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
Do I have a vocation?
“God calls all the souls he has created to love him with their whole being, here and thereafter, which means that he calls all of them to holiness, to perfection, to a close following of him and obedience to his will. But he does not ask all souls to show their love by the same works, to climb to heaven by the same ladder, to achieve goodness in the same way. What sort
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
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 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
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
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
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!
It-Trinità
Il-festa tat-Trinitá qaddisa tistedinna biex l-affarijiet ta’ kuljum ikunu bħal ħmira ta’ komunjni, ta’ konsolazzjoni u ta’ ħniena. It-Trinità hija familja ta’ 3 persni – li qatt ma hija magħluqa fiha nfissha, imma hija miftuħa għall-oħrajn. Alla l-Missier li jikkrea/joħloq Alla l-Iben li jsavla Alla l-Ispirtu s-Santu li jigwidana għal sitwazzjonijiet ġodda fil-ħajja tagħna bl-għajnejn ta’ Ġesù, u fl-istess ħin miftuħa għal dawk li jkun qed jiġri u għall-futur. L-Ispirtu
hiding yourself…
5 common pitfalls in which your choices can be hijacked by fear, illusion, or anxiety: By hiding yourself in a dream in order to avoid making a choice. By hiding yourself in the busyness of short-term goals in order to avoid the deeper decisions By hiding yourself in a failure in order to avoid the battle By hiding yourself behind God in order to avoid taking responsibility By hiding behind
The City of God
Saint Augustine is often regarded as the most influential Christian thinker after Saint Paul, and City of God is his masterpiece, a cast synthesis of religious and secular knowledge. It began as a reply to the charge that Christian other worldliness was causing the decline of the Roman Empire. Augustine produced a wealth of evidence to prove that paganism bore within itself the seeds of its own destruction. Then he
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
Ħalli d-dgħajsa tiegħek….
Jiena ta’ Pawlu. Jien ta’ Apollo. Jiena ta’ Kefa. Jiena ta’ Kristu. Jien mifrud? Jien ta’ min jien? Hija l-storja tal-bniedem. L-istorja tal-familji, tal-politika, tal-kunventi, tal-parroċċi…Litanija tal-firda. Qasmiet kullimkien. Jien ta’ dak u tal-ieħor. Jien tan-North. Jien tas-South. Jien tajjeb – dak ħażin. Jien ma’ dan il-Papa. Jien mal-Papa l-ieħor. Jien ma’ dan l-isqof. Jien mal-Isqof l-ieħor. Ninqdew b’kollox biex napprofitaw ruħna aħna. Għax meta ngħid jien ta’ xi ħadd,
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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