mary Sisters
Ernie and Diane Mrozek
Music Sponsors
Greg and Wendy Jania
Cathy and Martin Slark
Flower Sponsor
Aracely Garcia and Saul Corona
Media Sponsor
Peggy and Joe Walsh
Program Book Sponsors
Quinto Annabeli
Michael Bland and Otto Aldana
Friend of the Midwest Augustinians
Marylake Shrine of Our Lady of Grace
Province of St. Thomas of Villanova
Men of Heart Cards Sponsor
Rob and Denise Utter
St. Augustine Tables
Ted and Norma Berman
Raymond and Mildred McCarthy Fund
Mwargaret and Brian Reimann
St. Rita of Cascia High School
St. Rita of Cascia Shrine Chapel
St. Thomas of Villanova College
Saint Rita of Cascia Tables
Vilma Cortellucci-Fiuza
Marquette Bank
Saint Monica Tables
Anne Berschback
Edward and Theresa Burns
Catholic Theological Union
Catharine and Ed Hennessy
Rob and Laura Martin
Providence Catholic High School
Sisters of St. Casimir
David and Lisa Vaughan
Thank You, Gala Sponsors
St. Augustine Tables
Ted and Norma Berman
Raymond and Mildred McCarthy Fund
Mwargaret and Brian Reimann
St. Rita of Cascia High School
St. Rita of Cascia Shrine Chapel
St. Thomas of Villanova College
Saint Rita of Cascia Tables Saint Monica Tables
Vilma Cortellucci-Fiuza
Marquette Bank
Anne Berschback
Edward and Theresa Burns
Catholic Theological Union
Catharine and Ed Hennessy
Rob and Laura Martin
Providence Catholic High School
Sisters of St. Casimir
David and Lisa Vaughan
Tribute Sponsors
Dawn and Eamon Allbee
Josh Blaszak
Mark and Laura Brown
Daniel and Katie Degen
Charles and Rosa DiMartino
Eugene and Karen Griffin
Dean Harrison
Linda Hartz
Italian American Executives of
Transportation
Jessica and Michael India
Mary and Mark Isley
Wayne and Barbara Klasing
Chris and Julie Lawler
Charles DiMartino
Robert and Clare Napleton
Paul R. Napleton
Tom and Mary Ann O'Neill
Lloyd and Donna Ottenstroer
Frank and Marge Palmasani
Linda and Paul Paradiso
John and Lori Paris
June Persicketti
James and Annemarie Relstab
Francis and Kathleen Rooney
Fr. Bernie Scianna, O.S.A. and the Scianna Family
St. Rita of Cascia Parish
St. Turibius Parish
Kathy and Greg Tonner
Mollie Werwas
Gerald and Denise Wirth
2026 Gala Donors
Peggy and Dominic Adducci
American Combustion Service, Inc.
Maria and David Andrade
Augustinian Sisters of St. Rita
Margaret Benson
Kathy and Bill Bingham
Barb and Joe Brennan, Jr.
Tom and Nancy Brodnicki
Theresa Brown
Thomas Brown
Susie and Mark Butterworth
Meg Carey and Dave Demy
MaryBeth Carroll
Roger Carter
Cascia Hall Preparatory School
Chuck Cassity
Gina and Cheryl Colello
Josephine Conlon
Janel and Brett Coppens
Maria Adela and Cornelio Cordoba-Naguit
Fr. John J. Crepeau
Kathy and Paul Crylen
Vito D'Ambrosio
John and Carolina D'Anca
Rory Dayton
Sally and Brian Deenihan
Linda and Tom Delegatto
DePaul University Department of Religious Studies
Patricia Donohue
Carol and Emmett Driscoll
Pat and Chuck Engvall
Albert and Dolores Erlebacher
Ron and Mary Pat Esposito
Rev. Ronald J. Essman
Federation of Augustinians of North America
Danny Foody
Nancy Foody
Mike Ford
James M. Forde
Kathy and Dave Fox
Kathleen and Kenneth Franz
Nick Frenzel
Friend of the Augustinians
Marge and Neil Gambow
Angela and Rocco Gargiulo
Gatto's Restaurant and Bar
Mike and Marge Gleason
Linda and Ted Graf
Patrick Griffin and Sharon Ostrowski
Rosanne and Jeff Grigoletti
Leann and Jim Hahn
Joanne and William Harrington
Stephanie and Zach Harriss
Howie Hart
Carol and Daniel Heenan
Catharine and Edward Hennessy
Martha and Isidro Hernandez
Robert and Peggy Heslinga
Jack Hull
Nancy Hunt
Bishop Kane Kane
Dan and Joy Ann Kill
Dan and Betsy Kniola
Janet R. Kolimas
Gerald Kowalewski
Bonnie Krywanio
Kristy and Kevin Krywanio
Chuck and Theresa Kukawka
Randy Kunish
John and Kathy Ladowicz
Mary Ellen Levine
John Linane
Mr. and Mrs. Peter L. Lisnic
Julio Lopez
Hugo Lopez
Janet Lucas and John Puskar
Howard and Katie Ludwig
Mrs. Joseph Magee
John and Lisa Majcher
George E. Mampreian
Ms. Donna Manheim
Ryan and Colleen Manuszak
Juana and Miguel Mariscal
Robbie Martin
Miguel and Carolina Martinez
Fr. Andy Matijevic
Cody and Rhea McCone
Tom McElligott
Jaimen McMillan
Bernadette McNamara
Mendel Alumni Association
Peter Meyer
Shirley Morbito
Terry Muellner
Joseph and Mary Kay Mullarkey
Martin Napleton
Pam and Dale Novak
Rosemary and Pat O'Connor
Betty Ogrodnik
Fr. Bob Oldershaw
Angie and Kevin Oliver
Overt Press Inc./Andrew Turcich
Jessica Patnoudes
Maureen and Tom Pavletic
Juanita and Rafael Pelayo
Peg and Allen Pepping
Richard and Jamie Perry
Annie and Robert Persicketti
Tim and Rita Porsche
David Posner
Lynn and Terrence Quandt
Linda and Robert Reins
Karen and Bob Relstab
Cathy Reynolds
Kathleen and Edward Rojek
Dr. Bernard and Nancy Ryan
Marius Sadauskas
Xenia and Alex Saldivar
Concepcion and Alvaro Saldivar
Melissa and Michael Sallade
Ann and Bill Santino
Bob Schmitz
Dina and Joe Scianna
Jean and Michael Scianna
Rick and Christine Singh
Patrick and Kimberly Skellett
Cecelia Slezak
Bill and Bonnie Small
Southwest Organizing Project
Scott Spaeth
St. Anthony's Knights of Columbus #9970
St. Bernard Catholic Church
St. Christina Parish
St. Isaac Jogues Parish
St. Matthew Parish
St. Rita of Cascia H.S. Father's Club
St. Rita of Cascia H.S. Mother's Club
Richard Steinbarth
Ken Stransky
Marie and Roger Sullivan
Timothy Tate
Teddy Bear Nursery Schools, Inc.
