Sponsor our new Pre-Novitiate House - St. Clare Friary

A letter of appeal from Fr. Tom McCarthy, O.S.A., Fr. Bernie Scianna, O.S.A., Fr. Ray Flores, O.S.A., & Fr. Paul Koscielniak, O.S.A.

Given the state of our world, particularly these past eighteen months, we all could use some truly good news. Well, better than that, how about some great news? We are pleased inform you that our Prior Provincial Fr. Tony Pizzo, O.S.A. has entrusted us to help manage and fund a new location for the growing Pre-Novitiate program of the Midwest Augustinians. Last year the Pre-Novitiate was located on the campus of Providence Catholic High School in New Lenox, Illinois. Our numbers have grown, and we expect five new men to enter the Pre-Novitiate program this August. To accommodate this great news, the Province Council voted to establish a new friary for pre-novices at St. Clare of Montefalco parish on the south side of Chicago. We need your help now to equip and ready this housing for our incoming pre-novices, who will arrive in mid-August!

This is a great blessing for the Augustinians and the mission we share. More men interested in becoming Augustinians! The young men in the Pre-Novitiate spend a full year in community, prayer, reading, ministry, and studies discerning a future as an Augustinian. With any blessing comes more responsibility. Our new facility needs to be fully equipped to handle daily living needs of three Augustinians overseeing the program and the education, care, room and board for the men in formation.

In addition to your prayers, there are many nice opportunities for you to join us as sponsors of this ministry. We have many needs for this new house, and we have established sponsorships for each of them. You can find all of them on our Pre-Novitiate Campaign website:

All donors will be recognized in our magazine, our website, and in the foyer near the new chapel of St. Clare Friary. We will have a public blessing and reception on September 19th, 2021.

You may contact any of us, or send any questions or ideas to Michael Gerrity, the Province’s Advancement Director at mikewger@gmail.com or 312-241-9696. We hope that you will take this opportunity to join in this beautiful effort to grow vocations. Thank you very much!

Yours in Christ and St. Augustine,

Fr. Tom McCarthy, O.S.A. - Prior, St. Clare Friary

Fr. Ray Flores, O.S.A. - Director of Pre-Novices

Fr. Bernie Scianna, O.S.A. - Pre-Novitiate Advancement Chairman

Fr. Paul Koscielniak, O.S.A. - Treasurer of St. Clare Friary Community