Last week I visited schools in the Diocese of Metuchen, New Jersey. In three days I spoke to three elemntary parish schools and one Diocesean High School. In all I spoke to over 1,000 students. It was a great week! I always begin with a little Vocation Talk on the Augustinians. Many of the students have not met a male Religious. Their exposure to priests in the parish would be the Diocesean priesthood. Most of the schools I visted still had Religious Sister's as part of the staff so there was an... [More]

The summer and early autumn months are dedicated to the weekend Mission Appeals to financially support the missions.  In the New Year the office begins the Mission Appeals in the Augustinian apostolates. Often in the time between the two sets of Appeals the Mission Office spends time in educating students in schools to the mission ministry. The Diocese of Metuchen, New Jersey, invited Fr Tony Burrascano, OSA, the Mission Director to speak in schools during the week of November 7, 2011. He w... [More]

Several times a year the Mission Office composes and distributes a Mission Newsletter. In compiling the newsletter an attempt is made to include an article on each of the areas in which the Augustinian Friars of the Province of St. Thomas of Villanova serve in the missions. Covering Japan, South Africa and Peru demonstrates the diversity of people and culture whom the friars serve. The articles are developed by the staff of the mission office from communication with the friars serving in forei... [More]

0 false 18 pt 18 pt 0 0 false false false Many of the "older" generation can remember the days when a missionary would visit their Catholic School or Religious Education classes and talk of the great adventures in exotic and distant lands. The missionary most often spoke of the number of converts in their missions. They talked of how they "spread the faith". This was mission education in that time and place. Today mission education continues to speak to the spiritual ... [More]

Two and a half years ago Brian Strassburger became the first Assistant Mission Director. After having completed a year in the Bronx, NY and a year in South Africa as an Augustinian Volunteer, he accepted the position for a four - five month contract. That relationship continued for an additional two years. During that time Brian has helped to set the course and tone of the Mission Office. Being very skilled in technology he brought the office into the 21st Century by the development of the Mis... [More]

JFK Airport in New York was the scene of the departure of two groups of Malvern Prep senior students, each party consisting of approxiamtely 16 members. One group left late at night on LAN Airlines heading due south to the city of Lima, Peru to transfer planes to fly north to the city of Piura, Peru, to pick up ground transportation to the city of Chulucanas, Peru, where they will be staying with the local Bishop, an American Augustinian Friar, Bishop Daniel Turley, O.S.A.. The other group, in t... [More]

At the beginning of Lent, Fr. Tony and I visited the school at Our Lady of Good Counsel on Staten Island as I posted previously (see the story here).  Our visit was a kickoff for their Lent Fundraiser.  Students were invited to GIVE, HELP, and PRAY during this liturgical season.  They took home empty water bottles to save money, and we had participation from the entire school. With the season of Lent coming to a close this week, they have completed the fundraiser.  The schoo... [More]

In March 2010, Fr. Tony and I traveled with a film crew from PBS to our mission in South Africa.  We were filming for an episode in the Visionaries series on PBS, which highlights the good work of non-profits across the world.  This episode was dedicated to the St. Thomas of Villanova province of the Augustinians, and focused on the ministries in downtown Philadelphia and the missions of South Africa.  Last summer, the documentary began airing on PBS stations around the country. ... [More]

On Tuesday, March 8, Fr. Tony and I went to Staten Island to visit Our Lady of Good Counsel School.  We spoke to the entire school in a series of assemblies to help kick off their Lent School Fundraiser.  We talked about the Augustinian Missions and shared stories from our own experiences.   For Lent, we encouraged students to become "missionaries" in their own community by living "as someone who is on a mission."  To do this, we offered practical ways for students to GIVE, ... [More]

The Augustinian Mission Office had the opportunity to offer its educational program to schools in Massachusetts this week.  On Monday morning, February 28, Fr. Tony and I spoke to students at St. Mary of the Assumption School in Lawrence, MA.  There were two assemblies held in their gymnasium for the presentations.  In the evening, Fr. Tony met with the 8th grade students in Religious Education at St. Augustine's parish in Andover. The following morning, on Tuesday, March 1, we s... [More]