Peggy and Matt Coughlin Rev. John Sotak, O.S.A.
John Joseph Sotak was born July 2, 1951 in Evergreen Park, Illinois to John J. and Elizabeth Sotak. He was Baptized August 5, 1951 at St. Francis de Sales Church, Chicago, Illinois. He received the Sacrament of Confirmation October 5, 1959 at St. Bronislava Church, Chicago.
Following graduation from St. Bronislava School, Chicago, in 1965, John enrolled in Mendel Catholic High School, Chicago. He received a diploma from Mendel in 1969. He studied at Drake University, Des Moines, Iowa, from 1969 to 1973, majoring in Journalism. While a student at Drake, he began to work part-time for the Des Moines Register, and eventually became a Sports Editor of that newspaper. In 1983 he entered the Augustinian Pre-Novitiate formation program at Mendel Monastery, Chicago. While residing there, he completed his undergraduate course work, earning a B.A. in History from DePaul University, Chicago, in 1984.
He was received into the Augustinian Novitiate September 9, 1984. He professed temporary vows in the Order of St. Augustine September 1, 1985. He then began theological studies at Catholic Theological Union, Chicago, while residing at St. John Stone Friary, Chicago. John did a Pastoral Year at St. Matthew Parish, Flint, Michigan, in 1987-88, then returned to St. John Stone Friary and to C.T.U. to complete his theological studies. He earned an M. Div. from C.T.U. in 1991. In 1990 he was assigned to the Augustinian Friary of St. John of Sahagún at Providence Catholic High School, New Lenox, Illinois, where he was a teacher. He professed solemn (permanent) vows June 9, 1991. He was ordained a Priest December 8, 1992.
Father Sotak continued to teach at Providence until 1994, when he was assigned to St. Augustine Friary, Kankakee, Illinois. While residing there, he was a teacher and Chaplain at Bishop McNamara Catholic High School, Kankakee. He was assigned to St. Augustine Monastery, Tulsa, Oklahoma, in 2000, where he served as teacher and Chaplain at Cascia Hall School, Tulsa. Father Sotak was assigned to the Augustinian Friary of St. John of Sahagún at Providence Catholic High School, New Lenox, in 2006. He taught in the school. At the time of the June 2006 Province Chapter, he was appointed Province Liturgy Director, Province Director of Continuing Education and Assistant Province Personnel Director. He held these positions until June, 2010.
In July, 2010 Father Sotak returned to St. Augustine Monastery and Cascia Hall, where he served as Prior of the Augustinian community and Director of Augustinian Mission at the school until 2014. From 2014 until 2016, he continued to serve as a teacher at Cascia Hall. He was assigned to St. Turibius Friary, Chicago, in July, 2016. He provided sacramental ministries at St. Turibius Parish and other locations as pastoral needs arose. Currently he resides at St. Jude Parish in New Lenox, as parochial vicar.
Peggy and Matt’s first exposure to the Augustinians was while attending high school dances at Saint Nicolas of Tolentine in the Bronx, New York. Both cradle Catholics had a religious sister in their families and come from a strong Catholic background.
The high school sweethearts married in 1978 and have three daughters and eight grandchildren. All three daughters attended Cascia Hall Preparatory School where the Augustinian charism strongly influenced the entire Coughlin family. Both Matt and Peggy served on many committees and fund raisers over the years for the school.
Peggy is a long time member of the Saint Rita’s Guild. Matt served on the school’s board of directors and served as Chairman 2001 to 2003. Both were Eucharistic Ministers at Saint Rita of Cascia Chapel and Matt also was a lector. He also became the keeper of the bells at the Chapel after their daughter’s class donated them as a graduation gift earning him the nickname Quasimodo. Matt was affiliated with the Augustinian order in 2006.
Peggy (DGCHS) and Matt (KGCHS) have been members of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulcher of Jerusalem since 1993, awarded their Pilgrim’s shells in 2018 and achieved the orders highest rank the following year. Matt served on the Augustinian Advancement Council from 2012 to 2021. Prior to the pandemic the couple had dinner almost every Friday evening with Tulsa members of the Augustinian community.
