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The Augustinian order has seen a rise in interest following the election of Pope Leo XIV, the first pope from the United States and a member of the Order of St. Augustine. Since May 8, when then-Cardinal Robert F. Prevost was elected pope, there have been over 200 inquiries into joining the U.S. provinces of the men's Order of St. Augustine.
Augustinian Father Jeremy Hiers from the Province of St. Thomas of Villanova noted an increase in inquiries for vocations on the East Coast and Midwest since Pope Leo's election. "Just yesterday, I had three new ones," he said, highlighting a surge compared to previous months.
Father Tom McCarthy, vocations director for the Midwest province, reported that their website received 39,000 hits in one week after the pope's election. "We have never had volume like this," he stated.
Brother Nicholas Anderson from Villanova Province recounted his journey toward joining the Augustinians, noting significant moments that influenced his decision during family events and educational experiences linked to St. Augustine.
Despite increased interest in joining due to Pope Leo XIV's influence, Father McCarthy emphasized maintaining thorough discernment processes without compromising standards for potential friars amid declining numbers worldwide.
Brother David Marshall expressed appreciation for being part of the community after completing studies at Catholic Theological Union (CTU), while Brother Miguel Antonio Moreno shared his path back to faith and eventual entry into priestly formation with the Augustinians.
Father McCarthy highlighted that candidates are assessed individually without a "cookie-cutter approach." Father Hiers added that discerning one's call involves gradual steps: "My message to everybody is: it all begins with a question."
Simone Orendain reports from Chicago for OSV News.