Amy Totsch
Lorrie and George Tracy
Olivia and Alfredo Vazquez
Nancy Villafranco
Greta Wagner
Marty Wojcik
Fred Yanez
In Honor & In Memory Of
Throughout the year, we recognize the Augustinians who have been honored with a tribute or memorial gift. The following gifts were received from donors between November 1, 2025 and May 31, 2026. To make a gift in honor of an Augustinian, use the enclosed envelope to send your tribute donation. Your gift will be recognized in the next listing of tributes in the Midwest Augustinian Magazine. For questions about gifts, please contact the Advancement Office at 773-614-5881 or joann@midwestaugustinians.org.
Augustinians of the Midwest Province
John Larisey
Bridget and Greg Pawell
Lynn and Terrence Quandt
Concepcion and Alvaro Saldivar
Christine and Robert Swiatkowski
Timothy Tate
Denise and Gerald Wirth
Rev. Edward A. Andrews, O.S.A. †
Celine Szykowny
Rev. Alfred Burke, O.S.A. †
Jerome and Jane Van Zeyl
Rev. Edward J. Chapman, O.S.A. †
Anthony Chapman
Stella and Francis Mohan
Rev. Philip C. Cook, O.S.A.
Linda and Robert Reins
Rev. W. Timothy Cuny, O.S.A. †
Eileen Neal
Donna Ryan
Rev. L. Dudley Day, O.S.A. †
Dr. Kevin and Joy Burns
Joan and Jerome Litrenta
Bernie Loftus
Jerome and Jane Van Zeyl
Pamela and Pat Walls
Rev. Terry A. Deffenbaugh, O.S.A.
Dcn. Kevin Ryan
Rev. Erwin J. Dodge, O.S.A. †
Cheryl and John Coogan
Br. Mark Emken, O.S.A. †
Marianna and John Shields
Rev. John J. Fitzgerald, O.S.A. †
Dcn. Emil and Gerry Wernert
Rev. Gerald Flach, O.S.A. †
John and Cheryl Coogan
Joanne and Gregory Pawlowski
Pamela and Pat Walls
Malgorzata and Michael Stiso
Rev. Raymond Flores, O.S.A.
Jean and Allen Scherer
Marie and Roger Sullivan
Rev. John F. Flynn, O.S.A. †
Lucille H. Ostrowski
Rev. Mortimer Foley, O.S.A. †
Pamela and Pat Walls
Rev. Roland F. Follmann, O.S.A.
Anonymous
Margaret and Richard Bonkowski
Rev. James C. Friedel, O.S.A. †
Mary Diane and Charles O'Brien
Rev. John R. Gavin, O.S.A. †
Dennis Cullen
Marilyn and John Kennedy
Rev. Ralph L. Giovinetti, O.S.A. †
Dr. Kevin and Joy Burns
Rev. James R. Halstead, O.S.A.
Peggy and Dominic Adducci
Kathy and Bill Bingham
Kathy and Paul Crylen
Carol and Emmett Driscoll
Nancy Foody
Nicholas Frenzel
Marge and Neil Gambow
Peggy and Bob Heslinga
Howard Ludwig
George Mampreian
John Sheils
Richard Steinbarth
Patrick and Kimberly Skellett
Br. Fred R. Kaiser, O.S.A.
Antoinette and Tony Tadin
Rev. Edwin Kuczynski, O.S.A. †
Pamela and Pat Walls
Rev. William W. Labadie, O.S.A. †
Joseph Grady
Rev. Cornelius Lehane, O.S.A. †
Mary and Edmond Fee
His Holiness Pope Leo XIV
Maria and Cornelio Cordoba-Naguit
Dcn. Kevin Ryan
Rev. Donald R. Lewandowski, O.S.A.
Carolyn and Ronald Pilon
Rev. Henry B. Maibusch, O.S.A. †
Mary and Mark Siwek
Rev. Thomas F. Martin, O.S.A. †
Carol and Kenneth Kolar
Rev. Thomas R. McCarthy, O.S.A.
Arlene and Pierre Adams
Anonymous
Dr. Kevin and Joy Burns
Jerome Carberry
Mary Ann Kay
Rev. Matijevic Matijevic
Diane and Ernie Mrozek
Mary Grace and Stanley Zawila
Rev. Joseph E. McCormick, O.S.A.
Judy and Michael Garvey
Carol and Jack Hayes
Jacqueline A. Murphy
Rita and Tim Porsche
Dcn. Kevin Ryan
Jeanne and Edward Saunders
Rev. John J. McKniff, O.S.A. †
Gerardo and Silvia Martinez
In Honor & In Memory Of (Continued)
Bp. John C. McNabb, O.S.A. †
Catharine and Edward Hennessy
Rev. John D. Merkelis, O.S.A.
