Right now, our healthcare workers are on the frontline of battling the novel coronavirus disease COVID-19 that’s spreading rapidly throughout the world. They are putting themselves in the path of this virus in this unprecedented crisis. Being unable to physically meet on a weekly basis, as is usually done on a normal routine, the Augustinian Youths have teamed up together to show their support and encouragement towards healthcare workers during the current situation.  

For this reason, after a voluntary experience with the residents of Casa Leone in St. Julians, last February Augustinian Youths came up with the idea to create a video to express their appreciation and gratitude for these everyday heroes. The video (click on the below video) was sent to a number of healthcare workers currently working in Casa Leone residential home in St. Julian’s Malta to encourage them and motivate them in these difficult times.  

Once again, we thank them for their fruitful work and sacrifices they make daily. 

Edward Abela



The Lord Called us and...

We answered

We came together

We share his love

We serve the Church

We follow St. Augustine

 

Discover who you are... Discover who we are

 

 


What does God want from me? What is His wish regarding my life? What is His call for me? Where can I find true happiness in this world?

These are difficult questions that could create fear in us but at the same time we are invited to have faith in God who is our Father and promised to accompany us throughout our life on this earth. His promise overcomes all uncertainties, doubts and suffering.

The answer to the question “What does God ask of me” is between yourself and God but there are various aspects that can help you in your reflections (discernment) so as to enable you to answer honestly and to be faithful to God’s calling.

Before considering what sort of call God has for you there is a wider question – what sort of holiness does God expect of me? Everybody is called to a life of holiness: laity; committed single; those who are married; religious and priests. This is a universal call that applies to everybody. Ultimately, God is not going to ask me if he was a priest or a married person but if I loved others. St. John of the Cross says that at the end of our life we are going to be judged only by the love we have shown.

What is going to be my status in life? How am I going to discern to what path I have been called: a religious life; a priestly life; a lay committed single person? Marriage with the intention of raising a family? Is this the person with whom I am to share my life and to promise to respect and love throughout my life?

Therefore, the vocational question becomes: Which call will make you love and to give yourself to God and to others: by raising a family; to become a priest; to lead a religious life; or that of a lay committed single? I wish to share with you some aspects that should help you to continue seeking and discovering what God wishes from you.

Your relations with God are most important during this period of reflection and important decisions affecting your life. Let God’s word accompany you in your walk, impart the Eucharist which is our life’s food and drink, praise God and be thankful for your life and do not refrain from spending time before the Eucharist in God’s presence. Reflect on the sincere desire to give yourself to others because every call has the objective of giving oneself to others.

Listen to the wishes that emanate from your heart. So that you will become aware of the happiness God has prepared for you; He speaks in the silence of the heart and through what you experience; through the persons whom you meet. It is quite normal for you to feel troubled and sometimes you will even experience opposing wishes. Since when have you been feeling this particular call? The persistence and perseverance of this wish will continue to enlighten you on everything.

An important aspect during this period of reflection is the principle of reality. We all know that it is God who calls us, and another who accepts to live his life with you. This is the external reality – if we recognise a call for married life we realise that there has to be a reciprocal desire from both persons; I cannot think that I love the other person if that person does not feel the same emotions and has no wish to get to know me.

The same applies to the call for a religious/priestly life. It is the Church that calls/invites and welcomes a person to help in God’s field. That is why it is important that the discernment is carried out by you as well as by the Church (by the person who accompanies you in your vocational walk – a vocational companion, spiritual director, teacher etc.). This aspect continues to assist you in seeking your authentic and sincerer call that God has for you.

It is possible that fear will stop you and will not permit you to continue seeking God’s call for you. There is a possibility of one being fearful that God is calling us for something that will not bring us happiness. God does not wish that our call and our life will bring with it unhappiness but the purpose of our call is to save us and to give us life. The true call is that which fills us with happiness and enthusiasm; that which gives us real peace in our heart and allows us to be our own self. You should not force yourself to change your personality so as to accept that particular call. The answer should come naturally and be accompanied by a wish always to better discern yourself in a continual development over time. God will prepare and change us for whatever we need.

I am afraid that I will be uncapable of living and to carry out what God desires of me.

