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
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
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
God ‘speaks’ to us in ordinary ways
Christians talk about how God ‘calls’ us to do something, and perhaps we think this means that one day we will literally hear a voice telling us what to do. Sometimes God does speak to us in clear and dramatic ways, but more often he ‘speaks’ to us in ordinary ways. He guides us through the deepest desires of our hearts (calling us ‘from within’) and the events and circumstances
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
To be saints…
To be saints is not a privilege for the few, but a vocation for everyone. — Pope Francis (@Pontifex) November 21, 2013
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
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
Mill-esklużjoni għal inklużjoni
Fi żmien Ġesù, li xi ħadd ikun marid bil-lebbra, kien mwarrab u eskluż mis-soċjetà. Issa wkoll Samaritan huwa persuna eskluża għaliex il-Lhud u s-Samaritani ma kienux jmorru tajjeb bejniethom. Fl-istorja li għandna, dan ir-raġel kien eskluż doppjament, kemm bħala Samaritan u bħala lebbruż. U llum, min huma ‘l-lebbrużi’ moderni? Lil min qed neskludu? Eżempju: xi ħadd li ma jaqbilx magħna u għandu opinjoni differenti, xi ħadd ta’ kulur politiku ieħor,
lesti nirriskjaw?
‘Ejjew warajja’ Fl-Vanġelu, l-Evanġelista San Mark jippreżentalna lil Ġesu’ jsejjaħ l-ewwel dixxipli. Huwa rakkont sabiħ ħafna għax fih aħna nistgħu naraw is-sejħa li Ġesu’ jagħmel lilna ukoll fil-ħajja tagħna. Ma ninsewx, li Alla jsejjaħ lil kulħadd biex jimxi warajh, ovvjament min bi stat ta’ ħajja u min b’ieħor. ‘ikalaw ix-xbiek fil-baħar’, ‘qegħdin isewwu x-xbiek’ – San Mark jgħidilna eżattament x’kienu qegħdin jagħħmlu l-aħwa meta sejħilhom Ġesu’. Kemm Indri u Pietru
il-gwida tan-nisrani
Fl-ewwel qari naraw lil Alla jidħol f’patt mal-poplu Lhudi permezz ta’ Mose li huma jkunu l-poplu tiegħu u hu jkun Alla tagħhom u jagħtihom l-għaxar kmandamenti. Il-bażi tal-kmandamenti kollha hija l-imħabba infatti meta mistoqsi fuq liema hu l-kmandament il-kbir, Ġesu’ iwieġeb hekk; “Ħobb lill-Mulej, Alla tiegħek, b’qalbek kollha, b’ruħek kollha, u b’moħħok kollu.’ Dan hu l-kmandament il-kbir u l-ewwel wieħed. U it-tieni jixbhu: ‘Ħobb lil għajrek bħalek innifsek.’ Ovvjament din
niskandaljaw….
Il-Festa ta’ San Pawl, festa għal qalbna. Issa hawnehkk għandna tempesta….u wkoll naraw kif minn tempesta ħareġ il-ġid. Alla li nqeda bit-tempesta biex jiġi fostna l-Appostlu tal-Ġnus ħalli Malta titgħammed fi Kristu. U naraw li t-tempesta hija laqgħa ta’ Alla magħna. Li Alla jaħdem ukoll permezz tan-natura, u li fit-tempesta jaħdem Alla… U dan x’jrid jgħdilna? Li d-diżżapunti tagħna huma l-appuntamenti ta’ Alla. U għalhekk kemm hu mportanti li nirriflettu
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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