Augustinian Father Joseph Farrell first encountered Augustinian priests as a student and altar server at St. Andrew the Apostle Church in Drexel Hill.
God has now called the Delco native to the role of leading his brothers’ worldwide order.
Father Farrell was named prior general of the Augustinians following his election by the General Order on Sept. 9.
“I had been familiar with what the prior general kind of does, because I really have worked very closely with (Augustinian Father Alejandro Moral Antón) for the past 12 years as vicar general,” he said as he continued moving into his offices in Vatican City.
“I can no longer say, ‘Well, you’re going to need to speak to the prior general about that.’ I think that’s my ‘Oh, my’ feeling.”
Nonetheless, Father Farrell appears to have earned the confidence of his brothers in the order, including in the Philadelphia region.
“He’s just humbly done whatever he’s been asked in terms of service, scholarship and ministry,” said Father Rob Hagan, the prior provincial of the Province of St. Thomas of Villanova, and a fellow native of Drexel Hill, who attended Cardinal O’Hara High School before going on to Villanova University.
“He’s very well respected, not just in our province but around the world. He speaks three languages at least, (and) has an incredible capacity for building relationships and friendships.”
Father Farrell, 62, feels equipped for the role because of the education and formation in the Catholic faith and the Augustinian charism, all along an educational path of just over 10 miles throughout Delaware County.
“I like to think that there is something very special about the Archdiocese of Philadelphia,” he said. “I was educated through my parish school, St. Andrew the Apostle in Drexel Hill, through Msgr. Bonner High School to Villanova University,” said the 1985 Villanova graduate.
“All during my time in high school, I worked with the Department of Youth Activities for the Archdiocese. Bishop (then-Father) Robert Maginnis was very instrumental in my own formation as a teenager in recognizing that what filled my heart with joy was being able to serve in some manner connected to the Church.”
He added that the unique Catholic culture of the Philadelphia region deeply influenced his family journey as one of six siblings.
“We call it the culture of Philadelphia,” he said.
“People feel connected to each other because of the Church in Philadelphia. People always joke about the first question you ask, ‘What parish are you from?’ That shouldn’t be taken for granted. That does not happen in other parts of the world.”
Father Farrell’s last few weeks have involved a heavy transition, both in role and in office location. He’s moving files, plants and other items to his new office which happens to be close to another Augustinian and Villanova graduate who once held the same responsibilities for 12 years — the Holy Father.
“My own experience with Pope Leo XIV goes back into the mid-’80s, when I was just entering into formation in Racine, Wisconsin. Later, we would have national gatherings, and he would be very much a part,” Father Farrell said.
“We really got reconnected in 2023 by spending more quality time, just sharing our lives. He was the first one that called my telephone after the election news got out there. He said, ‘Listen, whatever I can do, please let me know.’ I said, ‘That goes for us also. Whatever we can do, please let us know.’”
Father Hagan believes that just like Pope Leo, Father Farrell “checks all the boxes” of leading the order while staying true to the Augustinian way.
“He is humble, but he has an interior confidence about him. He (has) a great relationship with the Lord and he’s a man of regular personal and communal prayer,” said Father Hagan. “You don’t have to get to know Joe Farrell very quickly before you realize that he takes his wisdom, strength and direction from the Lord.”
Father Farrell says he will take to heart the three things that reside in nearly every Augustinian apostolate to his new job: Truth, unity and love.
“We’re all on this journey together of seeking for the truth, where God’s love is made most real in my heart so that I can share that with the world around me. That’s the truth we’re looking for,” Father Farrell said.
“Unity: We as Augustinians find that the best way that we’re able to do that is living in communion with each other,” he said. “We can be a model for our sisters and brothers in the world, living in communion, living as one with each other. The love part is that brotherly love, brotherly fraternity, unites us. It doesn’t come from within us. It comes from outside. It’s a gift from God.”
Father Farrell’s very Philadelphian way, shown in how he describes the Augustinian charism, colors his continual love of the Birds and Fightins. “Go Phils!” and “Go Eagles!” still regularly comes from his mouth.
He well remembers driving past JFK Stadium in 1985 while driving to the Jersey Shore for a day and hearing music from the Live Aid concert that aimed to feed the world’s hungry and do God’s work.
Philly remains deep within him, but he has a special request for his fellow Philadelphians as his six-year tenure begins.
“Pray for vocations to ordained ministry and religious life,” he said.
That’s the calling to a life he is now living as he begins leading 2,400 Augustinians worldwide.