Twenty-five years ago, the American friars serving in Peru petitioned for the establishment of a semi-autonomous region within the Order called a Vicariate. The celebration of this anniversary occurred on the weekend of September 9-11, 2011 in Peru. Friars gathered from the United States, Rome, Algeria and Peru. The festivities began with a dinner in Chulucanas on Friday, September 9. On Saturday morning  Mass at the mission church of San Isidro, Morropon, was celebrated by the Prior Gene... [More]

Each morning as I drive down to St. Leo’s Primary School, I listen to calming music and mentally prepare myself for the inevitable chaos that will greet me upon my arrival. When I arrive, I am ready for battle. Armed with pencils, paper, books, and most importantly – patience, I weave my way through a sea of kids and make my way to the classroom. When my first class begins, the students are overflowing with energy and enthusiasm. I try to harness this energy and use it to help t... [More]

In early June, 2011, Brother Craig McMahon, O.S.A., arrived at our mission in South Africa. In the midst of theological studies our students are required to participate in a Pastoral Year, where some of the academic studies are experienced in the lived pastoral ministry within an Augustinian community. Brother Craig requested that he spend his Pastoral Year in the African mission. With his arrival our community in Bothas Hill is now four friars and three Augustinian VolunteersIn early June, 20... [More]

The Augustinian Friars arrived on the shores of the United States in 1796. It was not until the early 1950’s that we began our missionary work in Japan, followed by missions in Peru in the 1960’s and South Africa in the late 1990’s. Those missions have grown and matured. Our mission in Peru has sent a missionary from South America to Annaba, Algeria, the site of the first monastery of St. Augustine.  Fr. Jose Manuel Vizcarra, O.S.A., pursued his theological stud... [More]