Judy and Michael Garvey
Chris and Charlie Knop
Ryan and Coleen Manuszak
Nancy and Patrick Moriarty
Annie and Robert Persicketti
Dcn. Kevin Ryan
Br. Nicholas J. Mullarkey, O.S.A.
Carol and Michael McMahon
Mary Kay and Joseph Mullarkey
Rev. James G. Murphy, O.S.A. †
Julie and Bob Murphy
Rev. Patrick E. Murphy, O.S.A. †
Pamela and Pat Walls
Rev. Thomas E. Nash, O.S.A. †
Joseph Adduci
Margie and John Lenahan
Pat and Bill Spatz, Jr.
Rev. Gerald A. Nicholas, O.S.A.
Cheryl and John Coogan
Rev. John M. Ohner, O.S.A.
St. Anthony's Knights of Columbus #9970
Rev. William M. O'Rourke, O.S.A. †
Alice Graff
Rev. Richard D. Palmer, O.S.A. †
Paula and Dave Hougan
Rev. Casimir A. Pazera, O.S.A. †
Lorene and Steven Bryan
Pauline and Dennis Palgen, Sr.
Marilyn Dock
Kimberly and Rob Norman
Rev. Anthony B. Pizzo, O.S.A.
Anonymous
Augurusa Foundation
Charles and Rosa DiMartino
Rev. Jeffrey D. Raths, O.S.A.
Jean and Allen Scherer
Rev. James G. Ryan, O.S.A. †
Mary Kay Schneider
Debbie and Alois Pustejovsky
Patricia and Steven Ryan-Fouts
Rev. Raymond R. Ryan, O.S.A. †
Marilyn and John Kennedy
Br. Anthony H. Schander, O.S.A. †
Amanda and Dean Hoppenrath
Rev. Bernard C. Scianna, O.S.A., Ph.D.
Anonymous
Angela and Rocco Gargiulo
Bonnie Krywanio
Kristy and Kevin Krywanio
Diane and Ernie Mrozek
Dina and Joe Scianna
Rev. John L. Seary, O.S.A. †
Alice Graff
Rev. Joseph A. Senke, O.S.A. †
Kathy and Bill Bingham
Br. Martin C. Shaw, O.S.A. †
Amanda and Dean Hoppenrath
Rev. James J. Sheridan, O.S.A. †
Lucille H. Ostrowski
Michael Phillips
Sean and Trina Sheridan
Mary Sheridan
Rev. Michael J. Slattery, O.S.A. †
Ellen and Christopher Coury
Marianna and John Shields
Rev. John J. Sotak, O.S.A.
Columbian Squires #4960
Carolyn and Ronald Pilon
Rev. Reinhard Sternemann, O.S.A. †
Zack Smolinski, Sr.
Kay and Jim Scheuerell
Rev. Joseph G. Stobba, O.S.A.
Jaimen McMillan
Br. Angelo A. Sturn, O.S.A. †
Greg and Marie Consolo
Rev. R. W. Sullivan, O.S.A.
Columbian Squires #4960
Dcn. Robert Fitt
Karen and Daniel Hyma
Catherine Langlois
Carolyn and Ronald Pilon
Donald and Judith Rehm
Br. Jerome A. Sysko, O.S.A.
Janet Lucas and John Puskar
Rev. Ted Tack, O.S.A. †
Kay and Robert Moody
Rev. Frederick H. Taggart, O.S.A. †
Greg Jenkins
Lucille H. Ostrowski
Rev. Gerard J. Theis, O.S.A. †
Christine and Raymond Forsthoefel
Rev. John Toomey, O.S.A. †
Pamela and Pat Walls
Rev. Ron Turcich, O.S.A. †
Pamela and Pat Walls
Bp. Daniel T. Turley, O.S.A.
Dominic Adducci
Dcn. Howard and Maryann Fischer
Paula and Dave Hougan
Vincentia Liskovec Cink
Rev. John A. Tyma, O.S.A.
Marcia and Gregory Klazura
Rev. Richard A. Young, O.S.A. †
Leann and Jim Hahn
Knights of Columbus Council #16369
Sheila and Ronald Bonaguro
In Memoriam
Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them. Our prayers are with the family, friends, and community of our dearly deceased.
Rev. Edward Charles Doherty, O.S.A., passed away peacefully on March 6, 2026, at the age of 94. Born in Lynn, Massachusetts, he entered the Augustinian Order in 1950, professed solemn vows in 1954, and was ordained to the priesthood in 1957. Fr. Doherty devoted nearly seven decades to ministry as an educator, pastor, chaplain, and parish priest, serving throughout the Northeast, Florida, and beyond. He is remembered for his faithful service, generous spirit, and lifelong dedication to the Augustinian community.
Maureen Pestka, O.S.A. Affiliate, passed away on March 5, 2026, at the age of 88. A devoted member of St. Rita Parish in Racine, Wisconsin, she served the Augustinian community for 33 years, first as receptionist and later as Business Manager. In 2004, she was honored to become an Augustinian Affiliate. Maureen was known for her deep faith, love for her family, and dedicated service to the Church. She is remembered with gratitude by the many lives she touched through her kindness and commitment.
Patrick Reilley, a member of Mendel Catholic High School's Class of 1968, passed away on March 22, 2026. He was the brother of William “Bill” Reilley, a longtime benefactor of the Augustinians and member of the Province Advancement Council. Patrick is remembered with gratitude by his family, friends, and fellow alumni. The Augustinian community extends its prayers and condolences to the entire Reilley family during this time of loss.
John F. Sattler, a former member of the Midwest Augustinian Province, passed away on March 13, 2026, at the age of 89. He entered the Augustinian Order in 1960, professed solemn vows in 1964, and was ordained to the priesthood in 1966. He was dispensed from his vows and the clerical state in 1973. John devoted his life to education, faith, and social justice, serving for many years as a guidance counselor in Schaumburg, Illinois. He is remembered for his compassion, humor, and dedication to helping others.
