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
4. Skills
Skills – What are you good at? What are your gifts and skills and aptitudes? Not just your qualifications (although these are often relevant) but your gifts of character and personality too. How could you best use all that God has given you and make a difference? How to Discover your vocation – Stephen Wang
Vocation as a call to a concrete ‘state of life’
Vocation as a call to a concrete ‘state of life’ – Christ has always called some people to follow him in concrete ways, by giving them a more specific vocation. In previous generations, the word ‘vocation’ would only have been used to describe the lives of priests and religious – because these people had in some sense been called ‘away’ from an ordinary life to a life of celibacy and
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
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
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
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
Augustine of Hippo: A Biography
Augustine of Hippo: A Biography Peter Brown This classic biography was first published forty-five years ago and has since established itself as the standard account of Saint Augustine’s life and teaching. The remarkable discovery of a considerable number of letters and sermons by Augustine cast fresh light on the first and last decades of his experience as a bishop. These circumstantial texts have led Peter Brown to reconsider some of
Liema ragħaj?
Jiena r-ragħaj it-tajjeb (Ġw 10:11) Illum f’Malta ma tantx għandna naraw ix-xena ta’ ragħaj jirgħa n-nagħaġ, biss żgur li ma kienx il-każ fi żmien Ġesu’, għax flimkien mas-sajd u l-biedja, dan kien xogħol komuni ħafna. F’dan il-Ħadd iddedikat għall-vokazzjonijiet, il-knisja tippreżentalna lil Ġesu’ bħala r-ragħaj li jagħti ħajtu għan-nagħaġ tiegħu biex dawn isalvaw. ‘F’ħadd ħliefu ma hemm salvazzjoni’ – Fl-ewwel qari nisbu din l-affermazzjoni qawwija li jagħmel San Pietru meta
The Confessions
In his Confessions, Saint Augustine reflects upon his life in the light of scripture and the presence of God. He begins with his infancy, pondering the many sins of his life before his conversion, and he confesses not only his sins but even more the greatness of God. This work presents a wonderful contrast between the Holy God who created all things and whom heaven and earth cannot
unfinished symphony
L-Evanġelju ta’ dan il-Ħadd ikompli mas-silta tal-Ħadd li għadda. Il-Ħadd li għadda rajna l-ewforija tad-dixxipli u ta’ Pietru fejn raw li Ġesù huwa l-imgħallem, il-ħabib u l-Messija tant mistenni f’Israel. Min jaf kemm kien mument ta’ eċitament għalihom. U Ġesù wkoll ta r-responsabiltà lil Pietru u lid-dixxipli. Pietru – il-blata li ma tiċċaqlaqx – jiġifieri fuq xiex tinbena l-Knisja. Kien mument ta’ ferħ, għaliex huma kienu qegħdin jistennew Messijah –
dik tiegħi!
Is-Sid tal-għalqa huwa l-Mulej u l-għalqa hija Israel, il-bdiewa huma l-kapijiet tal-Lhud, il-qaddejja huma l-profeti li marru jippruvaw iwasslu l-messaġġ ta’ ġustizzja u paċi f’diversi żminijiet fl-istorja tal-Bibbja, l-iben huwa Kristu li keċċewh u salbuh ‘il barra mill-Belt (mill-ħitan ta’ Ġerusalemm) Il-ħajt tas-sejjieħ kien iservi biex jipproteġi d-dielja minn xi annimali salvaġġi kif ukoll minn xi ħallelin li jippruvaw jisirqu. It-torri kien iservi biex tara jekk hux ġejjin xi ħallelin
Wake up Call!
Qegħdin nibdew sena liturġika ġdida. Ġie Avvent ieħor. Dan l-Avvent jinkoraġġina biex immorru lura għal din il-ħerqa u tfixxija li qarbitna lejn Alla. Dan iż-żmien ġdid jagħmlilna l-mistoqsija: hemm xi ħaġa fija jew f’ħajti li huwa neċesarju bidu ġdid? Din hija wake-up call. Jista’ jkun li nqbadna fit-timetables tagħna u sirna inqas sensittivi għal dak li qiegħed jiġri madwarna? Forsi tant aħna busy li hemm bżonn ta’ ftit riflessjoni. Niftakru
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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