Mission & Ministry

Mission & Ministry

“O God, to know you is life, to serve you is freedom, to praise you is the soul’s joy and delight. Guard us with the power of your grace, here and in all places, now and at all times and forever.”  –St. Augustine

The Office of Mission and Ministry is the center of the Prep’s spiritual life. In our goal to “teach as Jesus did,” we aspire to convey and perpetuate Catholic and Augustinian values and morals to our school community. We build up and strengthen the faith of our young men, while also nurturing the attributes and goodwill of the Christian Gentlemen.

St. Augustine welcomed all kinds of people to his table because he believed that all of humanity, whether one was a believer or nonbeliever, was actively searching for God. Here at St. Augustine Prep, we seek to educate the whole person, the spirit, mind, and body, using the principles of St. Augustine. Through our core adherence to the virtues of Unitas (Unity), Veritas (Truth), and Caritas (Love), we strive to make the Prep a welcoming and inclusive community in which everyone feels comfortable and safe, just as St. Augustine would have wanted.

We may not all be Christian or Roman Catholic, but we can all be Augustinian. Mission and Ministry is diverse in its responsibilities, but uniform in its commitment to fostering a campus community centered on the gospel message of Jesus Christ through the lived experience of our students in a community of faith-formation and discipleship.

Prayer Request

If you or anyone you know is in need of prayer, please let us know by calling Fr. Tony Burrascano, O.S.A. at (856) 697-2600 ext. 145 or by submitting your confidential prayer to the Office of Mission and Ministry by emailing fr.tony@hermits.com.

The Office of Mission and Ministry

It is the responsibility of this office to assist the Head of School in promoting and protecting the Catholic and Augustinian identity of the institution. In this essential and pivotal role, we strive to engage our students both spiritually and academically. This is accomplished through the support and encouragement of the various programs and events sponsored by Mission and Ministry, whose aim is to holistically encourage each student in their own unique search for God. The Assistant to the Head of School for Mission and Ministry oversees the office and works in collaboration with all those involved in Campus Ministry, the Chaplain’s Office, Christian Service, and Retreats.

Spiritual Life

“What profit would a man show if he were to gain the whole world and destroy himself in the process? Matthew 16:26

The Prep community meets weekly to celebrate Mass, and students regularly serve in various ministries. Additionally, the Prep offers many opportunities for personal spiritual growth and development. Ministry Team members are available for spiritual accompaniment for all members of our community. The School Chaplain, as well the Student Ministry Team, are available for spiritual accompaniment for all members of our community.

Christian Service

“I assure you, as often as you did it for one of my least brothers, you did it for me.” Matthew 25:40

In addition to the Spiritual Life of the Prep, Campus Ministry also oversees the various service ministries undertaken by so many of our students. In the spirit of the Gospel, the Prep community believes that service to one’s neighbor is also service to Christ.  

Retreats

“He said to them, Come by yourselves to an out of the way place and rest a little.” Mark 6:31

Each year, every student at the Prep is invited to participate in a retreat experience that is designed for their spiritual development and character formation.

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Vocational Awareness:

“For I know well the plans I have in mind for you, says the Lord.” Jeremiah 29:11

In God’s eyes, each individual has unique gifts and talents to be shared in service to the world. In view of this reality, the Prep creates an atmosphere where students can plan, imagine, and discover the various possibilities for their life. We want our students to find more than simply a career upon graduation. We want them to find a vocation, or a purpose that they feel it is their mission to fulfill. The Church offers many paths to attain this calling.

Answering the call to serve Christ and His Church as a consecrated religious or as an ordained member of the priesthood is difficult for a 21st century student. At the Prep, we are proud to have members of the Order of St. Augustine and the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary who both live and work on campus. These men provide our students with first-hand accounts of the beauty of both religious life and priestly ministry. In addition, we also have frequent guest celebrants at Mass who share with our community the many gifts that service to the Church can provide. Augustinian and Diocesan Vocation Directors are welcomed into the Theology classes, especially during Vocation Week.

If you are interested in learning more about the Augustinian Order and what it means to be an Augustinian, please visit www.augustinianvocations.org.

Web Resources for Mission and Ministry:

There are so many useful online resources for those looking to learn more about St. Augustine, Augustinian values, and the Roman Catholic faith. We have compiled a brief list of websites we believe will be rewarding for anyone with interest in the values, traditions, and beliefs we strive to instill in our students at the Prep. Enjoy!

Order of St. Augustine: http://augustinians.net/

The St. Thomas of Villanova Province: http://www.augustinian.org/home

Vatican: http://w2.vatican.va/content/vatican/en.html

US Catholic Bishop’s Conference: http://www.usccb.org/

Catholic Saints and Feast Days: http://www.americancatholic.org/Features/Saints/bydate.aspx

For those interested in returning to the Catholic Church, or for those interested in learning more about the Catholic Church, please visit: http://www.catholicscomehome.org/

To learn more about the most successful Catholic ministry today proclaiming Christ to the culture, please visit: https://www.wordonfire.org/

Meet the Team

Fr. Tony Burrascano, O.S.A.

Assistant to the Head of School for Mission & Ministry


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Bro. David Graber

Coordinator of Christian Service, Driver's Education


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Dr. Joseph Zagarella

Director of Mission Effectiveness, Theology Department Coordinator


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