A common fear is personal fear - a fear that I may not be capable, a modesty that stops me from moving ahead in life, a fear of my own shortcomings. These are all normal fears and you should not let these distract you from placing yourself in God’s hands. Our fears and shortcomings are part and parcel of life and through these we continue to discover ourselves. Can one overcome these? Yes, you can, but with much patience; this takes a lot of time, prayer and help from different other persons (friends, spiritual director, professional helper etc.). We need the help of others for us to get up and rid ourselves of these doubts.

If you wish to respond to the call coming from your heart, have courage and do not lose heart, God will be with you also in those moments when you do not feel His presence. Ahead of you is a difficult path with great challenges; it is possible that those around you are not making the same choice; you feel against the current and the road ahead is indeed a narrow one. Do not wait until you are in heaven to feel God’s love …… but start from here! God is listening to you. Place yourself in His hands ……let Him lead you ……make the first step today!

If you wish better to discover what God wishes of you, contact Fr. Terence Spiteri osa on 2122 2884 or by email on This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Fr. Terence Spiteri osa

Vocational companion


Many times, when we talk about religious or sacerdotal vocations, or hear what is said about these, what comes quickly to mind and we visualise are two youths involved in some Church activity, or two altar boys who appear to be sensible, and perhaps we just leave it there! These words do not apply to us! If only this was a fact!  And if we reflect more deeply, other questions quickly come to mind: what if God is calling them? Or, will they answer His call? This is all good and these youths (they are so few nowadays!) need encouragement but when our mind does not think further, many a time we will be forgetting that the vocational call is not something made only to youths who could answer God’s call during their lifetime but this applies to all. It is a goading to all of us, whoever we are, as members of the Church!

The matter of vocations is something that should concern all of us whoever we may be. When the Church speaks about religious or sacerdotal vocations, it speaks about a reality that affects all of us as Christians. Similarly, when next Sunday we celebrate, as a Church, the Day of Vocations. Moments like these are an opportunity for one to reflect and this includes everyone so that we will better understand what is our role and what is understood by pastoral vocations. Without doubt, for us religious and priests it is a call for us to evaluate the way with which we represent this gift by way of our own lifestyle and how we are meeting the challenge of accompanying our youths. For all Christians, I believe that it is also an opportunity to find our place in this mission and to recognise that this is a mission that we should share amongst ourselves.

If there is work in the vocational field which Christ encourages through the gospels doubtless this is prayer, and this is the first mission that all of us are capable of carrying out: ‘Pray that the owner of the land sends workers to gather the harvest’. It is a direct invitation which we are requested with sincerity to convey through our prayers to God for this Church’s need.

Along with this challenge we have the task continually to work towards creating an atmosphere where the call to religious and sacerdotal life finds fertile ground. This task should be characteristic of every Christian family and should therefore be a mission close to our hearts, in particular those of parents and grandparents who have the responsibility of offering youths a healthy environment.

Above all, this direct invitation needs to reach our youths. We need to challenge them to give consideration also to God’s call amongst other calls. God makes a call by different means and could well chose us as a medium for helping youths reflect sensibly regarding their future. Many times choices like these are accompanied by many questions which, more than straight answers, require encouragement, serenity and a lot of accompaniment.

Did you ever give thought to what role you have in the Church’s mission?

Did you ever give thought to what you should do to create an environment that appreciates more the call to religious or sacerdotal life?

Did you ever consider if you are praying sufficiently towards this end?

Did you ever give though to the fact that God may be calling to religious life somebody close to you? 

And if you are a youth, did it ever cross your mind that God may even be calling you?

If you feel that these words have helped you reflect on God's call for you, don't be afraid to contact us and meet our vocational director fr Terence Spiteri osa can call 21222884 or send an email on This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Discover who you are...Discover who we are

 

Fr Leslie Gatt osa

Prior Provincial


Dear youths,

My name is Augustine. Although I lived a long time ago, I am still alive through all that I wrote and left behind me.  I would like, by means of this short letter, to have a brief encounter with you telling you about my experience of life, my trials, reflections and how much the God of surprises was continuously present notwithstanding the various doubts and difficulties which I came across in my youth. This is because of my human nature and the fact of living amongst other human beings (cf Letter 78,8), and “what is my heart if not a human heart?”. (De Trinitate IV, prol. 1). Therefore, my friend, these are some scattered thoughts on my reflections which, I trust, will serve as an encouragement and hope to you throughout your lifetime.

