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Nov
14
10:30 AM10:30
Province Events, Online Events, In-Person Events, Mass

The Solemn Profession of Vows of Br. William Gabriel, O.S.A. and Br. Jeremy Hiers, O.S.A.

  • Saint Thomas of Villanova Church (map)
  • Google Calendar ICS
2021 Save the Date! (4).png

Fr. Michael F. Di Gregorio, O.S.A.
Prior Provincial
and the Augustinian Friars of the
Province of Saint Thomas of Villanova

cordially invite you to the Solemn Profession of Vows of

WILLIAM GABRIEL, O.S.A.

and

JEREMY HIERS, O.S.A.

Saturday, November 14, 2020
10:30 AM

Saint Thomas of Villanova Church

800 Lancaster Avenue
Villanova, Pennsylvania

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Br. William Gabriel, O.S.A.

I joined the Augustinians because of the vibrant, Augustinian-led, parish I grew up in and my experience of Augustinian spirituality and community as a student at Villanova. I felt called to their gifts of friendship and service that remained rooted in faith, love, and communion. I was drawn by how the friars extended hospitality to neighbor, lived Augustine’s desire for truth, and served as companions in one mind and heart on the way to God.

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Br. Jeremy Hiers, O.S.A.

I joined the Augustinians because of the strong sense of community. Our way of life is modeled on accompanying one another through all the ups and downs of our lifelong journey to God. This strengthens us to accompany those we minister to on their journey to God. It is a really beautiful thing to be part of such a close-knit, faith-filled community!

For questions, please contact:

Andrew McKeough, Assistant Director of Engagement
andrew.mckeough@augustinian.org
(610) 527-3330, ext. 260

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Oct
10
10:30 AM10:30
Province Events, Online Events, In-Person Events, Mass

The Ordination of Br. Elizandro Contreras, O.S.A. & Deacon Daniel Madden, O.S.A.

  • Saint Thomas of Villanova Church (map)
  • Google Calendar ICS
2021 Save the Date! (1).png

Fr. Michael F. Di Gregorio, O.S.A.
Prior Provincial
and the Augustinian Friars of the
Province of Saint Thomas of Villanova

cordially invite you to the diaconate ordination of

ELIZANDRO MARTÍN CONTRERAS, O.S.A.

and the priesthood ordination of

DANIEL LEO MADDEN, O.S.A.

through the Imposition of Hands and Prayer of Ordination by

THE MOST REVEREND NELSON PÉREZ

Archbishop of Philadelphia

Saturday, October 10, 2020
10:30 AM

Saint Thomas of Villanova Church

800 Lancaster Avenue
Villanova, Pennsylvania

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Br. Elizandro Martín Contreras, O.S.A.

I was 18 years old when I started to think seriously about my vocation and religious life. I was born in an Augustinian parish. What the friars did was always attractive to me, but it wasn’t until my best friend, Jose Osvaldo Peña, who joined the Augustinian community, invited me to look at Augustinian life, and the possibility of joining the community. Many friars in our provinces motivated me to continue searching deeply about my calling. But very early in the process Father Francisco De Leon, O.S.A., for many reasons, was a great example of an Augustinian who encouraged me to make the decision to become an Augustinian. He was a hard worker and friendly priest. My Catholic roots are based on strong values. Since I was a child, I was involved in Church life, so my family’s faith and its relationship with the Church played an important role in my decision to join religious life. Everything in life has its difficulties and challenges. In my process of discernment, facing myself in my whole reality, seeing myself as a sinner, confronting my weaknesses, and accepting and loving myself is a challenge that I have had to face in the process of discernment. Having the feeling of being welcomed, validated and supported by the community is something that I really enjoy. Being a pastor is very attractive to me because it involves service and closeness with the people of God. But my disposition is to do what I have to do in order to cover the needs of our province. My goal is to serve.

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Deacon Daniel Leo Madden, O.S.A.

My vocation began when Father Kevin DePrinzio, O.S.A., invited me to join an upcoming discernment retreat my senior year at Villanova. After college I continued to spend time with friars who, through our relationships, fostered my vocation. Father Joe Mostardi, O.S.A., and Father Joe Farrell, O.S.A., were particularly important during that time. With them, I began to see where God was calling me. My family’s support and encouragement also affirmed my decision to enter the Augustinian Order. My time as a pre-novice, with Father Joe Mostardi, O.S.A., and Father Frank Doyle, O.S.A., leading me, began the process of forming me into the Augustinian I am now and the one I hope to be in the future. The formation process continues to deepen my understanding of the Order and my life in community and God. It’s a great blessing to be surrounded by so many genuine and caring brothers, who each day show me how to be a better person. Formation has taught me that, no matter what I do as an Augustinian, I will have an incredible foundation of God and community from which to work.

Br. Elizandro Contreras, O.S.A. and Deacon Daniel Madden, O.S.A. made their perpetual profession of vows to Prior Provincial Fr. Michael F. DiGregorio, O.S.A. on December 21, 2019. The ceremony was held at St. Thomas of Villanova Church, on the Villanova University campus, and welcomed the families of both men, who were also made affiliates to the Order.

Deacon Dan, age 31, attended Villanova University as an undergraduate, where he first encountered the Augustinian Friars. Br. Elizandro, age 41, first met the Augustinians as a child in the Dominican Republic, where one of his best friends also joined the Order.

“To really listen to the deeper call requires patience, prayer, and dialogue with others.”
— Deacon Daniel Madden, O.S.A.
“My disposition is to do what I have to do in order to cover the needs of our province. My goal is to serve.”
— Br. Elizandro Contreras, O.S.A.

For questions, please contact:

Andrew McKeough, Assistant Director of Engagement
andrew.mckeough@augustinian.org
(610) 527-3330, ext. 260

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