The Society of Saint Augustine
** Among our Augustinian brothers is Fr. Peter Jaramillo and Brother Thomas Akers. They are the founding members of the "Society of Saint Augustine". The following article appeared in the Kansas City Leaven Newspaper, October 12, 2001 AD (At present please remember Bro Thomas in your prayers as he is ill.)
October
12, 2001
Religious Communities being built from
scratch by local priest, nun
By
MONTE MACE
Leaven
staff
KANSAS
CITY, Kan. -You could call them spiritual entrepreneurs.
A
single Sister, and a priest and a Brother in the archdiocese, have launched two
new religious communities, for women and men, respectively. They are believed to
be the first in the history of the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas. It is a
monumental task none of them envisioned, yet all three said they answered a call
from God to minister to unmet needs.
Archbishop
James P. Keleher recognized both new communities this summer by declaring them
to be public associations of the faithful, the first official stage of a new
religious order or community. The communities will remain at that level-until
they have enough members in final vows to be declared institutes of consecrated
life -which could take years or even decades.
Society
of St. Augustine
It's
a question that Father Peter Jaramillo often has been asked: Why start something
new when the Catholic Church already has all these older religious communities?
.., "
"It's
because we believe Its of God., said Father Jaramillo. "As it says In
Scripture, if it's of God, nothing can stop it. If not, it will gradually fall
by the wayside."
Father
Jaramillo and three other Augustinian Recollects decided
20 years ago to start a new Augustinian community called the Society of
St. Augustine due to the major changes in leadership and direction their old
order was undergoing. The purpose of this
new community wou1d be to follow the rule of life of St. Augustine but with an
emphasis on pro-life ministry and issues.
That
was in 1981 in Suffern, N. Y. Now only Father Jaramillo and Brother Thomas Akers
remain. The other priest died and the other Brother left religious life.
One
difficulty a new religious community faces is finding a diocese willing to take
the fledgling organization under its wing. Otherwise, the community could ask
Rome to recognize it as a pontifical community.
The
new Society of St. Augustine found a diocese willing to sponsor it in Amarillo,
Texas, and the Society of St. Augustine incorporated in Texas and stayed there
for 18 years until, as Brother Akers puts it, "Our services there were no
longer needed."
That's
when Father Jaramillo, a native of Topeka, decided to return to his roots. In
1996, he asked Archbishop Keleher whether he would sponsor the new community.
"He
said he would love to do that and basically said, 'Welcome home,"' Father
Jaramillo recalled.
While
the new community develops, Father Jaramillo serves as consultant for
Hispanic ministry in the arch diocese. He lives in the former Sacred Heart
Church rectory with Brother Akers at 34th and Shawnee in Kansas City, Kan.,
which they call the "Villa of St. Augustine."
The
Society of St. Augustine attained status as a public association of the faithful
on July 25. That means the community can start recruiting members.
While
the Society of St. Augustine has few members, it does have lots of Supporters -
more than 75 affi1iates, "people who have been a part of the community and
charism" in New York, Texas and Kansas.
But
now that the church has official1y recognized the community, the next step is to
build membership.
"The
intention would be to have a house in Kansas City," said Father Jaramillo.
"At first, we would use the one we have now. It would be a humble
beginning. Our ultimate intention is to build an Augustinian center, and we've
talked about building a monastery that would attract young men tofol1ow in our
footsteps and vocations."
Donations
and the salaries of the founders make up the finances of the Society of St.
Augustine. The organization does own a 131-year-old farm- house and 2 acres of
land in the Hudson River Val1ey near
Father
Jaramil1o and Brother Akers know that attaining official recognition doesn't
guarantee anything. It's merely the next rung on the ladder. They clearly see
the challenges ahead: attracting members, finding financing and establishing
stability . But Father Jaramillo
said the church and the Holy Spirit have been characterized through the
centuries by communities springing up. And the experience of starting a new
religious community has taught him one lesson for sure.
"You
have to trust in God for every- thing," he said. "Trust in God for his
guidance and support for al1 our needs is the biggest part of this."
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