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''Twenty years after the American Revolution, John Rosseter and Matthew Carr were sent in 1796 from Ireland to Philadelphia to start up Augustinian life. The following year Michael Hurley became the first American to join the Order. Beginnings in the country were difficult, yet within five years they succeeded in erecting St. Augustine's church in Philadelphia. On May 8,1844, the church was burnt to the ground by the Native American Party and rebuilt four years later. In 1842 the Belle Aire estate outside the city was purchased and Villanova College began its important history. The United States commissary became the province of St.Thomas of Villanova in 1874 with thirty priests, fourteen brothers and twelve professed students.''
In the spring of 1844, the first advertisement for Villanova was published in the Catholic Herald of Philadelphia:
Prospectus (in 1884!)
St. Thomas of Villanova's College, Pennsylvania - This institution under the direction of clergymen of the order of Saint Augustine, has been established for the purpose of affording the Catholic community a means of giving their children a thorough Catholic education. None but Catholics are received. In accordance with the wishes of parents or guardians a classical and scientific, or purely mercantile - education will be given to their children, or the one will be so blended with the other, as to qualify the pupil to embrace any of the learned professions, or to apply himself to business. It is hoped that experience will show that proper attention is paid to the young gentlemen who may be sent to this institution.
The College is situated in the midst of a highly acultivated and salubrious country, close by the Columbia Rail Road, and about eleven miles from Philadelphia. The scholastic year begins in September and terminates in July. No leave of absence is given to any pupil during that time, except at the express request of parents or guardians.
Terms (1884)
For pupils over twelve years $125 per annum, payable half yearly in advance. Under that age $100. Further particulars may be learned on application at Saint Augustine's Church, Philadelphia, or to the Rev. Mr. O'Dwyer, president of the College.
Expansion and Development
In 1899 friars from the V illanova Province went to Cuba. They took charge of the church of Cristo del Buen Viaje in the centre of Havana as well as other churches in the Marinao, Miramar and Tarana. They opened the Colegio S. Augustin in Havana in 1903, which would later develop into the University of Sto. Tomas. They founded the medical dispensary of San Lorenzo in the poor part of the city. The Augustinians remained in Cuba until 1961 when they were expelled by the government of Fidel Castro.
In this century the Order quickly grew in the United States. By 1909 two communities had been set up at Chicago in the midwest and by 1925 five more in San Diego, Ojai and Los Angeles on the Pacific coast. During the 1920's high schools were erected in all three areas of the country. By 1947 the province was operating three institutions of higher learning. In 1941 the province of Our Mother of Good Counsel was established in the midwest. In 1947 Joseph Hickey became the first American Augustinian to be elected prior general. California became a province in 1969.
Text taken from:- - The Augustinians (1244-1994): Our History in Pictures,
published by 'Pubblicazioni Agostiniane, Via Paolo VI, 25, Roma, Italy. - - The Irish Augustinins in Rome, 1656-1994 and Irish Augustinian Missions throughout the World edited by F.X. Martin OSA and Clare O'Reilly and published by St. Patrick's College, Via Piemonte 60, Roma, Italy.]
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