Janine Morett – An Augustinian Volunteer in South AfricaAs I pull onto the street where 1000 Hills Community Helpers is and then down the driveway, I am welcomed by people of all ages walking towards the Center.  There are kids who will attend the school, adults who will be going to the clinic and others who are there for a meal or just to be there.  The center itself does a lot of different things from a baby clinic on Tuesdays, an open clinic on Thursdays, a dayc... [More]

By Kellie Kozel (Augustinian Volunteer presently in South Africa) So far South Africa seems to be a place of extremes. All of last week there were thunderstorms and high-speed winds and this week it has been sweat-til-you-drop hot. In the first month our car was stalled more than it was running, and now we could take on Mario Andretti in a race down Inanda Road (or at least we like to think so). One day you can spend the whole morning laughing hysterically with a patient as you muddle through... [More]

The weekend of January 12—15, 2011, seven young men and women gathered at the Augustinian House in Ocean City, New Jersey. It was not a weekend at the Jersey Shore. These men and women had been initiated into the Augustinian Volunteers and were spending this weekend preparing spiritually, emotionally and socially to begin a year of service alongside the Augustinian Friars in Peru and South Africa in serving the needs of the poor. The Augustinian Volunteers are not the Peace Corp. Yes they... [More]

December 15, 2011, saw flights arriving from Peru and South Africa bearing the Augustinian Volunteers who have seved in our missions in Peru and South Africa for the past year. Three returned from South Africa and four from Peru. They spent the weekend on retreat reflecting on their experiences. On Saturday evening they joined the parish community of St. Thomas of Villanova, Villanova, PA, at the parish evening liturgy where they were recognized for their service with the Augustinian Friars serv... [More]

Each morning as I drive down to St. Leo’s Primary School, I listen to calming music and mentally prepare myself for the inevitable chaos that will greet me upon my arrival. When I arrive, I am ready for battle. Armed with pencils, paper, books, and most importantly – patience, I weave my way through a sea of kids and make my way to the classroom. When my first class begins, the students are overflowing with energy and enthusiasm. I try to harness this energy and use it to help t... [More]

The Mission Office has always been involved with Mission Appeals in parishes throughout the country. The Appeals are a means of sharing the story of the foreign missions of the Augustinians and are also a means of soliciting financial support for the missions from people of the parish. Traditionally Mission Appeals have been preached by friars, some from the missions and some who have never been to the missions yet who wish to support this ministry by giving their time on the weekend. In recent ... [More]

This past weekend, the Augustinian Volunteers hosted a retreat in Ocean City, NJ for the eight individuals who will be spending a year in our missions.  At the conclusion of the retreat, they departed for their respective sites of Peru and South Africa.  The volunteers will be serving in those locations for the next eleven months, until they return to the US in mid-December.  During their volunteer year, they will be working side-by-side with our Augustinian Friars, forming ... [More]

Last week, the International Augustinian Volunteers returned to the United States after one year of service in our Missions of Peru and South Africa.  Volunteers have been serving side-by-side with friars in the Missions since 2002.  Since then, 37 young men and women have sacrificed a year of their life in service to the Missions.  Countless lives have been impacted by their efforts.  For this, the Mission Office would like to extend its gratitude and appreciation. Upon the... [More]