Jeanne Ann Sattler, wife of former Augustinian John Sattler, passed away peacefully on April 16, 2026. A former Sinsinawa Dominican, Jeanne Ann devoted her life to faith, education, and social justice. She taught for many years in Catholic schools and was deeply involved in organizations promoting peace, racial equity, and human dignity. Together, Jeanne Ann and John shared a lifelong commitment to Gospel values and service to others. She is remembered for her kindness, wisdom, and unwavering faith.
Maria Nayagam Nallaia, father of Fr. John Arulthas, O.S.A., of Canada, passed away on April 13, 2026, in Sri Lanka at the age of 77. Surrounded by family, he died peacefully after a courageous twoyear battle with a terminal lung illness. A devoted husband, father, and man of faith, Maria Nayagam was welcomed as an Augustinian Affiliate in 2019. He is remembered for his steadfast faith, love of family, and commitment to the Church.
From Director of Lay Engagement, Maryellen Harrington: In the span of just 90 days, I said goodbye to two of my brothers, Michael, age 53, and Richard, age 72. Michael had a remarkable energy and the rare gift of walking into a room and quickly making friends. Richard's life was marked by resilience and perseverance as he faced life's challenges with determination. My family is especially grateful to our Augustinian family, whose prayers, presence, and support accompanied us through this season of loss. We entrust Michael and Richard to the loving mercy of God and pray that they rest in eternal peace.
Michael Burke Richard Burke
In Memoriam
Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them. Our prayers are with the family, friends, and community of our dearly deceased.
Lorraine M. Topor passed away on April 15, 2026, at the age of 87. She was the mother of Robert Topor, a St. Rita High School alumnus and former faculty member, and the mother-in-law of Rachel Rone, who served on the first Province Gala Committee. Lorraine was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother who found joy in family, gardening, cooking, and caring for others. She is remembered for her warmth, generosity, and love of life.
Esteban Garcia, father of Aracely Garcia, an Augustinian Affiliate and member of St. Rita Parish, passed away in Mexico on April 12, 2026. He is remembered with love by his family and all who knew him. Aracely became an Augustinian Affiliate in 2019 and has been an active member of the Augustinian community. Esteban's funeral and burial took place in Mexico. Please keep Esteban, Aracely, and their entire family in your prayers.
Rev. Bernard Tyler, a former Augustinian, passed away on April 28, 2026, at the age of 91. Born in Flint, Michigan, he entered the Augustinian Order in 1948, professed solemn vows in 1956, and was ordained to the priesthood in 1961. Fr. Tyler served in a variety of ministries throughout the Midwest Province and was especially known for his work with the deaf community, serving as Coordinator of the Chicago Catholic Association of the Deaf. He also served as a formator at St. Augustine Seminary in Holland, Michigan. In 1994, he joined the Diocese of Lansing, where he continued his priestly ministry for many years.
Michael J. Gleason, husband of Marge Gleason, Augustinian Affiliate and Province Healthcare Consultant, passed away on April 30, 2026, at the age of 79. A U.S. Marine Corps veteran, he was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, and public servant. Michael worked for the Archdiocese of Chicago for 24 years and also served as an alderman and treasurer for the City of Country Club Hills. He is remembered for his faith, dedication to family, and commitment to serving others.
Rev. Thomas Moisan, a former Augustinian, passed away on April 24, 2026, at the age of 81. A graduate of Mendel Catholic High School, he professed solemn vows as an Augustinian in 1970 and served in ministries at Austin Catholic High School, St. Rita Parish in Racine, Wisconsin, and St. Gregory Parish in Cambridge, Ontario. After leaving the Order, he joined the Diocese of Hamilton, Ontario, where he was ordained in 1984 and served in parish ministry until his retirement in 2015.
George E. Hresil, father of Br. Gary Hresil, O.S.A., passed away on June 2, 2026. A U.S. Army veteran, George was the beloved husband of Pearl for 67 years and a devoted father, grandfather, great-grandfather, and friend. Known for his love of family and steadfast faith, George leaves behind a legacy of dedication and service. He remained close to the Augustinian community through his son’s vocation.
El P. Tony Pizzo, O.S.A., y el P. Richie Mercado, O.S.A., conversan con un grupo durante una visita al Perú.
Carta del prior provincial Muy Rev. Anthony B. Pizzo, O.S.A.
Queridos amigos:
Mientras me preparo para concluir mi segundo mandato como prior provincial, no puedo evitar reflexionar sobre las numerosas bendiciones de los últimos ocho años y, sobre todo, sobre las personas que las hicieron posibles.
Servir a la Provincia de Nuestra Madre del Buen Consejo como prior provincial ha sido un gran privilegio y una gran responsabilidad. Juntos, hemos celebrado profesiones, fortalecido nuestros ministerios, apoyado nuestra misión en Perú y continuado compartiendo el Evangelio a través de nuestras parroquias, escuelas y comunidades agustinas. A través de momentos de alegría y momentos de desafío, se me ha recordado una y otra vez que no recorremos este camino solos.
San Agustín nos enseña que la vida cristiana es una peregrinación compartida hacia Dios. Estoy profundamente agradecido a mis hermanos agustinos, a nuestros dedicados colaboradores laicos, a nuestros benefactores y a todos aquellos que apoyan nuestra misión con sus oraciones, su generosidad y su amistad. Gracias por acompañarnos en esta peregrinación.
Este último año también ha sido memorable para la familia agustina con la elección del papa León XIV, lo que nos recuerda que los valores de nuestra tradición siguen respondiendo a las necesidades de nuestro mundo.
Al mirar hacia el próximo capítulo de mi propio camino, llevo conmigo un corazón agradecido y una sencilla petición: por favor, sigan orando por nuestra Provincia, por las vocaciones y por todos aquellos a quienes servimos.
