Institutional Message at the conclusion of the 188 Ordinary General Chapter

The Order of Saint Augustine, at the conclusion of its 188th Ordinary General Chapter, in fidelity to its charism and in communion with the universal Church, particularly encouraged by the election of Pope Leo XIV, the first of his sons to accede to the Petrine ministry, in the context of the hope of the Jubilee and in the memory of the Holy Father Pope Francis, wishes to declare its unwavering commitment to living fraternity, a gift of God and the fruit of authentic communion, which arises from the humble and sincere defense of the Truth, tirelessly sought in dialogue, respect, and charitable love. 

Through the witness of our fraternal life, "we intend to proclaim the Gospel of Christ to all peoples and make all human beings partakers of his redemption"1. In a world deeply marked by selfishness, division, and violence, justice is both a requirement and the mature fruit of this same Gospel, for wherever the name of Christ is preached, injustice recedes and all exploitation of man by man disappears if we are able to receive one another as brothers and sisters.

The meaning of our mission compels us to offer the witness of our solidarity and to work for the defense of the most vulnerable and the promotion of a culture that protects and elevates human dignity. We are ready to do this in each of our communities, scattered across all continents, together with the entire Augustinian family, that shares our charism. 

Pride divides; humility unites. Brothers in community, we are witnesses that only from humility can a fraternity arise that speaks to the world of God's tenderness. This fraternity, the fruit of the communion to which we aspire as the center of our charism, can only be expressed in a conversion to peace, a just peace, a peace always in fieri, until the definitive peace, which vehemently rejects the use of weapons and violent oppression of the weakest. Therefore, we raise our voices for peace, we plead for peace, we pray for peace, in all parts of the world, even where the noise of war and violence is silenced. With Pope Leo XIV, while appealing to those who hold the destiny of peoples in their hands, we ask that peace be born first in our hearts, "an unarmed and disarming peace, humble and persevering."

In the search for the common good, St. Augustine reminds us that peace is the tranquility of order. As Augustinians, we believe that the common good is built when each person is valued in themselves and the community becomes a space of truth and charity. Our fraternal life wants to be a sign of that peaceful order that God desires for all.

This is our missionary commitment, which we want to serve and present to our world as a gift to be implored and a task to be accomplished. 

Fr. Joseph L. Farrell - Prior General of the Order of Saint Augustine