From their first foundation at St. Augustine Church in Philadelphia, parish life and community has held an important place in the Augustinian journey in the United States. Today, the Province of St. Thomas of Villanova has 15 parishes under its care in Florida, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, New York and Massachusetts. In addition to parishes in the United States, the Augustinians serve parishes in their missions in Japan, Peru and South Africa.
The Augustinian education apostolate, central to their ministry, was initiated with the founding of Augustinian Academy in Philadelphia in 1811. This ambitious venture failed after four years, although a school at the parish was eventually reopened. Key to fulfilling the mission of the Augustinians to educate the immigrant population spiritually and academically was the establishment of houses of formation. Hopes to establish a center for Augustinian life in the United States, where future members of the order could be housed, trained and educated, continued. This hope came to fruition with the purchase of the Bel Air estate outside Philadelphia in 1841. Here, the Augustinians established St. Thomas Monastery. They also brought the educational venture from St. Augustine Church out to the new foundation and renamed it St. Nicholas Academy. Finally, in 1848 the Charter for the Augustinian College of Villanova was issued by the state of Pennsylvania.
In addition to Villanova, the Province of St. Thomas founded Merrimack College (MA) in 1947. The Province is also responsible for the founding of several college prep schools throughout the country, including those currently associated with St. Thomas Province, Malvern Prep (PA) and St. Augustine Prep (NJ).
Please visit the pages for parishes and the schools for more information.