Que Dios los bendiga siempre.
Con gratitud,
Muy Rev. Anthony Benedetto Pizzo, O.S.A.
Prior Provincial
El P. Robert Dueweke, O.S.A., participa en la Conferencia
Internacional sobre la Paz Global junto a otros líderes religiosos
El 26 de mayo, el P. Robert Dueweke, O.S.A., representó a la Orden de San Agustín como ponente destacado en la Conferencia Interreligiosa Internacional sobre la Paz Global, en un encuentro virtual centrado en promover la paz, el diálogo y el entendimiento mutuo entre personas de diferentes tradiciones religiosas.
Organizada por la Global Ministries University en colaboración
con el Instituto de Diálogo Interreligioso y Estudios Islámicos de la Universidad de Tangaza en Nairobi, Kenia, la conferencia reunió a líderes religiosos y académicos de todo el mundo. El tema de este año, «Solidaridad interreligiosa más allá de la política: Buscar la paz entre nosotros a través del alimento espiritual», exploró cómo las comunidades religiosas pueden trabajar juntas para fomentar la
reconciliación, el entendimiento y la paz en un mundo cada vez más dividido.
El P. Deweke se unió a un distinguido panel de conferenciantes internacionales que representaban las tradiciones cristiana, musulmana y judía, aportando una perspectiva agustiniana sobre el diálogo, la comunidad y la búsqueda compartida de la verdad. La conferencia fue gratuita y se transmitió en vivo a nivel mundial, lo que permitió la construcción de la paz y la cooperación interreligiosa.
El P. Tom McCarthy, O.S.A., provincial electo, visita Perú
Del 28 de abril hasta el 2 de mayo, el provincial electo, el P. Tom McCarthy, O.S.A., visitó el Vicariato Agustiniano de Chulucanas en Perú, acompañado por el P. Homero Sánchez, O.S.A., párroco de la parroquia de Santa Rita en Chicago, quien se encargó de la traducción durante todo el viaje.
Durante su visita, el P. Tom, se reunió con las comunidades agustinas de Lima, Pacasmayo, Trujillo, Pacaipampa, Morropón y Chulucanas, incluyendo a los frailes en formación. Estos Encuentros brindaron oportunidades para la fraternidad, el diálogo y el apoyo mutuo, mientras el P. Tom se preparaba para comenzar su servicio como Prior Provincial. En cada lugar, los miembros del Vicariato se reunieron con comidas festivas y celebraciones comunitarias.
A parte de las reuniones en
recaudados en la Escuela Secundaria de Santa Rita para financiar becas destinadas a los estudiantes que asisten a la nueva escuela agustiniana de Trujillo. Asimismo, les entregó una donación de $200 recaudada por los alumnos de segundo grado de la escuela católica St. Chistina en Chicago para el mismo fondo de becas.
Para ver la presentación grabada, escanee el código QR que aparece aquí o visite: https://www. youtube.com/ watch?v=po7BHilDAjE grupo, el P. Tom dedicó tiempo a mantener conversaciones individuales con muchos de los frailes, lo que le permitió conocer más sus ministerios, esperanzas y sus experiencias. Como una señal de apoyo de la Provincia del Medio Oeste, también les llevó varios obsequios, entre ellos una donación económica de 10 500 dólares
El P. Tony Pizzo celebra la solemnidad de San Benito en la Archiabadía de St. Vincent en Latrobe
El 21 de marzo, el P. Tony Pizzo, O.S.A., prior provincial de los Agustinos del Medio Oeste, fue el celebrante y homilista de la Solemnidad del Tránsito de San Benito en la Archiabadía de St. Vincent, en Latrobe, Pensilvania.
La liturgia reunió a miembros de la comunidad benedictina e invitados para honrar la vida y el legado de San Benito, cuya Regla ha guiado a las comunidades monásticas durante más de quince siglos. En su homilía, el P.
Tony reflexionó sobre la importancia de escuchar en la vida espiritual, estableciendo conexiones entre las enseñanzas de San Benito, la sabiduría de San Agustín y los desafíos de la sociedad moderna.
Haciendo referencia a la invitación de Benedicto XVI a «escuchar con el oído del corazón», el P. Tony animó a los presentes a buscar momentos de silencio y reflexión en medio del ruido de la vida cotidiana. Señaló que
la escucha auténtica abre la puerta a una comunión más profunda con Dios y con los demás, contribuyendo a construir una cultura de paz, unidad y comprensión.
La participación del P. Tony en la celebración reflejó la larga amistad y el patrimonio espiritual compartido entre las tradiciones agustina y benedictina, las cuales nos animan a desear buscar a Dios a través de la oración, la comunidad y el servicio.
El obispo Dan Turley, O.S.A., da una charla en Merrimack College
El 8 de abril de 2026, el obispo Daniel Turley, O.S.A., visitó al Merrimack College como orador principal del programa anual Augustinian Note, donde compartió sus reflexiones sobre más de cinco décadas de servicio misionero en Perú.
Dirigiéndose a los Austin Scholars de la Universidad, monseñor Turley habló sobre las lecciones que aprendió mientras prestaba servicio en comunidades remotas de todo Perú, donde ejerció su ministerio durante más de 50 añ0s antes de regresar a los Estados Unidos en 2020.
Al reflexionar sobre su experiencia, enfatizó que el verdadero servicio misionero no consiste simplemente en dar a los demás, sino en reconocer la presencia de Cristo que ya está actuando en las personas a las que se sirve.
A través de historias personales y
De izquierda a derecha: el P. Dan Madden, O.S.A.; el Hno. Nathan Fernandes, O.S.A.; el obispo Daniel Turley, O.S.A.; el Rev. Ray Dlugos, O.S.A.; y el Hno. Frank Connor, O.S.A. reflexiones, el obispo Turley destacó la importancia de la humildad, la confianza y la fe. Animó a los estudiantes a mantenerse abiertos a las formas en que Dios obra a través de los demás y a reconocer que algunas de las mayores lecciones de la vida provienen de las relaciones y el servicio.