I always sought, and my heart had, a thirst for the truth. At the same time, I did not keep all this to myself but, through my writings, I tried to share my experience as a human being by praying to God. This experience instilled in me courage in spite of the disheartening feeling I went through although God was always present in my life, even when I abandoned Him and even escaped from or ignored the warnings of my beloved mother. How often we do experience such situations!

At the same time, I know that life is a continuous change, there is always good in what we think, in the way we look at everything and this all through the experiences we go through. And in the face of all these circumstances, a beautiful image which I have so much to heart is that of a pilgrim; a person always searching and thinking that he/she has not achieved his/her aims; and always open to new experiences, to Gods’ surprises, to His presence. And without you wanting, you face the question, but what is my destination?

I encourage you heartily: “always add something; continue your journey without stopping; don’t stop half-way; don’t go back.” (Sermon 169,15,18) This stage of one’s interiority is a journey as also a meeting point. It is a journey that leads to other intimate and personal matters and also gives us space for ourselves, for others, and to be with God. This is because the vital questions and one’s fears are found in our interiority. Thus, “where are you going? Turn to your heart.” (Treatise on St. John’s Gospel, 18,10)

Is it not a fact that we raise many questions? Questions such as: Who am I? Where do I stand? Who lives in my heart? What is the scope of my life? Whence did I come? Where am I going? Is this the right path? What are the profound needs and wishes that I have for my life? What are the points of contradiction and excesses in my life? ..... and when we are asking these questions we are searching (cf Commentary on the Psalms 144,13) And all this through our interiority, where we find ourselves. There is nothing more fascinating than when one discovers his/her reality. Because, what defines a person is his/her internal world, decisions, and sentiments. Because a human being “cannot do anything externally without giving thought to what is inside him/her.” (Commentary on the Psalms 125,8)

Therefore, my friend, don’t be afraid to ask questions. These questions are not only a search for more wisdom, but for life and for love. (cf De Trinitate 15,2,2) And these are two matters that are so beautiful and close to my heart; a full life with abundant love. My friend, when we are seeking the truthy, happiness, beauty and love, we will – perhaps without realising this – be searching for God, because as I myself prayed to the merciful God: “you made us for yourself O God, and our heart will not find solace until it rests in You.” (Confessions 1,1,1) And my friend,  not only my heart but our hearts, yours and mine, because without you all others I cannot live and I cannot be saved.  And this is why friendship is so important for me and has not only a human value, but also a spiritual value and a project close to my heart. In friendship and in a community together, and by our respective means, we continue to discover what is so beautiful, and God’s surprises, in our personal lives and in our life as a community.

Friendship and love are words that are close to one another. And this word ‘love’ I have repeated so often because it is a central theme for me. I found love during my journey in the most intimate moments of my life. Because “one should not worry on anything in life except to choose what one is going to love.” (Sermon 96,1,1) Therefore “love and do what you like.” (Sermon on St. John’s First Letter, VII,8) And one’s personal development is gauged by one’s degree of how much we love and are loved. This is because love is the most powerful bond that binds human beings together and reciprocal love is the sure way leading to God.

I encourage you; continue searching. Continue to discover that which God desires of you. Continue to value love; life; the truth; wisdom; what is beautiful; liberty; happiness … Continue this lovely journey of conversion in a spirit of friendship. Continue to grow in the community. Continue to stand firm against the various separations and rifts that arise. Continue to make your contribution towards justice; peace and solidarity. Continue praying because your prayers constitute your conversion with God. Continue to let your interior silence prevail in your life. Continue to discern your call so that you will grow together with the Church by participating in its mission of service to the Kingdom. Continue placing Jesus Christ, the Mediator; the Truth; the Life; the Doctor; the Interior Guide; the Road at the centre of your life. God is He who leads and guides. Don’t look back; love the one who leads you (cf. Commentary on the Psalms 75,16) Keep looking forward.

I wish you a lot of beautiful things. When you wish that we meet again to continue this journey with the above-mentioned thoughts in mind, do not keep back but do contact me by reading my writings or through my brothers, the Augustinians.

Your friend,

Augustine of Hippo

Fr. David Cortis osa
Fr. Terence Spiteri osa


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