I have been blessed to grow up with my uncle, Father John Lydon, being an Augustinian priest. With his first profession of vows being forty years ago, my family has been a witness to the faith and service that the Augustinians offer to those near and far. My uncle is a missionary in Peru, so it has also been amazing to see the impact that the Augustinians have been on communities all over the world!

Throughout my time at Villanova University as a student, I felt right at home, knowing that I would be attending school where love of God and neighbor would be the foundation of my experience. From attending Sunday Mass to participating in service opportunities, I felt connected to my uncle and the rest of the Augustinian community.

Besides my experience at Villanova University, having an uncle who is an Augustinian priest has been the greatest blessing to me and my family. He has always been an example of charity, patience, humility and kindness, all traits that are shared by members of the Augustinian community. His visits to the U.S. are always memorable and allow for my family and I to grow in our faith, as he holds daily Mass in the comfort of our home. He has been able to make special times in our lives even more memorable, from officiating weddings for loved ones to blessing us when we are sick. With an Augustinian in the family, there is the constant presence of God!

—Meghan Furey