La visita brindó a los estudiantes una oportunidad de primera mano para aprender de uno de los, misioneros y líderes eclesiales más destacados de los Agustinos del Medio Oeste, cuyas décadas de ministerio siguen inspirando a los agustinos de todo el mundo.
«Escucha»
El P. Tony Pizzo, O.S.A., reflexiona sobre el liderazgo y la espiritualidad agustinos al terminar su mandato como prior provincial.
En la mañana del 11 de mayo de 2025, el P. Anthony B. Pizzo, O.S.A., se encontraba junto al recién elegido papa León XIV ante la tumba de San Pedro.
Apenas unos días antes, el cardenal Robert Prevost, O.S.A., compañero agustino y amigo de toda la vida, se había convertido en el primer papa agustino en la historia de la Iglesia católica. Ahora, en uno de los lugares más sagrados del cristianismo, el P. Tony se encontraba concelebrando la misa con el Santo Padre en el aniversario de su propia ordenación sacerdotal.
El momento tenía un peso simbólico que ninguno de los dos podría haber anticipado décadas antes, cuando eran jóvenes estudiantes en la Universidad de Villanova.
Para el P. Tony, sin embargo, parte del significado de la experiencia radicaba en otra cosa: él habla del poder de dejar ir.
Cuando el P. Tony llegó a Roma el 9 de mayo, el día después de la elección, decidió no pedir ver ni saludar al nuevo papa. Era un frenesí mediático y no quería «molestar a nadie». Sin embargo, al dejar de lado su deseo de ver al papa, se le concedió el regalo de pasar la tarde del sábado rezando con el papa en la Basílica de Nuestra Señora del Buen Consejo. Luego fue invitado por el Santo Padre a concelebrar la Misa del Buen Pastor el domingo 11 de mayo, que coincidió con su 41.º aniversario como sacerdote. El Santo Padre se acordó de su aniversario. El P. Tony siempre considerará esto como un gran regalo.
En retrospectiva, este ha sido un tema recurrente en la concepción que tiene el P. Tony del liderazgo. A lo largo de sus dos mandatos como prior provincial, aprendió que algunos de los momentos más importantes del ministerio no surgen de la planificación, la ambición o el control, sino de la apertura y la aceptación.
Esa lección ha moldeado gran parte de la vocación del P. Tony como fraile agustino. Influyó en su ministerio en los barrios en transformación de Chicago, en sus años como párroco de la parroquia de Santa Rita y, en última instancia, en sus ocho años como prior provincial de la Provincia Agustina del Medio Oeste de Nuestra Madre del Buen Consejo.
Mientras la Provincia se prepara para dar la bienvenida a un nuevo liderazgo este verano, la conclusión del segundo mandato del P. Tony brinda la oportunidad de reflexionar no solo sobre los acontecimientos que definieron esos años, sino también sobre la visión espiritual que los guió. Al mirar hacia atrás, el P. Tony habla más de relaciones que de administración, más de escuchar que de estrategia, y más de acompañamiento que de autoridad.
«La pregunta sobre el liderazgo no es: “¿Quieres esto?”», dice. «La pregunta es: “¿Estás dispuesto a servir?”».
Esa distinción, por simple que parezca, revela mucho sobre el hombre que ha dirigido la Provincia desde 2018.
Pero mucho antes de su elección como Provincial, el P. Tony se sentía plenamente realizado allí donde estaba.
Como párroco de la parroquia de Santa Rita, en el suroeste de Chicago, encontraba una profunda satisfacción en el ministerio parroquial, la organización comunitaria, las iniciativas de justicia social y el trabajo diario de acompañar a las personas en las alegrías y dificultades de la vida.
Cuando sus hermanos comenzaron a acercársele para hablarle de la posibilidad
de convertirse en Provincial, su reacción fue inmediata y sin ambigüedades.
«Estaba muy feliz haciendo lo que hacía», recuerda. «Mi mente no estaba en esa dirección».
Sin embargo, su nombre siguió saliendo a la luz. Un año antes del Capítulo Provincial de 2018, varios frailes se le acercaron para decirle que se le estaba considerando como posible sucesor del entonces Provincial, el P. Bernie Scianna, O.S.A. Las conversaciones se volvieron gradualmente más serias.
El gobierno agustino difiere en aspectos importantes de la cultura política que a menudo rodea a las elecciones. Los provinciales son elegidos mediante un proceso de discernimiento comunitario que requiere oración, consulta y confianza. El liderazgo es una responsabilidad que se acepta cuando los hermanos te llaman, no algo que se busca.
«Si me preguntas si era algo que yo deseaba, puedo decir con toda sinceridad que no lo estaba buscando activamente», afirma. «Pero si me preguntas si estaba dispuesto a servir, eso es otra cosa».
Consciente de que podría ser elegido, Pizzo comenzó a prepararse con meses de antelación. Se acercó a los frailes con quienes consideraría trabajar en un futuro consejo, redactó su discurso como provincial y comenzó a reflexionar sobre las prioridades que guiarían una posible administración.
«Pensé para mí mismo: si esto sucede, no quiero que me pille desprevenido».
La preparación reflejaba una mezcla característica de pragmatismo y humildad. No había garantía de ser elegido, pero existía
la responsabilidad de estar listo.
Cuando el Capítulo finalmente lo eligió provincial, vivió ese momento como una expresión de confianza comunitaria.
«El Espíritu habla a través de la comunidad», dice. «Si mis hermanos votaron por mí, tal vez vieron algo que yo no veía en mí mismo».
Si hay un hilo conductor que une las reflexiones de Pizzo sobre el liderazgo, es la convicción agustiniana de que la autoridad genuina comienza con el autoconocimiento.
