English-speaking Augustinians have been welcoming enquirers for more than 750 years, since the founding of Clare Priory in England in 1244, pictured at left.

We west-coast Augustinians welcome candidates, between 18 and 45 years of age, who have the same desires as those first friars in England: a desire to help create vibrant community life, with daily prayer and Mass together, study, and service to others, (which with us is helping create schools with a religious and family spirit, parishes with Augustine's sense of community, or helping in our service to the poor).

Exploring a vocation with us is as easy as 1-2-3.

1) Make contact with Fr. Tom Whelan, O.S.A., the vocation director for the Province of St. Augustine, by email or calling (415) 387-3626. In your message give him your postal address so he can send you information about our Order, our history and traditions, and our formation program. He will help you to get acquainted with the Augustinians in the community closest to you.

2) After getting acquainted with the Augustinians, you will have a chance to take part in a Discernment Retreat at St. Augustine Monastery, San Diego, held each spring and fall. You will meet Order members there, candidates living in community, and other enquirers. You will also visit sites where Augustinians are in ministry.

3) If you have enjoyed your visits and experiences with the Augustinians and the feeling is reciprocal, you will be invited to make an application. Upon acceptance, you will try living the Augustinian way of life at St. Rita House, in San Francisco, as a pre-novice.

The photo on the left shows those who took part in the 2009 Spring Discernment Retreat at St. Augustine High School in San Diego. Our Province has two discernment retreats each year. Those who have expressed an interest in the Augustians, and religious life, gather together to ask themselves how God is calling them, meet for discussions about St. Augustine, presentations by Augustinian friars in various ministries, and visit several Augustinian ministries in and near San Diego. Discernment leads to contemplation, followed by action, about how God is calling you.

Many Augustinians of the Province of St. Augustine assembled at Our Lady of Grace Church in Castro Valley, CA as Br. John Payne, O.S.A. made his simple profession of vows. Pictured with him are Bros. Mark Menegatti,O.S.A., Tom Davis, O.S.A., Ronnie Custario, O.S.A., and Kirk Davis, O.S.A., who renewed their vows for the coming year. Also pictured are Joey Ashton,who entered the Novitiate on August 14th, Pre-Novitiate student Carlos Medina, and Bro. Fernando Lopez, O.S.A., who professed his solemn vows on June 14th.