We are delighted to announce that Fr. Barnaby Johns, O.S.A. will be our esteemed Homilist for the 43rd Annual Red Mass in Los Angeles! Please mark your calendars for Tuesday, October 14, 2025, as we gather for this significant event.
A convert at sixteen, Fr. Barnaby Johns attended The Oratory, a school founded by St. John Henry Newman. As an Augustinian Friar, he was ordained to the priesthood by Bishop Robert Barron in October 2020 on the campus of Villanova Preparatory School in Ojai. Originally from Great Britain, Fr. Barnaby’s extensive academic journey includes studies in Rome, London, St. Andrews, and San Francisco, where he earned master’s degrees in both Biblical Studies and Catholic School Education. In the education field, he taught in the classroom and worked in administration for ten years before being elected as Prior Provincial of the Province of St. Augustine in California in 2024. Fr. Barnaby Johns brings a wealth of experience and spiritual insight to this year’s Red Mass.
The Red Mass will be held at the magnificent Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels in Downtown Los Angeles. Following the Mass, we invite you to a hosted reception, providing a wonderful opportunity to connect with members of the clergy, bench, and bar.
About The Augustinian Order
The Order of St. Augustine was founded in 1244 in Italy when several communities of hermits united under a common rule, given to them by Pope Innocent IV. This initial union was solidified in 1256 with the Grand Union of the Order, which brought together more communities throughout central Italy.
Early Augustinians initially focused on a solitary life of prayer. However, the Church called upon the Order to take on a new mission of evangelization, which led to a shift toward a mixed life of contemplation and active ministry. This change fueled rapid growth, and within a century of the Grand Union, the Order had over 8,000 friars. They served as pastors, educators, scholars, and missionaries, while others supported the communities as carpenters and bakers. Women’s religious groups and lay fraternities were also included, all living by the principles and values of St. Augustine.
The Augustinians have a long history of missionary work. They traveled throughout Europe, Africa, Asia, and the Americas, helping to spread the Gospel and establish religious life in new territories. Notably, they were among the founders of the first university in the New World and were the first to evangelize in the Philippine Islands.
For more information, visit the Augustinians website here.
In Good Company
The Augustinians have a new reason to celebrate their long and rich history. In 2025, Pope Leo XIV was elected, becoming the first Augustinian to ever hold the office of pope. Before his election, he was the head of the worldwide Augustinian Order. As Robert Prevost, he professed his first vows in the Augustinian order in 1978 and his solemn vows in 1981. He has often spoken of his deep connection to the spirit and teachings of St. Augustine, and in his first public greeting as pope, he referred to himself as a “son of St. Augustine.” This historic event highlights the enduring legacy of the Order, which continues to shape the Church’s leadership and ministry today.
For more information about this topic we suggest visiting the article “Pope Leo’s motto, coat of arms pay homage to St. Augstine” here.
