Who we are
Community Biographies
Fr. Joseph Augustine Menna, Prior
Fr. Joseph serves as Prior General of the Order and is a founding member of the Augustinians of the Immaculate Heart of Mary. He received a degree in Religious Studies at La Salle University and has been an educator for over 20 years. Fr. Joseph has a background in religious studies, personal development, spirituality, psychology, and math. He is currently working on completing his Ed.D. focusing on creating learning communities. Fr. Joseph was ordained to the priesthood in 2005, and serves as Pastor of St. Mary of Grace Church in Media, PA. a
Friar Lyngine Dominique-Marie Calizo
Friar Lyngine serves as Formation Director and as a member of the General Council. She also designs and creates videos, brochures, and vocational materials for the Order. She completed her doctorate in Neuroscience at the University of Pennsylvania and does biomedical research on anxiety and depression. She lives in Philadelphia with her wife and their two cats.Friar Lyngine also serves as Pastoral Assistant at St. Mary of Grace Parish and works with the YES! Coalition to provide resources that help congregations become more welcoming to LGBT people. a
Friar Shane Nicholas Neese
Friar Shane has a passion for intercessory prayer and is entrusted with the prayer and Mass request ministry of the Order. He works as the mentor-supervisor of a team of data collectors to gather survey data for a social science research company. Friar Shane has taken the lead in expanding our digital resources for outreach and community prayer, and also serves as the community archivist. He is currently studying for the priesthood and lives in Tennessee with his long-time partner. a
Shari Marie Myers
Shari is an oblate of the AIHM. She has a deep and long-time interest in contemplative prayer. Shari is a mother and works for a local insurance company. She has led contemplative prayer at our annual retreat and tracks birthdays and special occasions in the Order. In her spare time, she is an enthusiastic gardener and baker. Community members not pictured:
Bp. Tim Cravens (Oblate) Casey Anno (Oblate) Chris Tessone (Oblate) | From the Constitutions of the AIHM:
"We are self-supporting religious who live on our own, with our families, or in small communities, bound by sacred profession under the Rule and Statues to pray for the Body of Christ, share our lives together in communio, and spread that love through acts of mercy and justice. Our very lives proclaim that God is love, a love that he has breathed into us in the most quiet of ways. Accepting that God’s love is unconditional, overflowing with mercy, we seek to reflect that love to others in what we say and do, in acts of social justice and loving friendship in community. In our Augustinian family, in the Church, and in the greater human community, we know that God’s reign will come to be only in and through His Body." |
