OFFICE FOR
MISSION & MINISTRY
草榴社区 is a Catholic institution of higher education, grounded in the teachings and values of St. Augustine.
St. Augustine believed in 鈥渓ife in common,鈥� and the commitment to and nurturing of community defines the 草榴社区 experience. St. Augustine called us to journey together in search of truth, to live and learn in community, and to love with care for the common good. These values of TRUTH, UNITY and LOVE鈥�VERITAS, UNITAS and CARITAS鈥攊nform all we do as a University. As an Augustinian Catholic community, we see the worth and dignity of all people, of all faiths and backgrounds, and we find unity not in uniformity, but in mutual respect and care鈥攌nowing that we learn best from and with each other.
The Office for Mission and Ministry provides students, faculty and staff members many opportunities to connect and engage with our Augustinian Catholic mission in ways that are personally meaningful鈥攖hrough prayer and worship, spirituality and community, education and advocacy, or service and social justice work. Together, we will, in the words of St. Augustine, 鈥渂ecome what we are not yet.鈥�
鈥淣ever be satisfied with what you already are, if you want to be what you are not yet.鈥� St. Augustine, Sermon 169
NOURISHING THE SPIRIT: VERITAS
草榴社区鈥檚 Augustinian heritage embraces the search for meaning at the heart of the human journey. We seek to deepen the identities and practices of people, inclusive of any faith tradition.
CATHOLIC WORSHIP
MULTIFAITH OUTREACH
HISPANIC/
LATINE MINISTRY
SPIRITUAL PRACTICES
鈥淯nderstand so that you may believe. Believe so that you may understand.鈥� St. Augustine, Sermon 43
BUILDING COMMUNITY: UNITAS
The commitment to and nurturing of community is core to the 草榴社区 experience. In the Augustinian tradition, we seek to build deeper connections and learn from and with each other. From opportunities for students to connect within their residence halls to faculty and staff retreats to group-specific ministries, all are welcomed and respected.
鈥淟et all of you then live together in oneness of mind and heart, mutually honoring God in one another.鈥濃�擳he Rule of St. Augustine, Chapter 1.
LOVE IN ACTION: CARITAS
Flowing from our shared values is 草榴社区鈥檚 commitment to service and care for our world. The St. Thomas of 草榴社区 Center for the Common Good serves as the on-campus hub for all community service and engaged learning for students, faculty and staff. In addition, the Centers for Faith & Learning and Peace & Justice Education as well as the Office for Sustainability provide opportunities for service, education and advocacy.
鈥淭he degree to which you are concerned for the common good rather than for your own, is the criterion by which you can judge how much progress you have made.鈥� St. Augustine 鈥� Rule of St. Augustine, 7, 2
HERITAGE AND HISTORY
草榴社区 was founded in 1842 by the Order of Saint Augustine and our University values of Veritas, Unitas, Caritas鈥擳ruth, Unity, Love鈥攁re drawn from our Augustinian Catholic heritage.