Society of Saint Augustine

The Society of Saint Augustine ("Societas Sancti Augustini") is a Roman Catholic Institute of Consecrated Life which takes as its pattern of living, the way of life delineated in the Rule of Saint Augustine of Hippo. The community was founded in 1981 in Amarillo, Texas by four Augustinian Recollects ("Friars from the Order of Augustinian Recollects"). They were later joined later by Augustinians; ("Friars formerly from the Order of Saint Augustine.") As an Augustinian community, The Society of Saint Augustine is composed of priests, religious brothers and sisters and lay people, but differs from many other Augustinian Communities in that it places great emphasis on the full inclusion and involvement of the laity (lay persons) in the life and ministry of the community.

The community is committed to living a traditional mendicant Augustinian Religious life, based on meditation / recollection, community prayer. Members celebrate the daily Divine Office or "Liturgy of the Hours"; practice a simplicity of life and are to be faithful to the Rule of Saint Augustine. Drawing from the various reform movements in the Augustinian Tradition (the Spanish Recollection, The Observantine Congregation of the Augustinian Order, etc.,) the Society of Saint Augustine seeks to authentically adapt traditional Augustinian Religious Life to the contemporary needs of Society.

The community transferred to the Archdiocese of Kansas City in 1997 when it was invited by Archbishop James P. Keleher to minister in that Diocese. While fostering the "active/contemplative" dimension of Augustinian Religious Life, the Society of Augustine involves itself in a broad spectrum of ministries, including Parochial and Pastoral care, Adult catechesis, Hispanic Ministry, Pro-life activities, Direction of Retreats and Military Chaplaincy.

Presently, this community of reform Friars has two houses: "Villa Saint Augustine", in Kansas City (which serves as the Administrative Center for the Community), and "Villa Ostia", a Retreat House in up-state New York.

External links

* [http://www.augustinian.us The Society of Saint Augustine S.S.A.]
* [http://www.angelfire.com/pa5/augustinian4/ The Rule of Saint Augustine]
* [http://www.angelfire.com/pa5/augustinian120/ The Constitution of the Society of Saint Augustine]
* [http://www.augnet.org/default.asp?ipageid=478 www.augnet.org]
* [http://www.osanet.org International Order of St. Augustine]
* [http://www.geocities.com/Athens/1534/ruleaug.html Text of the Rule of St. Augustine]
* [http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/07281a.htm Catholic Encyclopedia entry for the "Hermits of St Augustine"]
* [http://www.augustinianrecollects.org/ The Augustinian Recollects O.A.R.]
* [http://www.lampsalight.org/ Augustinian nuns (America)]
* [http://www.santaritadacascia.org/agostiniani-en.htm Augustinian nuns at Cascia, Italy]
* [http://www.midwestaugustinians.org/saints/saints.html List of Augustinian Saints]
* [http://www.agustinasmisioneras.net/Inicial%20Agustinas%20English.htm Augustinian Missionary Sisters]
* [http://www.freewebs.com/oad_english/ Discalced Augustinians]
* [http://www.agostinianiscalzi.org/ Italian language site of the Discalced Augustinians]
* [http://www.augustines.org/ Augustinians of the Mercy of Jesus]
* [http://www.augustinians.org.uk/ Augustinian friars in Britain]
* [http://www.augustinian.org Order of the Hermit Friars of St. Augustine (O.S.A.)]
* [http://www.osa.org.br/osa/ Augustinians in Brazil (Portuguese language)]
* [http://www.midwestaugustinians.org Augustinians of the Midwest]