News

The Fifth Anniversary

On 13th November, the Maltese Augustinians will be commemorating the fifth anniversary of their provincial website www.augmalta.org. Since its launching, the province has committed itself in providing its visitors with information regarding the charism, spirituality, cultural, historical and artistic heritage of the Augustinian Order and of the Augustinian Province in Malta, for it believes that it has a special gift to share with the world, a particular manner of announcing the good news: in community, as community, for the building up of community, in ever-broadening circles, until the whole human family is encompassed.

In fact, throughout these past five years, the team behind this online service, together with the help of many contributors, has been very active in keeping the website running and up-to-date, and at the same time offering to the public a wide range of themes. This year, the Province has once again extended its website and is now offering a more user-oriented online experience to those who visit it. New pages are dedicated not only to the mission and history of the Augustinian Order, but also on all that pertains to the Maltese province, that is, how the Augustinians were established in Malta, their pastoral work in today’s society, their missionary work in Brazil and Algeria, the role of the secretariat for missions, and the Augustinians’ contribution in the United Nations. Other articles give information about the architecture and arts in Augustinian priories, Augustinian iconography in Malta and abroad, as well as about activities carried out in the Millennium Chapel, WOW (Wishing Others Well) and LIFT (Living in Friendship Together).

Moreover, the Augustinian Province of Malta is now presenting three new main features in its website. First of all, e-cards, with an Augustinian theme, are now available online and can be sent for free. Secondly, a substantial number of essays and powerpoints are and will be available for all those who are studying at school or at university, or would like to know more about St. Augustine and his writings. These online resources can be found by clicking on the downloads page from the Main Menu. Last but not least, the vocational page has been redesigned and redone in order to promote the Augustinian lifestyle and share with all teens the vocation story of those Augustinians who offered their lives to God.

Since August 2005, almost 30,000 visitors have paid a visit to the Augustinian website. Statistics shows that for the past year (from August 2007 till August 2008), the number of visitors rose up to 13,296, as compared to 5,843 (between August 2005 and August 2006) and the province is still committing itself to increase the site’s popularity in the next upcoming years. The Augustinian Province of Malta is thus encouraging you to log on www.augmalta.org and make use of its online services. Other important websites associated with the same province include that of St. Augustine’s Parish Church, Valletta (www.santuwistin.org), St. Augustine’s College (www.sac-malta.org), Augustinian Institute (www.instagostmalta.com), Millennium Chapel and WOW (www.millenniumchapel.org), Living in Friendship Together (www.mclift.org) and that of St. Rita’s Parish Church in Brazil (www.paroquiasantarita-pnm.com.br).