Discover who YOU are
We are Augustinians.
We would like to walk with you the walk of life with all the challenges and questions it brings with it.
Learn more about us answer your restless calling today.
A lamp to your feet
Holding the hand of the Lord…
“How wonderful to walk along in life holding the hand of the Lord” (Saint Edith Stein). The most beautiful thing in this world is to be led by the hand of God. Not going at it alone when we pursue our interests and goals, but rather taking it on together with Someone who knows and loves us. Not building my life alone, but in a loving and trusting communion with
Vocation as a call to holiness
One way of expressing this is to say that the fundamental human vocation is the call to holiness, the call to be a saint. The saints are not just heroic people who live in history books; they are ordinary Christians who have tried to live their faith without holding anything back – to love God with their whole hearts, to love those around them without counting the cost, to work
Each vocation is a call to follow Christ
Each vocation is a call to follow Christ – The lifestyle and demands of each particular vocation are very different, but there are some common threads. Each vocation is a commitment to love in a certain way and to draw closer to others – whether that closeness is through marriage or service or prayer. Each vocation challenges us to live our faith more deeply and to follow Christ more closely.
Each vocation in the Church…
Each vocation in the Church has its origin in the compassionate gaze of Jesus, who forgives us and calls us to follow Him. — Pope Francis (@Pontifex) April 17, 2016
How do I know my vocation?
How do I know my vocation? Monk, religious priest, nun, marriage, single life? Many voices are speaking both within me and around me. Here are 3 essential criteria upon which you can rely: Listen to the deepest desire of your heart Test the “endurance” of this deepest desire The “Reality Principle” revisited: it is the Church who calls Discerning Your Vocation – a catholic guide for young adults – Community
5. Value
5. Value – Of the many projects and careers you are interested in, which of them are really worthwhile? Which allow you to contribute to something that is not just a waste of time? What do you actually believe in and want to promote? This doesn’t mean you have to choose a ‘religious’ or ‘charitable’ work – as if all the ordinary jobs people do in the world are a
Educators
Priests
Missionaries
Religious
Augustinians
Discover who WE are
We were founded as an Augustinian Order in 1244 when Pope Innocent IV gathered together various hermit communities in Italy and have been present in Malta since the 14th century.
We follow the footsteps of Christ and Saint Augustine.
We serve God and his people in diverse ministries as priests, educators and missionaries.
Our Stories
Augustinian Heart Blog
min hu l-hieni?
Min hu l-umli? Il-profeta Sofonija qiegħed jikteb ftit qabel riforma (bidla mir-Re Ġożija) u matul dan iż-żmien kien hemm diversi azzjonijiet moralment ħżiena bħal korruzzjoni, inġustizzji, abbużi tal-poter eċċ… huma kollha sitwazzjonijiet li ngħaddu minnhom illum il-ġurnata fil-ħajja tagħna…esperjenzi diffiċli u li jħallu marka fil-ħajja tagħna. Illum il-profeta Sofonija qiegħed iħeġġiġna biex infittxu l-ewwel u qabel kollox lil Mulej… hekk jibda l-qari tal-lum: fittxu lill-Mulej ilkoll.. U jien kif qiegħed
Mulej Ġesu’, agħtini qalb mimlija paċi…
San Gwann minn Sahagun “Missier, ma tafx tagħlaq ħalqek! Sur duka, għalfejn nitla’ fuq il-pulptu? Biex ngħid il-verità lil min qed jismagħni jew biex bla mistħija nżiegħel bihom biex ifaħħruni?” Dan il-kliem intqal bejn id-duka t’Alba li mar għall-funzjoni reliġjuża u l-patri Agostinjan Ġwanni minn Sahagun li kien qiegħed jippriedka. Dak il-jum Ġwanni pprofitta mill-preżenza ta’ ħafna nobbli tal-belt u awtoritajiet ċivili, sabiex jikxef il-gvern ħażin u l-inġustizzji tal-prepotenti ma’
Kulħadd jixtieq li jkun ferħan…
Il-ġenituri jixtiequ l-aħjar għall-ulied u Alla wkoll jixtieq l-aħjar għalina. X’inhu l-aħjar għalina? Kulħadd jixtieq li jkun ferħan. Alla jridna li nkunu ferħanin u ħalaqna biex inkunu ferħanin. Mela l-ferħ mhux il-mistoqsija. Il-mistoqsija hija kif niksbu l-ferħ? Jekk nixtiequ nkunu nafu kif inhi l-qalb ta’ Alla, ma għandnix iħarsu lejn affarijiet oħra ħlief lejn il-Beatitudnijiet. U la nafu kif inhi l-qalb ta’ Alla, dawn il-beatitudnijiet jistednuna biex nimitaw il-qalb t’Alla.
ejja…
Żewġ ‘heroes’ Elija jaħrab minn sitwazzjoni diffiċli, ir-reġina Ġeżabel riedet toqtlu għax hu kien qatel lil profeti li kienu qegħdin imorru kontra t-tagħlim tal-Mulej, dawk li jissejħu Baal… sitwazzjoni partikolari għax hu beda jħossu importanti u li qiegħed jirnexxielu, fuq kollox qiegħed jagħmel dak li kien qallu l-Mulej biex jerġa’ jiġbed lil poplu wara t-tagħlim tiegħu u mhux wara dawn il-profeti foloz…ħass ukoll li m’għandux bżonn l-għajnuna tal-Mulej. Ħassu hero!
