Pope Francis Names Chicago Priest, Robert Prevost, a Bishop
Chicago, IL (PRWEB) November 08, 2014 -- Bishop-elect Robert Prevost concluded his serve as Prior General, or the worldwide leader of the Augustinian Order, in 2013. He held that position for two consecutive 6-year terms in Rome, witnessing the pontificates of St. John Paul II, Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, and Pope Francis. After returning to his local Augustinian Province headquartered in Chicago, the Province of Our Mother of Good Counsel, Pope Francis Named him to be the next Bishop of the Diocese of Chiclayo.
"In this very short amount of time since I found out about the decision of the Holy Father, Pope Francis, to call me to this service, my prayer has been very much kind of an acceptance in saying to the Lord, 'Lord, you've called me,' " said the Bishop-elect. "And hearing the Lord say, 'Do not be afraid, I am with you.' Those same words are the message that Jesus repeats continually throughout the Gospel, saying to his disciples do not be afraid."
Bishop-elect Prevost previously spent over a dozen years as an Augustinian missionary in Northern Peru, having served as the Chancellor for the Diocese of Chulucanas and the Augustinian Director of Formation in Trujillo, among other ministries. He later served as the Prior Provincial of the Midwest Augustinians in Chicago before being elected the Prior General for the worldwide Augustinian Order. In addition to holding a B.S. from Villanova University and an M.Div. from Catholic Theological Union, Bishop-elect Prevost earned a Doctorate in Canon Law from St. Thomas University in Rome. In 2013, he was honored at the Augustinian Inaugural Gala in Chicago and later began serving the Augustinians' current "Continuing Our Journey of Faith" campaign.
"We will miss his presence in our community," said the current Augustinian Prior Provincial, the Very Rev. Bernard C. Scianna, O.S.A., Ph.D. "...and I will miss him personally as he has taken on quite a bit since returning from Rome: Vicar Provincial, First Counselor, Director of Formation, Board Member for ViIlanova University and Catholic Theological Union to name a few." The Augustinian community has wished him well as he embarks on his new journey as the Bishop of Chiclayo, the fourth largest city in Peru.
The Midwest Augustinians are a Catholic religious order that follow the teachings of St. Augustine. The local Augustinians have served in parishes and schools in the Midwestern United States since 1905, as well as missions in Peru since 1963.
For more information, please email the Augustinians’ Associate Director of Communications, Patrick Murphy or call 773-595-4007.
Patrick T. Murphy, Province of Our Mother of Good Counsel, http://www.midwestaugustinians.org, +1 (773) 595-4007, [email protected]
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