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Augustine Father Joseph Lawrence Farrell, seen in an undated photo, was elected prior general of the Order of St. Augustine in Rome Sept. 9, 2025. (OSV News photo\/courtesy Bryan Smith Photography)<\/p>\nPHILADELPHIA (OSV News) \u2014 Pope Leo XIV\u2019s fellow Augustinians have elected a Philadelphia-area native as the order\u2019s new prior general.<\/p>\n
Augustine Father Joseph Lawrence Farrell, seen in an undated photo, was elected prior general of the Order of St. Augustine in Rome Sept. 9, 2025. (OSV News photo\/courtesy Bryan Smith Photography)<\/p>\n
The order\u2019s Province of St. Thomas of Villanova announced in a Sept. 9 media release that Augustinian Father Joseph L. Farrell had been chosen \u201cafter much prayer and reflection\u201d and \u201cunder the guidance of the Holy Spirit.\u201d<\/p>\n
The election took place Sept. 9 in Rome during the order\u2019s 188th general chapter, with 73 brothers with voting rights participating, the Augustinian order noted on its main website.<\/p>\n
Father Farrell, who had until the election served as the order\u2019s vicar general as well as general assistant for North America, will succeed Father Alejandro Moral Ant\u00f3n, becoming the 98th prior general of the order, which was founded in 13th-century Italy.<\/p>\n
Born in 1963 in Drexel Hill, Pa., Father Farrell attended Catholic elementary and high schools, then went on to receive his bachelor of science degree in business administration at Villanova University, one of the nation\u2019s two Augustinian institutions of higher learning \u2014 and Pope Leo XIV\u2019s own alma mater.<\/p>\n
Father Farrell entered the Augustinian novitiate in 1985, the same year he graduated Villanova, professing his first vows two years later and his solemn vows in 1990. He completed his master\u2019s degree in theology at Washington Theological Union and was ordained to the priesthood in 1991. Following studies at the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome, he obtained his licentiate and doctorate in sacred theology in 2005 and 2007 respectively.<\/p>\n
His pastoral assignments over the years have included parish, high school and college campus ministry, along with teaching and administrative positions at Villanova. In 2010, he was elected a counselor of the Province of St. Thomas of Villanova, and in 2013, he became the order\u2019s vicar general and assistant general for North America.<\/p>\n
The St. Thomas province and \u201cthe whole order are so proud,\u201d said prior provincial Father Robert Hagan, adding that \u201cFather Joe has served the order in many ways for so many years.\u201d<\/p>\n
Now, added Father Hagan, \u201che leads us all as the Augustinian Good Shepherd, helping us to stay one in mind and heart intent upon God.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAt this time, we give thanks to God for our dedicated and committed servant leader, and offer prayers for wisdom, strength, and grace as he exercises this important responsibility on behalf of our Order and the Church,\u201d said the province in its release.<\/p>\n
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