IRELAND: Ordinary Provincial Chapter 2026

The Ordinary Provincial Chapter of Augustinians in Ireland took place between June 7 and 12, 2026.  It was presided over by Fr. Joseph Farrell, Prior General of the Order.  About forty friars participated.  Also in attendance were (photo below, left to right): Fr. Robert Marsh, OSA, previous Provincial in the UK; Fr. Joseph Farrell, OSA; Fr. Gladson Dabre, OSA, Superior Provincial of the Anglo-Scottish Province; Fr. Anthony Kanu, OSA, Provincial of the Nigerian Province; Fr. Ian Wilson, OSA, former Assistant General; and Fr. Paddy O'Reilly.

The Chapter opened with a ‘Gathering Ritual’ at which Fr. Paddy O’Reilly, OSA was officially installed as Provincial by the Prior General who entrusted to him the Seal of Office.  Fr. Farrell also addressed the Chapter members and encouraged them to ‘embrace the gifts they already possessed rather than dwell on those they might wish or hope for’.

On the following day, the Provincial Council was elected.  The friars proposed by the Provincial and elected by the Chapter participants were: Joe Davou, OSA (of the Nigerian Province), Seamus Ahearne, OSA, Flor O’Callaghan, OSA and Pat Gayer, OSA.  Pat was also elected Provincial Secretary and Stephen Shields, OSA, was re-elected as Provincial Bursar.

Among the main items on the agenda this. second day was the Villanova Project in Galway.  This is quite a creative and ambitious endeavour.  The Chapter members were addressed by two prominent staff members at Villanova University: namely,  Dr. Joseph Lennon, Associate Dean for International and Interdisciplinary Initiatives, and Fr. David Cregan, OSA, Associate Dean of Academic Affairs.  According to the proposed project, Villanova University would take over the current Augustinian Priory in Galway as an educational, cultural, social and pastoral center for the students who are studying at Galway University for different periods of time.   Meanwhile, the international community of about three Augustinian friars would find alternative accommodation as close as possible to the church to continue their pastoral ministry there.  The project gave rise to a lot of questions from the floor and generated a lot of interest.  It would also help forge strong links among Galway University. the Villanova Province, and the Province of Ireland, from where two friars, John Rossiter, OSA, and Matthew Carr, OSA, set out for Philadelphia in 1794 to establish the Order in the U.S.A.

Other topics which were presented and discussed at the Chapter included Finance, Healthcare, Safeguarding and Legal Matters, and the future of John’s Lane Church (Dublin) under the supervision of a new Trust.  At various times each day there was also consideration given to Proposals which could possibly be voted upon later in the week.  These Proposals were quite numerous, making the work of the Provincial and his Council quite onerous over the next four years. 

On a lighter social note, during the Chapter,  John O’Connor, OSA, was honoured on the occasion of his 100th birthday!  Fr. John attended on that one day and was lauded by all present, including by the Prior General who sat with him during the celebratory meal.  On the final night, four friars celebrated their Golden Jubilees of ordination: Paddy O’Reilly, OSA; Flor O’Callaghan, OSA; Tony Finn, OSA, and Kieran O’Mahony, OSA (who unfortunately was absent due to illness).

The Chapter concluded with a talk by the Prior General who gave an overview of initiatives in the Order at present.  These included, among other things, the difficult situation for the friars and society currently in Cuba; the possibility of re-establishing the Order in France; the rapid growth of vocations in West Papua, Indonesia; and the preparations already underway for the commemoration in 2030 of the 1600th anniversary of the death of St. Augustine.