Contact Us
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. We come together for online events more or less monthly. The events are focused on continuous faith formation and growth in Augustinian Spirituality. Lay Augustinians are able to participate from wherever they may be via our online events.
The Augustinian Order was founded in the thirteenth century when Pope Innocent IV united small groups of hermits in service of the Universal Church. From the beginning, the Order recognized St. Augustine as its inspiration.
Today, the Augustinian Order consists of friars (priests and brothers), nuns, and the laity. Laity who make promises, akin to vows but not sacramental, are the “Third Order”.
Three reasons stand out.
First, his example. Augustine was the quintessential sinner turned saint. Augustine journeyed to holiness, he worked at it and struggled with it. He is eminently relatable.
Second, his doctrine. Next to Christ, Augustine is the most referenced person in the Catechism of the Catholic Church. We owe much of what we understand about our Catholic faith to Augustine’s teachings.
Third, his Rule. The Rule of St. Augustine is our playbook for holiness. Living according to the Rule is the manifestation of what we refer to as Augustinian Spirituality.
The Augustinian Charism can be summed up this way: The lifelong search for God with others.
There are Augustinians around the world. In the United States, we are organized into three Provinces: The Province of St. Thomas of Villanova, based in Philadelphia, the Province of Our Mother of Good Counsel, based in Chicago, and the St. Augustine Province, based in San Diego.
It means embracing the Augustinian Charism within our vocations as husbands, wives, and lay single people. We live our lives guided by the Rule of St. Augustine, with particular attention to daily prayer (Liturgy of Hours), continuous faith formation, and service to others. We have an apostolate, which means evangelizing work. We are strengthened and renewed by the sacraments. If our parish has a Lay Augustinian chapter we participate fully. And if not, we unite with our dispersed Augustinian brothers and sisters online. We may make promises, but this is not a requirement to join our community.
We welcome everyone to participate in our events. Those who feel called to make promises must do the following:
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Read the Statutes for the Province of St. Thomas of Villanova. Link here.
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Read the Lay Augustinian Handbook, On the Way with St. Augustine. Link here.
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Complete the Catholic Theology Certificate Course from the Augustine Institute. It is an online, self-paced program: Link here.
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Demonstrate knowledge of the Rule of St. Augustine, and the ability to live by it. This is the key to Augustinian Spirituality. Link here.
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Accept an apostolate. Review paragraphs 863-864 in the Catechism of the Catholic Church and consult with your local pastor or Lay Augustinian Director. Link here.
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Participate in Lay Augustinian events (online or in person) for at least one year. You can register at the link here.
As a reminder, only those seeking to make promises must complete the steps above. Everyone is welcome to participate in our events.
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If you feel the Holy Spirit nudging you to consider a religious vocation please be bold, trust the Spirit, and visit www.beafriar.org to learn more.
If you are settled in your vocation as a husband, wife, or lay single person, please consider pursuing holiness with your lay brothers and sisters in Augustine, but do so expecting to serve, and not be served. Please ask how you can help.
Leo XIV quoted Augustine in his first address: “I am a son of Saint Augustine, an Augustinian, who said: ‘with you I am a Christian and for you a bishop.’ In this sense we can all walk together toward that homeland that God has prepared for us”.
We invite you to walk with us.
Don't hesitate to ask us a question
ADDRESS
The Augustinian Province of St. Thomas of Villanova
Attn: Lay Fraternity
214 Ashwood Lane
Villanova, PA 19085