In a ceremony held Jan. 25, Rev. Joseph S. Mostardi, O.S.A., formerly a University priest, was installed as pastor of the Saint Augustine Church in Philadelphia, the first permanent church of the Augustinian order in the U.S.

Mostardi, an Augustinian priest with the Province of Saint Thomas of Villanova, is the founder and director of the Augustinian Volunteers, a program for young adults between the ages of 21 and 29 who opt to serve for ten months at schools, soup kitchens and other mission sites. With the program already in its fourth year, Mostardi aims to build a new volunteer site for the program in Philadelphia.

In addition to serving the University community, Mostardi has also worked at Monsignor Bonner High School in Drexel Hill, Our Mother of Good Counsel Church in Bryn Mawr and Our Lady of Good Counsel Church on Staten Island, NY.

Mostardi has also worked with Campus Ministry, assisting with daily mass. He has been the resident minister in Burns Hall on West Campus.

With his new position as pastor, Mostardi expects to gain “a deeper understanding of the history of the parish” and “get to know the people and [their] needs.”

The liturgical installation ceremony took place at 10:30 a.m. on Jan. 25. Rev. Monsignor John Conway, regional vicar for the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, presided. The ceremony “went wonderfully,” according to Mostardi.

— Staff reporter Bethany Lee also contributed to this article.