Una y otra vez, las conversaciones sobre administración, decisiones de personal, vida comunitaria y ministerio terminan volviendo a la famosa oración de Agustín: «Señor, permíteme conocerme a mí mismo y conocerte a Ti». Para el P. Tony, la frase se ha vuelto más significativa con la edad y la experiencia.
«Hay cosas de mí mismo que prefiero no afrontar», dice riendo. «Pero si quiero seguir adelante, si quiero amarme y aceptarme tal como Dios me ama, entonces eso es lo que tengo que hacer».
Este comentario es característico del estilo de liderazgo del P. Tony, que él ve menos como una cuestión de dirigir a los demás y más como un ejercicio continuo de conversión. El cargo de prior provincial no lo alejó de ese proceso. Si acaso, lo intensificó.
Una de las experiencias formativas del P. Tony como líder ocurrió durante sus años en la parroquia de Santa Clara de Montefalco en Chicago. Al principio de su ministerio allí, presidió el funeral de un adolescente que había sido asesinado a tiros. Ante la necesidad de consolar a los familiares afligidos y a una comunidad traumatizada, se dio cuenta rápidamente de que el liderazgo no significaba tener respuestas.
«No podía hacer que ese chico volviera», dice. «Tuve que aprender a callarme. Tuve que aprender a estar presente para la gente y a escuchar. Uno aprende a dejar de lado la idea de que el liderazgo significa tener una respuesta para todo».
Años más tarde, durante la crisis de vivienda que devastó muchos barrios del suroeste de Chicago, llegó a una conclusión similar. Mientras conducía por los alrededores de la parroquia, notó un número creciente de casas desocupadas. La crisis parecía inmensa y, aparentemente, más allá del alcance de cualquier respuesta
individual.
Entonces, una feligresa llegó a la rectoría con unos mapas grandes llenos de puntos rojos, cada uno de los cuales representaba una casa desocupada.
«Padre», le dijo, «mire nuestro barrio. Se está desangrando».
La imagen le impactó de inmediato: los puntos rojos agrupados parecían sangre que se extendía desde una herida.
La respuesta que siguió se convertiría en uno de los ejemplos más característicos de su enfoque del liderazgo. En lugar de imponer soluciones, trabajó junto a los feligreses, las organizaciones comunitarias, los líderes religiosos y los residentes locales para ayudar a las personas a reconocer su propia capacidad de acción. Mirando hacia atrás, lo describe como un enfoque misionero.
«No se trata de ir e imponer a Cristo a la gente», dice. «Se trata de ayudar a las personas a darse cuenta de que Cristo ha estado ahí todo el tiempo».
El mismo principio guiaría más tarde su labor como prior provincial.
Los agustinos del Medio Oeste conforman una comunidad de frailes notablemente diversa, dedicada a una amplia gamadeministerios.Lospárrocos,educadores, directores de retiros, misioneros, capellanes universitarios y formadores aportan cada uno diferentes experiencias y perspectivas a la vida de la Provincia. A esta diversidad se suman las dimensiones cada vez más internacionales de la Provincia, en particular su relación de larga data con su misión peruana.
«[Como provincial] trato con un montón de hermanos que son diferentes entre sí», dice Pizzo. «Mi responsabilidad era acercarme a ellos allí donde se encuentran».
El énfasis en la escucha refleja una sensibilidad claramente agustiniana, centrada en la comunidad y el compañerismo.
«La imagen de San Agustín como compañero me llega al alma», afirma. «Si estuviera aquí, entablaría conversación contigo. Caminaría a tu lado… Las Confesiones siempre están cerca de mi sillón», dice el P. Tony. «Puedes abrirlas por casi cualquier página y encontrar una reflexión».
Lo que sigue cautivándolo es la
transparencia de Agustín al examinar públicamente sus fracasos, contradicciones, deseos y debilidades. Para el P. Tony, esa honestidad ofrece un modelo no solo para el crecimiento espiritual, sino para el liderazgo mismo.
«El camino más esencial en la vida es nuestro camino hacia Dios a través de la conciencia de uno mismo».
Ocupar el cargo de prior provincial expuso al P. Tony a momentos extraordinarios de gracia y alegría, así como a momentos profundos de dolor. Presidió profesiones y ordenaciones, celebró jubileos, visitó comunidades agustinas en toda la Provincia, participó en Capítulos Generales de la Orden y representó a la Provincia en el ámbito internacional.
Durante los años en que el P. Tony fue provincial, la Provincia del Medio Oeste siguió enfrentándose a los retos asociados con el envejecimiento de sus miembros. Unirse a sus hermanos en el cuidado de otros frailes durante la enfermedad y la muerte se convirtió en una parte importante del ministerio del P. Tony, y algunas de esas experiencias siguen siendo de las más significativas de su liderazgo.
«Hubo momentos en los que llegué justo a tiempo», dice. «Justo a tiempo para esa transición de esta vida a la siguiente».
Para él, esos momentos revelan algo esencial sobre la vocación de un sacerdote y el privilegio de compartir esos momentos sacramentales tan intensos.
Ya sea predicando, escuchando confesiones o acompañando a las personas en momentos de duelo, el P. Tony vuelve repetidamente al misterio de la gracia que actúa de maneras que escapan al cálculo humano.
Recuerda ocasiones en las que consideró que una homilía no había tenido éxito o estaba desorganizada, solo para que los feligreses se le acercaran después y le dijeran que era exactamente lo que necesitaban escuchar. Experiencias como estas han reforzado su convicción de que el ministerio no se trata del ministro.
«El Espíritu fue la guía», dice simplemente.
Lo mismo podría decirse de gran parte de las actividades de la Provincia durante su mandato.
La Provincia mantuvo su compromiso con las escuelas, al mismo tiempo que apoyaba las iniciativas educativas agustinas en un ámbito más amplio. Las vocaciones y la formación siguieron siendo prioridades, lo que se tradujo en nuevas profesiones y ordenaciones que ofrecieron señales de esperanza para el futuro.
