Father Joseph Farrell Elected New Prior General of the Order of Saint Augustine    

Rome, September 9, 2025 – The Order of Saint Augustine has elected Father Joseph Farrell as the 98th Prior General during the 188th General Chapter, held in Rome at the Pontifical Patristic Institute Augustinianum. The election took place in the presence of 73 friar delegates, representing 41 provinces across 46 countries worldwide.

The Chapter, officially opened on September 1, began with a moment of spiritual reflection presided over by Pope Leo XIV, who invited the participants to embrace communion, perseverance in the search for truth, and pastoral commitment in the various contexts of the Augustinian mission.

Father Farrell succeeds Father Alejandro Moral Antón, who has completed his second term. The Order expressed heartfelt gratitude for his service, carried out with dedication, wisdom, and a spirit of fraternity.

Biographical Notes:

Father Joseph Farrell was born on July 11, 1963, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (USA). He is a member of the Augustinian Province of Santo Tomás de Villanova. After earning a degree in Business Administration from Villanova University in 1985, he pursued theological studies at the Washington Theological Union, where he obtained a Master's degree in Theology. He made his first religious profession in the Order in 1987 and his solemn profession in 1990.

Over the years, he has held numerous leadership positions within the Order, both at the provincial and international levels. In particular, before his election, he served as Vicar General and Assistant General for North America, distinguishing himself by his pastoral sensitivity, administrative competence, and spirit of service.