A celebration of “Consecrated Life” was held on Saturday, August 1, 2015, by Augustinians of the Province of Saint Thomas of Villanova. Held on the campus of Villanova University, the second foundation of the Augustinians in the United States, friends, Affiliates and parish members were invited to join in the celebration, which culminated with the first profession of four novices at a 4:00 o’clock Mass held in the Church of Saint Thomas of Villanova.

 The day’s celebration included an exhibit of Augustinian art, which was on display in the Art Gallery at the Connelly Center. At Corr Chapel, professed brothers shared their vocation stories, telling how they met and how they have been influenced by Augustinians. The music of Father Joe Genito and Father Shawn Tracy’s Sanctuary group, was broadcast from Corr Hall. At the Augustinian Community Cemetery, the stories of several friars who contributed to the development of the Province and indeed, the Augustinians in the United States and their mission sites, were told. At Saint Thomas Monastery, residence of the friars, the Monastery’s chapel was open to the public and visitors were welcomed to the Heritage Room, to view artifacts of the Province. Following the 4:00 PM Mass, during which four novices made their first profession in the Order of Saint Augustine, visitors were treated to dinner, which was held in the Villanova Room at the Connelly Center, to bring an end to the day.