ABOUT US

Community: A Life of Shared Grace

As Augustinians we share who we are and who we are becoming with each other and those to whom we minister. We walk together one in mind and heart on the way to God through a vowed life of deeper prayer, fellowship, and social justice.

Our community life is manifest in our monthly Chapters and community days held in the Mid-Atlantic region and our Yearly Chapter and retreat in August. Some members meet more often and live together in small communities. We are open to God's Spirit in forming the shape and vision of our 21st Century Common Life.

Community is the entity in which individuals derive meaning. It is not so much characterized by shared space as it is by shared meanings.

"Brothers and sisters dwell together in unity not by their own strength but by God's grace like dew from heaven. This dew comes from Christ...desire this dew and be moistened by it."
St. Augustine, Commentary on Psalm 132

We profess poverty-to live simply and share our resources and talents with each other as self-employed workers.
We profess chastity according to our state in life: single, married, or optional celibacy.
We profess obedience-to listen to and help each other understand the movement of the Holy Spirit in our individual and communal lives.

  We are committed to the liberation of the Gospel especially for those on the margins of life and society, the victims of trauma, and those excluded. We affirm the rights of all to the full celebration of the sacraments regardless of gender, identity, or orientation.
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          To fall in love with God is the greatest of all romances to seek Him, the greatest adventure; to find Him, the greatest human achievement.                                                                                                                                                                                                                        -St. Augustine

OUR MISSION

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The Order of Augustinians of the Immaculate Heart of Mary Independent Catholic Church (AIHM-ICC) is an ecumenical disperse religious order and independent sacramental jurisdiction seeking to build communion as part of the Body of Christ “being of one mind and heart into God.”

Friars, sisters, priests, laity, living alone, with a spouse, or in small groups, all forming community inspired by the Acts of the Apostles and the vision of Augustine of Hippo in his Rule. Together, building and being base Christian community: prayerful, sacramental, ecumenical, just, and Augustinian.

“The foundation of our common life and spirituality is the example of discipleship of the Blessed Virgin Mary and the Rule of Saint Augustine. The members, united in the charity of Christ, serve one another, develop their human person by the grace of God for His Kingdom, and savor the blessings of God together” -AIHM Constitutions

History
Founded in 1993 by Friars Joseph Augustine Menna, AIHM and C. Christopher Tobin, AIHM the Order has roots in the Roman Church but found greater purpose and growth by embracing the independent sacramental/catholic movement in 2003. The Order became a self-governing sacramental jurisdiction, The Diocese of St. Thomas of Villanova, in 2013 to foster sacramental ministry for those who chose this vocational path, but laity of all Chrisitan denominations are welcome to walk one in mind and heart into God with us as professed members.