Santu Wistin – pittura
Santu Wistin – pittura ta’ John Martin Borg Jidher Wistin li integra l-passat tiegħu ma’ dak li huwa – il-passat tiegħu jidher permezz ta’ dawk il-linji li jmissu mal-figura ta’ Wistin. Hemm is-simbolu tal-qalb
l-imħabba t’Alla b’xejn
Kemm irrid naħfer? Kemm nista’ nirċievi imħabba mingħand Alla? Kemm ser nagħti imħabba? Kif nista’ naħfer? — Għadab u qilla – huma sentimenti naturali li jitilgħu fil-wiċċ meta nkunu mweġġgħin minħabba xi inġustizzja. Mhux faċli li naħfru u mhux xi ħaġa li tiġi mill-lum għal għada, huwa proċess, mixja li titlob minna ħafna kuraġġ u qawwa mill-Mulej. Kemm-il darba għandna naħfru? Pietru jistaqsi sa seba’ darbiet? Hawnhekk Pietru diġà qiegħed
Frequently Asked Questions
We were founded as an Augustinian Order in 1244 when Pope Innocent IV gathered together various hermit communities in Italy and have been present in Malta since the 14th century. We follow the footsteps of Christ and Saint Augustine and serve God and his people in diverse ministries as priests, educators and missionaries.
In Malta we are presenti in 6 communities: Valletta, Rabat, Tarxien, Pietà, Paceville and Victoria (Gozo).
Here are the three key differences between diocesan priests and religious priests:
1. Where they live.
Diocesan priests serve in the particular geographical region of a diocese or archdiocese. Usually, the bishop assigns them to a parish, where they live independently and interact with the parishioners and broader community. Diocesan priests sometimes live with other priests who serve at their parish, but each can own his own property.
Priests who are in a religious order are not assigned to a particular diocese. Instead, the superior of the order (the Prior Provincial) tells a religious priest where he will live to carry out his ministry. It could be in a different city, or even a different country. Religious priests live in community with one another. The religious priests in community own possessions communally.
2. What their mission is.
A diocesan priest is generally called to serve the needs of his parish. He celebrates Mass and administers sacraments to the parishioners, including Baptism and Reconciliation. At the same time, he runs the parish by making administrative and financial decisions. Additionally, a diocesan priest serves the particular pastoral needs of his parish, such as visiting the sick and spiritually accompanying parishioners.
In contrast, religious priests can work in a wide variety of ministries including a parish, though they also administer the sacraments and celebrate Mass. Their work depends on the charism of their religious order, which refers to the spirituality and particular focus for which the order was founded. Ministries can include teaching, working with the poor, assisting the elderly, leading a contemplative life of prayer, and much more.
3. The promises they make.
All priests make an important and unique commitment to the Church when they decide to enter seminary and when they are ordained. But there are some differences in the types of promises priests make, and when they make them. Diocesan priests make three promises to the bishop at their ordination:
- To recite daily the Liturgy of the Hours
- To obey the bishop
- To live a life of celibacy
Religious priests make temporary solemn vows before their ordination as part of their formation. After a certain number of years, depending on the order, they make final solemn vows. These vows, which are shared by religious brothers, sisters, and priests, are the three evangelical counsels:
- Poverty
- Chastity
- Obedience
Diocesan priests and religious priests are wonderful gifts that Christ has given us in his Church, and in their separate but complementary ways, they help the Church to flourish. We pray in a special way today for vocations to the diocesan and religious priesthood, and for all vocations to consecrated life.
Religious vows are sacred promises. They reflect a life orientation and profound loving commitment. After a period of formation members of religious communities, Sisters, Brothers and those becoming Religious Priests, publicly profess such vows of poverty, celibate chastity and obedience.
Religious vows joyfully free a person to live for God and through that first love to serve others with love and to witness to God’s faithfulness, compassion and care for all.
Poverty is the vow that call us to live simply. We depend on the generosity of our benefactors and commit to living in a community that provides for our material and financial support. The vow of poverty is an invitation to follow Jesus by renouncing earthly goods for the sake of the Kingdom of Heaven.
Chastity is a personal virtue – to love others appropriately as a single, celibate male. Chastity is an invitation to renounce marriage and sexual activity. It is also a deeply rewarding form of love. It’s not all sacrifice…. Augustinians share in the intimate and chaste love of family, friends, and those we serve in ministry.
Obedience is the vow to give respect and deference to our legitimate superiors. Our local superior is called a Prior, and he holds responsibility for the local community. Local communities are organized into Provinces, headed by a Provincial. The Provincial serves as the Ordinary, which means that the Provincial can assign where a friar lives and works.
The Rule of St. Augustine incorporates the basic principles of the Augustinian spirituality of religious community life. The Rule of St. Augustine was written around the year 400.
1) Discernment
3) Pre-Novitiate
4) Novitiate
5) Simple Vows
7) Solemn Vows
8) Ordination to the Diaconate
9) Ordination to the Priesthood
Ask by getting in contact with us on our contact page, or talk to a vocations director.
Discover who WE are and who YOU are
To young men we also offer the possibility of living in our community in Pietà for a few days where they can share our life built on the experience of the first Christian community.
Here they live the reality of our daily life by sharing our prayers, our community Eucharist, our food, our recreation and our work, particularly in the service of our brothers and the Church.
Above all we share together the beauty of each person’s story by celebrating the experiences and qualities of each one of us.
Let's Walk Together
We can’t wait to hear your story.
Allow us to accompany you as we embark on this journey of discovering the calling and the wonderful plan that God has for you.
Fill in the form below to start a conversation with our Augustinian Vocations Director.
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