FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

How many friars are in the Province of St. Thomas of Villanova?

Our membership includes 218 friars. In the spirit of Augustine and through our profession of vows, we are all brothers, although most of our friars have chosen to serve the community and Church as priests. A small number of us are brothers.

What kind of ministries do the Augustinians do?

We serve the Church in many different ways. Our primary ministries are education and parish. We are teachers, administrators, and counselors in high schools and on the college/university level. We staff parishes in various dioceses on the East Coast of the United States. Some friars are psychologists, spiritual directors, and hospital and prison chaplains. A few preach parish missions, do retreat ministry, or work as missionaries.

Do I need a college degree to join your community?

Members of our Associate Program are not required to have completed college. The Associate Program is open to anyone who is a high school graduate or older. Our Associates are often attending college or working full-time and, at the same time, discerning a possible vocation with our community. However, if you choose to make a formal application to our residential Pre-Novitiate Program, you should have or be working toward a college degree or its equivalent. (To begin the study of theology at most, if not all, theological schools, you must have a college degree and have completed a minimum of 18 credits of philosophy). Suitability for the Augustinian way of life for one aspiring to priesthood or brotherhood is best determined through a conversation with the Vocation Director.

In what geographical areas do you serve?

Friars in the Province of St. Thomas of Villanova minister predominantly on the East Coast of the United States, specifically in Massachusetts (Lawrence and Andover), New York (Albany area, Staten Island, Bronx), Pennsylvania (Philadelphia area), Richland, New Jersey, North Carolina (Charlotte, Maggie Valley, Waynesville), and Florida (Miami, Dania Beach, Cape Coral, Pine Island, Golden Gate). Some friars serve in our missions in Japan, South Africa, and Peru. Several work or teach at our International College in Rome.

Do you sponsor Discernment Weekends and can I visit your communities?

Members of the Associate Program make a yearly retreat. Serious inquirers are welcome to attend this retreat also, at the invitation of the Vocation Director. Visits to any of our communities are arranged through the Vocation Director.

What is the process by which one becomes a member of your community?

The process for becoming an Augustinian is outlined in the “Formation Program” section of Vocations on our web site. Before someone makes formal application to our community, he is expected to be a member of the Associate Program for a minimum of six months to a year.

What discernment opportunities are available for Latino inquirers?

We are in the process of establishing a House of Discernment for Spanish Speaking Aspirants (Casa Agustín) in Staten Island, NY, specifically designed to meet the needs of Latino inquirers. Casa Agustín is designed for Latinos who require linguistic and academic preparation for any amount of years in order to meet the requirements of the Pre-Novitiate Program. The program is designed to accommodate young men who have a Graduate Equivalency Diploma (or need to achieve one) or need to gain greater proficiency in the English language PRIOR to the beginning of Augustinian Formation. Immigration needs are also addressed in this level of discernment. Further information about this program may be obtained by contacting the Director of the Program – Fr. Luis Madera, OSA (e-mail:vocaciones@losagustinos.org).

With so many different Religious Orders, how would I know I am being called to be an Augustinian?

Discerning a vocation to religious life/priesthood is a process that primarily requires prayer and ongoing spiritual direction.

The fundamental call of the Gospel is a call to conversion, a change of heart by which one begins to center his life on the reign of God given to us in Christ. Augustine experienced this call in his restless pursuit of truth. He tells the story of his conversion and his coming to know himself and God in his Confessions. Conversion was possible for Augustine by God’s grace and through the friendships and hospitality he experienced with others.

Friendship and hospitality are hallmarks of Augustinian spirituality. For Augustine and for us, life is seen as a journey. Together, we are “on our way to God”. Augustinians strive to create communities of hospitality and friendship where individuals can hear and answer the call to conversion. Augustine’s prayer: “Let me know myself, let me know You” is the prayer of everyone seeking to live the Augustinian way of life.