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 Albany , N.Y. , but it is used only for retreats since official sponsorship now is in the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas .

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."