On Saturday, January 13, the novitiate year closed for 13 men from various circumscriptions around South America who professed their initial vows to the Augustinian Order. The mass, presided by Fr. Patricio Villalba, O.S.A., Assistant General, was held at the Augustinian Novitiate House in Lima, Peru, which accepts novices from many South American countries. The next novitiate class will begin in February with 8 more novices!
The Augustinians of North America have served as missionaries in Peru since 1963, at the request of Pope John XXIII. Currently two Augustinians from North America serve as bishops in Peru. Bishop Daniel Turley, O.S.A., is the bishop of Chulucanas. Bishop Robert Prevost was appointed by Pope Francis in 2015 to the neighboring diocese of Chiclayo.