He was led to discern religious life through his involvement in parish ministries at Saint Bonaventure Church in Concord, CA, and through his father's persistent advise to dedicate his life to helping other people. Near the end of his second year of college he started attending a discernment group. He contacted Fr. Tom Whelan, OSA after reading a bulletin ad from Queen of All Saints Church in Concord, CA. He attended a vocation retreat in San Diego and liked the fellowship and camaraderie he observed among the friars. This led him to seek admission into the Province of St. Augustine Pre-novitiate program in San Francisco, where he lived for one year while completing his bachelor's degree. After his Novitiate year in Racine, WI Carlos professed his Simple Vows on July 31, 2010 and is studying graduate theology at the Catholic Theological Union in Chicago, IL.Br. Mark Menegatti O.S.A., 23, professed his Simple Vows of Poverty, Chastity, and Obedience in the Order of St. Augustine on September 4, 2007. He graduated from Xavier College in Chicago in the Spring of 2008. Having finished his second year of theology at the Catholic Theological Union in Chicago, IL Mark is assigned to the Augustinian Monastery in San Diego, CA for his pastoral year from June 2010 to August 2011. He will be working in youth ministry in the Province and retreat work in our high schools in San Diego and Ojai.
Mark was born and raised in San Gabrial, near Los Angeles, and was a parishioner at the historic San Gabrial Mission. Mark entered the Order as a Pre-novitiate student during his transition from Pasadena City Colle
ge and San Diego State University before entering the Novitiate. During his senior year in high schol Mark began imagining himself in priestly ministry. A recently-ordained priest in his parish encouraged him, and Mark began studying the Church and its history. Two years into college he began contacting various religious orders. He became familiar with Fr. Jerry Bevilaqua, O.S.A. and his work in charismatic ministries and the Southern California Renewal Conference. Mark contacted Fr. Tom Whelan, O.S.A., the Province Vocation Director and participated in a San Diego Discernment Retreat. He also began visiting the Augustinians at Our Mother of Good Counsel Church in Hollywood.
Mark says he was impressed with several religious orders, but especially with the Augustinians' emphasis on community. "They take this very seriously," says Mark. "What I find most impressive is their great love for those they serve today and have served throughout the years. "This is something that reinforces my own heart." During the summer of 2009 Mark studied Spanish in Ensenada, Mexico and youth ministry in Orlando, FL. Mark was a presenter at Augustiniana Youth Days in London, England in August of 2010 and in Spaian 2011. He is currently in his third year of graduate studies at Catholic Theological Union, in Chicago, IL.