Mientras tanto, la relación de la Provincia con Perú sigue profundizándose. Una visita en 2024 le permitió al P. Tony participar en el Capítulo Intermedio del Vicariato Agustiniano, asistir a las celebraciones en honor a El Señor de los Milagros y relacionarse directamente con los estudiantes y las comunidades locales.
Tales experiencias reforzaron su aprecio por las dimensiones globales de la vida agustiniana.
«Tengo excelentes relaciones con hermanos de otras culturas», dice. «Nunca habría tenido esas conexiones si no fuera por este cargo».
El alcance internacional de su liderazgo también incluyó la participación en tres Capítulos Generales de la Orden, una distinción inusual para un provincial. A través de estas reuniones, fue testigo de los desafíos y oportunidades que enfrentan los agustinos en todo el mundo y obtuvo una perspectiva más amplia sobre el futuro de la vida religiosa.
Sin embargo, cuando se le pregunta por sus logros, invariablemente desvía la atención hacia otros aspectos: habla de la comunidad, de las relaciones y de la gratitud.
Quizás en ningún otro lugar se hizo más evidente esa gratitud que en sus descripciones de los hombres que sirvieron a su lado. Además de los respectivos Consejos de ambos mandatos, reconoce a compañeros frailes como el P. Jim Halstead, O.S.A., el P. Richie Mercado, O.S.A., y el Hno. Nick Mullarkey, O.S.A., por brindarle apoyo, consejo y amistad especiales a lo largo de su administración. Su colaboración ayudó a crear el sentido de confianza que él consideraba indispensable para un liderazgo eficaz.
«Siempre sentí el apoyo total de estos chicos», dice.
La comunidad, sin embargo, no es sentimentalismo y el P. Tony es igualmente franco sobre sus dificultades.
«Está bien que me frustre», dice. «Está bien que no estemos de acuerdo todo el tiempo. Está bien que discutamos».
La vida religiosa, insiste, no es diferente de la vida familiar en este sentido. Los desacuerdos son inevitables. Surgen frustraciones. Las personalidades chocan.
Lo que importa es seguir comprometidos los unos con los otros a pesar de esas tensiones.
Estareflexiónsehaceecodeunahomilía que pronunció durante el Capítulo General en Roma, al celebrar el cuadragésimo aniversario de su profesión como agustino. Reflexionando sobre la vida comunitaria, animó a sus hermanos a recordar que la mejor manera de afrontar sus desafíos es, a menudo, sorprendentemente sencilla.
«Haz el bien... y olvídalo».
Cuando las personas aprenden a ver los momentos difíciles como oportunidades para encontrarse con Cristo —sugirió—, incluso las dificultades adquieren sentido.
Los últimos años del provincialato del P. Tony coincidieron con uno de los acontecimientos más extraordinarios de la historia agustina: la elección del papa León XIV, un agustino de la Provincia de Nuestra Señora del Buen Consejo.
Para generaciones de agustinos, la posibilidad parecía casi inimaginable. Entonces, en mayo de 2025, el cardenal Robert Francis Prevost, O.S.A., se convirtió en obispo de Roma.
La elección tuvo un significado especial para el P. Tony.
Los dos hombres se conocían desde hacía décadas. Estudiaron juntos, prestaron servicio y mantuvieron una amistad fraternal a lo largo de años de ministerio y liderazgo.
«Siempre parecía saber cuándo aparecer en los acontecimientos importantes de mi vida», dice el P. Tony.
Recuerda la presencia del futuro papa en los funerales de sus dos padres, gestos que reflejaban una consideración que había observado a lo largo de los años.
Cuando Prevost se convirtió en papa, Pizzo vivió ese momento con el orgullo de un agustino y el cariño de un amigo. La invitación a concelebrar la misa en la tumba de San Pedro no hizo más que profundizar la experiencia. Lo que más llama la atención,
sin embargo, no es el significado histórico del evento, sino la interpretación que el P. Tony hace de él.
Una vez más, vuelve al tema de la entrega: «El poder de dejar ir».
No esperaba la invitación. No la había buscado. Sin embargo, la gracia llegó de todos modos.
Al concluir su mandato, el P. Tony se encuentra iniciando un nuevo capítulo, atento a la voz que lo guía del Espíritu.
Este año cumple setenta años. Ha sobrevivido al cáncer, a una enfermedad cardíaca, a una cirugía y a numerosos problemas de salud. Sin embargo, sigue mostrándose reacio a definir con demasiada precisión lo que vendrá después.
Le espera un año sabático. Quizás Cuba. Quizás el ministerio en prisiones. Quizás algo completamente diferente.
Por primera vez en décadas, no pasa directamente de un cargo a otro.
En cambio, se encuentra escuchando.
Con frecuencia vuelve a una frase asociada tanto a Agustín como a Benito: «Escucha con el oído de tu corazón».
La palabra que más importa dice, es la primera: escuchar.
Es una conclusión adecuada para ocho años de liderazgo provincial.
A lo largo de su ministerio, el P. Tony ha resistido la tentación de presentar el liderazgo como certeza, autoridad o control, y en cambio ha llegado a entenderlo como atención a Dios, a la comunidad, a las necesidades de los demás y a los movimientos, a menudo sorprendentes, del Espíritu Santo.
Mientras se prepara para entregar la Provincia a su sucesor, el P. Tom McCarthy, O.S.A., su mensaje sigue siendo característicamente sencillo: «gracias».
Gracias a sus hermanos. Gracias a los benefactores, colaboradores y amigos de la Provincia. Gracias a todas aquellas personas cuyas vidas se han cruzado con la suya. Gracias a los agustinos peruanos que han enriquecido la vida de la Provincia. Gracias a quienes han rezado por él.
Y, por último, una petición.
«Oren por las vocaciones», dice. «Oren para que todos escuchemos con atención. Oren para que escuchemos con el oído del corazón».