This year, we will be honoring several communities of Augustinian Women: The Augustinian Contemplative Nuns of Good Counsel Monastery (New Lenox), Las Hermanas Agustinas de Nuestra Señora Del Socorro (Chicago), The Augustinian Sisters of St. Rita (Racine), and Las Hermanas de Nuestra Señora del Buen Consejo (Marylake). These religious women follow the same Rule of St. Augustine as the Friars. They value community life over oneself, share what they have, and receive only according to their need.
The Augustinian Contemplative Nuns of Mother of Good Counsel- New Lenox first came to the United States in 1968 and established their first monastery in the mansion on the grounds of the St. Augustine Minor Seminary in Holland, Michigan. From there the sisters moved to St. Louis, before settling in their current location in New Lenox over 18 years ago. As women religious dedicated to a purely contemplative life, they embrace the cloister as a part of the gift of their vocation. The cloister is a significant symbol of the contemplative life and represents a privileged place for meeting God. Their search for God elicits a heartfelt desire to withdraw from worldly pursuits. This separation allows them to give themselves ever more intently to God and aids in their search for the One who is Truth, Goodness, Beauty, and Love.
Las Agustinas de Nuestra Señora del Socorro – Chicago (Sisters of Our Lady of Help) were founded in Mexico City in 1942 by M. Maria Luisa Godeau Leal. In 1947, a decree was given to add the congregation to the Augustinian Order. Like Augustinian Friars, the base of their religious life is communal living. The community works to unite in a harmonious equilibrium the life of contemplation and action.
In 1958 the Sisters responded to a request for assistance from the Friars of the Midwest Province and moved to the Chicago area. One of the first sisters in the group to arrive was Sr. Esther Landin who still works in the Chicago community today. Currently, the Sisters dedicate themselves to these apostolates: Christian education of children and teenagers in educational centers, assistance of the elderly in nursing homes, and dedication, evangelization, and formation of catechists.
The Augustinian Sisters of St. Rita - Racine currently live their vocation in community in Wisconsin at the St. Rita Convent. Like St. Augustine, they seek God in their own hearts, in every human being, and in every life situation. The example of St. Rita helps them to lead a life of union with God and to serve people in love, peace, forgiveness, and reconciliation.
Father Hugolinus Dach, OSA, together with four young women, founded the Sisters of St. Rita community in Germany in December 1917. In 1936, the community was aggregated to the Augustinian Order. From the beginning, their focus was on caring for families with spiritual and social care. In June 1942, the Sisters came to Racine, Wisconsin to assist the German Augustinians with the new parish of Saint Rita. The Sisters remained in the parish until 1965. At that time, they opened Saint Rita’s Convent, with a vision to build a home for seniors. In February 1971, Saint Monica’s Senior Citizens Home was opened. Today, they minister to the needs of 110 residents and their families.
Las Hermanas de Nuestra Señora del Buen Consejo - Marylake (Sisters of Our Lady of Good Counsel) were founded in Mexico through the joint efforts of the Father Nicolas Navarrete, O.S.A. who was the Prior Provincial of the Augustinian Province of Michoacanat and Madre Amparo Morado who was already a professed sister. The congregation was founded in January 1964.
The first community belonging to this new congregation was located on Calle del Recreo No. 11 in San Miguel de Allende in the state of Guanajuato, and the Diocese of León, Mexico. Under the leadership of Prior General, Father Martin Nolan, O.S.A., the Augustinian Sisters of Our Lady of Good Counsel were aggregated and allowed to use all the symbols and initials (O.S.A) of the Order of Saint Augustine.
The apostolates of this congregation include but are not limited to: Catechesis, Education, Health, and Retreats. Currently, the sisters serve at Marylake Shrine in Ontario where their main apostolate, over the years, has been taking care of the retreat house for retreatants as well as for the friars in the monastery. They are also involved in tailoring and making vestments and altar linens, and habits for the friars.
We are delighted to honor our Sisters in Augustine! They have and continue to walk with us on our journey of faith and community!
The Augustinian Sisters
