Augustinian Vocations

09/08/2026

Are you discerning a call to religious life as an Augustinian Friar? We're hosting a Virtual Come & See event tomorrow night via ZOOM, Wednesday, September 9th from 7:30-8:30pm eastern. Join our vocation directors, Fr. Jeremy Hiers, Br. David Relstab, and Fr. Philip Yang to learn more about life as an Augustinian and what discernment and formation can be like. ⁠
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This event is open to single Catholic men ages 19-45 in the United States and Canada who are discerning priesthood and / or religious life.⁠

Want to register? It's not too late! Visit our website to sign up: www.beafriar.org

08/27/2026

Nothing like Chicago's original Rainbow Cone to start off a discernment journey! Welcome to our new pre-novices!

Photos from: Fr. Francis Galvan, O.S.A.

08/20/2026

This year, we're welcoming three Augustinian Associates to the Augustinian community at Cascia Hall Preparatory School. These Associates are actively discerning religious life as Augustinian friars, and will be working with students and living in community throughout the year.

Pictured left to right are Fr. Joe Roccasalva, Frank Wathen, Patrick Lefere, Austin Barringer, and Fr. Jack Tierney.

Welcome, Associates!

08/18/2026

We're hosting a Virtual Come & See event tomorrow night via ZOOM, Wednesday, August 19th from 7:30-8:30pm eastern. Join our vocation directors, Fr. Jeremy Hiers, Br. David Relstab, and Fr. Philip Yang to learn more about life as an Augustinian and what discernment and formation can be like.

This event is open to single Catholic men ages 19-45 in the United States and Canada who are discerning priesthood and / or religious life.

Want to register? It's not too late! Click here:

Join the Augustinians for a virtual "Come and See" event that meets via online video call.

08/05/2026

This past weekend, Br. Jugie "John" Bernardo, O.S.A., Br. Kurt Bragg, O.S.A., Br. Brent Faubert, O.S.A., and Br. Jun Maranan, O.S.A., professed First Vows during Mass celebrated by Fr. Joseph Farrell, O.S.A., Prior General of the worldwide Augustinian Order. By professing the vows of poverty, chastity. and obedience, the four men entered the next stage of formation as professed Augustinian friars. Join us in congratulating and praying for these men!

Read their vocation stories at www.beafriar.org

08/01/2026

Today, August 1st, at 10:30am Eastern, four Augustinian Novices will make their First Profession of Vows. Please join us in praying for these men as they take the next step in their journey as Augustinians! And please join us to watch the event via livestream at this link: https://vums-web.villanova.edu/Mediasite/Channel/first-profession-mass-2026/

07/30/2026

Kurt Bragg likes to see the whole road ahead.

“I'm a 30,000 foot view person," he says. "I like to see the road and all the pathways to get there before I make decisions."

His vocation journey? It hasn't worked that way.

On August 1, 2026, Kurt will make his First Profession of Vows as an Augustinian, promising to live poverty, chastity and obedience in the Augustinian way of life. After spending a year in the novitiate, he will officially become an Augustinian friar.

Read his full vocation story here: https://www.beafriar.org/post/the-next-good-step-kurt-bragg-s-journey-to-first-profession

And watch the livestream profession of vows at 10:30am eastern on Saturday here: https://vums-web.villanova.edu/Mediasite/Channel/first-profession-mass-2026/

Kurt Bragg likes to see the whole road ahead.“I'm a 30,000 foot view person," he says. "I like to see the road and all the pathways to get there before I make decisions."His vocation journey? It hasn't worked that way.On August 1, 2026, Kurt will make his First Profession of Vows as an Augustinian...

07/27/2026

For much of his adult life, Brent Faubert was doing exactly what he thought he was supposed to do. He built a successful career. He pursued professional achievement. He worked hard, advanced in his field and accomplished many of the goals he had set for himself. Then, in his 30s, something unexpected happened.

Looking back now, Brent sees his vocation as the story of God patiently resetting his understanding of what makes a life meaningful. Read his testimony here: https://www.beafriar.org/post/reset-brent-faubert-s-journey-to-first-profession

And join us this Saturday, August 1, at 10:30am ET via livestream when Brent and three other Augustinian Novices make their First Profession of Vows. Livestream link here: https://vums-web.villanova.edu/Mediasite/Channel/first-profession-mass-2026/

For much of his adult life, Brent Faubert was doing exactly what he thought he was supposed to do. He built a successful career. He pursued professional achievement. He worked hard, advanced in his field and accomplished many of the goals he had set for himself.Then, in his 30s, something unexpected...

07/23/2026

When Jugie “John” Bernardo first met the Augustinians, he expected to learn about community but instead, he found himself learning about his own restless heart.

That discovery has become one of the defining themes of his vocation. As John prepares to profess his first vows as an Augustinian friar on August 1, 2026, he says the greatest gift of formation has has been discovering that authentic community begins with authentic self-knowledge.

Read more of John's vocation story on our website: https://www.beafriar.org/post/lord-let-me-know-myself-jugie-john-bernardo-s-journey-to-first-profession

Watch the livestream of the First Profession on August 1, 2026, at 10:30am Eastern time here: http://vums-web.villanova.edu/Mediasite/Channel/first-profession-mass-2026/watch/5754d226126141ad856980e70fce6fc31d

When Jugie “John” Bernardo first met the Augustinians, he expected to learn about community but instead, he found himself learning about his own restless heart.That discovery has become one of the defining themes of his vocation. As John prepares to profess his first vows as an Augustinian friar...

07/22/2026

This week, several of our friars have been participating in sessions at the Conference of Major Superiors of Men (CMSM) Assembly in Phoenix, AZ.