When the news broke that Fr. Bob Prevost, O.S.A. had been elected Pope Leo XIV, it sent ripples of joy through Augustinian circles worldwide — and through the Mendel Catholic High School community here at home.

While Pope Leo XIV himself wasn’t a Mendel alumnus, his family’s connection to the school runs deep. His brothers attended Mendel, and his mother worked there, faithfully serving the community that helped shape generations of young men on Chicago’s South Side. And for a brief but memorable time, Fr. Bob himself taught at Mendel — just long enough for those who met him to remember his kindness, intellect, and quiet sense of purpose.

A recently rediscovered Augustinian mission newsletter from 1990 captures him in a different setting — a young missionary priest in Lima, Peru, traveling alongside Fr. Dan Hartigan and other Augustinians to visit their missions. The account, written by Fr. Hartigan, includes a charming note that now reads almost prophetically:

“The choir was superb (sounded opera-quality!), especially prepared by Bob Prevost.”

It’s a simple line that reveals so much — a young priest already distinguished by his care for detail, love of music, and ability to bring people together in harmony. That spirit would carry him from parish life to missionary leadership, to bishop, cardinal, and now, Pope Leo XIV.

For the Mendel Alumni Association, this isn’t just a headline — it’s a moment of family pride. It reminds us that Mendel’s story continues to echo far beyond 111th Street: in the halls of the Vatican, in the missions of Peru, and in every place touched by the Augustinian spirit of Truth, Unity, and Love.

From the South Side to St. Peter’s, the legacy lives on.