A group of youths spent two days with the Augustinian Community at Tal Pieta’. During these couple of days, the Tagaste Youths had the opportunity of giving some of their time to others through their work that entailed cleaning and refurbishment work at the Millennium Chapel. After this, the youths had lunch with the Augustinian Community, Paceville.

The theme for these days was ‘Arise and Celebrate’ inspired by this year’s Pope Francis’ message to youths. Amongs other activities including moments of prayer and games, Tagaste Youths also went to Gozo and spent some time together there. These activities are organised by the Provincial Commission for Youth ministry and vocational discernment together with various religious and other young people who offer their time and help.



After the Celebration of the Ordinary Provincial Chapter that was held last March/April, the Prior Provincial continued discussions with the Provincial Council and with various friars individually. The work and discussions that normally take place during this period are a continuation to what was discussed at the Provincial Chapter and an evaluation is undertaken of certain changes that become necessary in the friars' responsibilities in particular communities. It was exactly within the spirit of these matters that, on Wednesday 8 June, the Augustinian friars met at the Augustinian Oratory Dun Ġwann Mamo at Ħal-Tarxien.

The meeting commenced with evening prayers. Thereafter, the Prior Provincial shared his thoughts on the work carried out over the past few weeks and concerning some proposed changes. Then he read the list of Formation of each Community, the Provincial delegates, and the resonsibilities assigned to other of the Province’s entities. Over the coming weeks other entities, involving various lay persons, will continue to be formed and approved.

Thus, the Provincial Chapter is being brought to an end. This website augurs fruitful work to all Augustinian friars in their respective responsibilities. Above everything, it would be very appropriate for us to keep in our prayers also all the Communities, whilst also praying harder for Vocations in the Augustinian Family. 


The Provincial Commission of the Augustinian Laity will be organizing an Augustinian Family Feast in Gozo. It will be on Tuesday, June 7, 2022. We will leave with the ship at 9.00 am and return at 5.15 p.m.

The program will be as follows:

- Visit to the Augustinian Sisters in Għajnsielem. There, we will have two short talks about the Servants of God, Fra Grazzja Gauci OSA and the couple Inez and Henry Casolani, Augustinian Tertiaries. We will have a coffee between the two talks.

- Lunch at Marsalforn Restaurant

- Mass at Ta’ Pinu Sanctuary

The fee is €20 for adults and €10 for children, which includes transport in Gozo and food.

You can book at the Augustinian church that you attend. Transport to Ċirkewwa will be provided from wherever there is an Augustinian church. For more information ask the local Prior.

We invite you to take this opportunity to get back together.

The Lord bless us all. St. Augustine and the Augustinian Saints pray for us!


Augustinian Family Feast 2022

“Let us leave the rudder in God’s hands as He knows best what are our needs” Inez Casolani, Tertiary Augustinian

On Tuesday 7 June the Augustinian Provincial Commission for the Laity organised the 2022 Augustinian Family Feast in Gozo.

Seventy lay males and females from the communities of Valletta, Ħal-Tarxien, Paceville and St. Julians, together with members of the Secular Augustinain Fraternity, met at Ċirkewwa so as to take the 9.00 a.m. ferry. On arrival in Gozo they went straight to the convent of the Augustinian Sisters at Għajnsielem. There they attended two interesting talks.

Mrs Stephanie Quintano, President of the Association Henry and Inez Casolani, spoke about this couple, Servants of God, who were Augustinian Terteriaries. Also in attendance was Sr.Cecilia Casolani, the only child of the Casolani couple, and Mr. Anton Quintano, Vice Postulator of the case for the beatification of this couple.

After a coffee break, the lay members attended another talk, this time regarding Servant of God, Fra Grazzja Gauci, an Augustinian religious. This talk was delivered by Mr. Eman Bonnici, who had written Fra Grazzja’s biography.

It is worth mentiuoning that the Postulator of both these beatification cases is Fr. Josef Sciberras OSA.

Thereafter the members of the laity proceeded to Marsalforn where they had lunch at a restaurant there. These were beautiful moments when those present renewed acquaintancies and friendship, after two years of the pandemic during which time the Commission was unable to organise similar activities. From Marsalforn the laity went to the Sanctuary of Ta’ Pinu at Għarb, a place close to everybody’s heart and, doubtless, also to the Servants of God, the couple Casolani, but more so to the Servant of God, Fra Grazzja Gauci OSA, who hailed from Għarb. There the laity participated in Holy Mass which was celebrated by Fr. Provincial Leslie Gatt OSA.

Thnaks to the members of the Augustinian Provincial Commission for the Laity, the 2022 Augustinian Family Feast was a beautiful moment when all present again felt part of the Augustinian Family, as were part of this family Fr. Grazzja, and Henry and Inez Casolani.

 

Fr Franco Grech OSA

Religious Assistant, Augustinian Provincial Commission for the Laity

 


The month of May, for us Augustinians and for so many devotees around the world, is linked to the figure of the great Augustinian nun, Saint Rita of Cascia. Saint Rita lived in Umbria in Italy, more than 600 years ago, but the different experiences that life has brought together, have made her a figure that appeals so much even to our times. She lived the challanges of married life, the experience of a mother who even lost her sons, the call to the consecrated life as an Augustinian nun, and in the last years of her life God granted her the grace to experience closely the suffering of his Son through a thorn on her forehead. In all this she lived heroically the Christian virtues particularly, love, forgiveness, faith, and total disposition to the will of God.

Along the 20th century, the devotion to Saint Rita spread rapidly, not only in Italy, but also in so many countries around the world. The Augustinians worked hard to spread such devotion presenting her to the people of God as a model of hope in the difficulties of life. Many devotees keep Thursdays as the day to resort to her with their difficulties and problems humbly requesting her intercession to deliver their prayer to God almighty.

In Malta the national centre of devotion to the Saint is the Parish Church of St. Augustine in Valletta. This year, being that the 22nd will fall on a Sunday, and it will also coincide with the Carnival celebrations in Valletta, the Feast in Valletta will be celebrated on Thursday, May 19th. On that day there will also be a devotional pilgrimage with the statue of the Saint leaving the Church at 5.30pm, and upon entering there will be a solemn Mass starting at 7.15pm. The devotional pilgrimage in Victoria, Gozo, will also take place on Thursday 19 May, while the feast of the Saint at the Church of Saint Augustine in Victoria, Gozo, will still be celebrated on Sunday 22 May.

The feast of Saint Rita is also celebrated in the other Augustinian churches. It will actually be celebrated on Saturday 15 May at St. Nicholas Church in Tarxien, and on Saturday 21 May at St. Mark's Church in Rabat and at Our Lady of Good Council in Paceville. The 9.30am Mass, broadcast on TVM and the Church's media on Sunday 22 May will be held at Saint Augustine Parish Church in Valletta. For more details it is good to look for the respective program, in the Church which is most comfortable for him to continue to pray together for the intercession of the saint of the impossible that we love so much.

 


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