The Order of St. Augustine is proud to announce the ordination of Fr. Samuel Joutras, O.S.A. of the Midwest Province of Our Mother of Good Counsel. The liturgy was presided by the Most Rev. Daniel Turley, O.S.A., retired bishop of Chulucanas, Peru, and celebrated at the St. Rita of Cascia Shrine Chapel in Chicago.
Fr. Sam was joined by his classmates Br. Joe Roccasalva, O.S.A. and Br. Jeff Raths, O.S.A. who were ordained transitional deacons. Both of these men anticipate their priesthood ordinations this December.
“As a priest, Jesus wants you to wash the feet of your brothers and sisters,” Bishop Turley told Fr. Sam in his homily, “And He wants you to let your feet be washed. And He wants you not to be afraid to get your feet dirty! While you are serving the poor, the sick and the suffering. [ …] Throughout this pandemic we have learned that so many of the people in this world need to be heard. Fr. Sam, please be a priest with a big ear, and a big heart, like the heart of Jesus Christ, filled with love and mercy and compassion.”
Fr. Sam, who grew up in Evergreen Park, IL, celebrated his ordination just a few days shy of his 30th birthday and will begin his first ministry at our Spanish-speaking parish of St. Rita in Chicago. Fr. Sam earned his bachelor’s degree in Spanish from the University of Illinois in 2013 and spent his Pastoral Year in the Augustinian Missions in Northern Peru. Please pray for him as well as for our transitional deacons as they prepare for the priesthood.
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