When the College of Cardinals elected Augustinian Cardinal Robert Prevost the Catholic Church’s 267th pope on May 8, 2025, his religious community, the Augustinians, was thrust into the spotlight.

That day, his religious confreres — especially those who knew him well, like Augustinian Fathers Anthony Pizzo and Tom McCarthy — were inundated with calls, text messages and emails.

The community’s website had 34,000 hits the week after Pope Leo was elected. Prior to Leo’s election, the site averaged less than 100 a week. Men considering religious life also reached out to the community in higher numbers than ever before in the weeks and months following.

While that attention has leveled off, the Midwest Augustinians continue to be joyful that their “brother Bob” was elected pope. They celebrated his election anniversary with a Mass and reception at St. Jude Parish in New Lenox, Illinois.

The Augustinians staff the parish, which is located in the Diocese of Joliet, and Cardinal Prevost visited there in the past, most recently in August of 2024, when he celebrated Mass and gave a talk.

In the Archdiocese of Chicago, the Augustinians operate St. Rita High School and St. Rita of Cascia Shrine Chapel, which share a campus at 7740 S. Western Ave. They also staff St. Rita of Cascia Parish, 6243 S. Fairfield Ave.

McCarthy, who will be installed as the Midwest Augustinians new prior in June, called this last year a blessing.

“I think we as Augustinians just see him as our brother Bob. It’s been a joy to watch the world see who he is,” McCarthy said following Mass.

People now know who the Augustinians are, he said.

“It’s been wonderful because we’ve been able to share our charism of who we are. Pope Leo is doing that with most of his preaching. He’s always bringing in Augustine,” McCarthy said.

Much like Pope Francis, who, as a Jesuit, regularly quoted his community’s founder St. Ignatius when preaching, Pope Leo regularly quotes St. Augustine.

Catholics can support the pope’s ministry by praying for him, McCarthy said.

“When you pray for the pope, you pray for the church. He’s the visible head of Christ on earth and so the best way we can be in communion with him and honor him and help him is to pray,” he said.

Members of the Knights of Columbus, who provide hospitality for many of the events at St. Jude Parish, are among the many who were shocked when they heard the Cardinal Prevost they knew was elected the next pope. They met him when he visited the parish.

“It was overwhelming. It’s like your brother won the World Series or something,” said Knight Mike Nowakowski. “There’s really no other comparison in your life. You know how you feel when the Hawks win, or the Sox win or the Cubs win? Beyond that.”

Leo’s election was felt throughout the parish community because of the personal connection.

“We know him as ‘Father Prevost, Bishop Prevost, regular guy.’ I’ve always felt that people from a religious community just want to be regular people,” Nowakowski said.

Knight Jim Wernar said since the Augustinians are part of the parish family, it felt like someone from the family was chosen.

“The biggest thing was surprise that it was somebody from ‘our order’ so to speak,” said Wernar, adding that he grew up in the same neighborhood as the pope. “I probably passed his house and hung with people he knew.”