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
3. Enjoyment
3. Enjoyment – What do you like doing; not just for leisure or fun – but what kind of work and activities do you enjoy most? Which bring the best out of you and gives you satisfaction at the end of a hard day? How to Discover your vocation – Stephen Wang
It is a journey that involves patience, honesty, perseverance…
The word ‘discernment’ is used to describe the whole process by which we listen to God and listen to our own hearts, gradually coming to know who God is calling us to be and where he is leading us. It is not something we just decide to do one afternoon, like baking a cake or watching a film. It is a journey that involves patience, honesty, perseverance, generosity, courage, and
2. Admiration
Admiration – Which people do you admire the most? Is it because of who they are or what they stand for or what they do? What is it about them or their vocation that you have been attracted to? What does it stir up in your own heart? Which person, alive now, would you most like to be? Which saints, from the past, inspire you most? Why? How to Discover
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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
Vocation as a call to be the unique person you are made to be
Vocation as a call to be the unique person you are made to be – There is yet another level to ‘vocation’. Each saint is unique, and you are called to be holy not just in a general way, but in the particular way that God has made you to be. God created you as a unique individual, and calls you by a name that no-one else has been given.
it-tajjeb, is-sabiħ u l-għaref
It-Tentazzjonijiet prinċipali tagħna l-bnedmin – fejn naħsbu li ser insiru Alla. Li t-tajjeb ifisser biss dak li jissodisfa l-bżonnijiet materjali tagħna: l-ikel, il-flus, il-propjetà, il-kumdità…u hawn ġejna utilitaristi – x’inhu tajjeb għax jissodisfani…affarijiet oħra le, għax ngħidu jkollna d-drittijiet umani, imma ma jkunux verament drittijiet umani. Rigward din l-ewwel tentazzjoni li l-ispirtu l-ħażin għamel lil Adam u Eva, hekk ukoll isib lil Ġesù fid-deżert… It-tentatur jipprova jbiegħed lil Ġesù mill-proġett
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
Itlobni x’nagħtik
Hekk qallu Alla lil Salamun, li kien Re żgħażugħ. “Itlob x’nagħtik”. Hija mistoqsija li Ġesù wkoll jistaqsi xi drabi fl-Evanġelji. Hija mistoqsija li jistaqsi lili llum. Kif ser nirrispondi? X’irrid li jkolli jew li nkun bħalissa? Nistgħu nobsru b’mod tajjeb ħafna minn nies, inklużi aħna, x’nixtiequ nitolbu. Għal ħafna hija xi ħaġa marbuta mal-flus jew ma’ xi sigurtà materjali. Għalkemm uħud ukoll quddiem mistoqsi bħal din jitħawdu u ma jkunux
INT Ewkaristija
Darba l-Papa Benedittu kien qal: Ewkaristija li ma tgħaddix għall-prattika konkreta tal-imħabba hija xi ħaġa essenzjalment framentata. Aħna ma niġux hawn biex niċċelebraw l-Ewkaristija għax hija xi tradizzjoni. Niġu hawn għaliex l-Ewkaristija tatina l-qawwa naffrontaw bi mħabba dak kollu li niltaqgħu miegħu. L-Ewkaristija mhux ċelebrazzjoni sabiħa u daqshekk. Fil-fatt m’hemmx Ewkaristija bla kumpassjoni u bla ma naqsmu ma’ l-oħrajn. Ewkaristija hija għotja. F’kull ċelebrazzjoni Ewkaristika Ġesù jingħata lill-Missier għalina. Jingħata
Ġesù JIBQA’ PREŻENTI u JAĦDEM
Fuq naħa għandna FIRDA: Il-ktieb tal-Atti tal-Appostli jirrakkonta din il-ġrajja, il-firda aħħarija tal-Mulej Ġesù minn mad-dixxipli u minn din id-dinja. Fuq naħa oħra: MANDAT/MISSJONI L-evanġelju ta’ San Mattew jippreżentalna l-mandat li Ġesù ta lid-dixxipli: l-istedina biex imorru, jitilqu, sew f’arthom kif ukoll f’artijiet oħra, u jxandru lill-ġnus kollha il-messaġġ tiegħu tas-salvazzjoni. “Morru” jew aħjar “ITILQU” jsiru l-kliem ċentrali tal-festa tal-lum: Ġesù jitlaq lejn il-Missier (Nikkontemplaw l-umanità tagħna, għall-ewwel darba
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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