Augustinian Friars

What Augustinian Friars does

The Augustinian Friars — formally the Order of Saint Augustine (O.S.A.) — is a Catholic mendicant religious order founded in 1244, organized in North America across three provinces (Province of Saint Thomas of Villanova, Province of Saint Joseph, and Province of Our Mother of Good Counsel), and engaged in parish ministry, secondary and higher education, and overseas missionary work. The North American vocation/communications office — the entity tracked here with 6 employees — exists to recruit and form new members, maintain the public website (augustinianvocations.org), and run discernment events both in-person and via Zoom. The broader Augustinian ecosystem operates Villanova University, Merrimack College, and six secondary schools, and maintains missionary communities in Peru and Japan, but these are separate legal entities from the vocation office.

The Order's operating model is non-commercial and donation-supported: there are no products, no fees for sacramental or formation services, and no disclosed revenue stream. Income is derived from contributed support associated with parishes, schools, and benefactors, supplemented by the Augustinian Volunteer Program, which provides a structured service-and-discernment pathway. Public positioning emphasizes community life, the Rule of Saint Augustine, and — following the 2019 General Chapter — an explicit commitment to the Laudato Si' Action Platform and environmental sustainability across ministries.

Recent strategic events include the election of Fr. Joseph Farrell as Prior General, the 2025 election of Pope Leo XIV (the first American pope, who is himself an Augustinian), and a high-profile media presence including a December 17, 2025 TODAY Show appearance. These events together create a step-change in visibility for the Order, with potential second-order effects on vocations, donations, and institutional partnerships, though underlying membership and financial trends are not publicly disclosed.

Name

Augustinian Friars

Legal name

Order of Saint Augustine

Website

https://augustinianvocations.org

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Augustinian Friars are a Catholic religious order founded in 1244, operating three North American provinces, two universities, six secondary schools, and missions in Peru and Japan. The tracked vocation office recruits and forms new members through digital and in-person channels supported by donations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Religious Vocation Services

NAICS

Religious Organizations (8131)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Religious Orders & Monastic Communities (Monasteries, Convents) (BPAGAJAC)

akta.pro secondary industry

Christian Colleges with Theological Programs (EDAHAKAG)

Keywords

• Religious vocation formation
• Catholic priestly formation
• Parish ministry services
• Augustinian education
• Missionary services

Headquarters

HQ city

Villanova

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices7 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Contributions: The Order relies on the generosity of benefactors and donors who support the friars' material and financial needs. Members take a vow of poverty and depend on the community for support.
2. Educational Institutions: The Order operates and is affiliated with educational institutions including Villanova University and Merrimack College, and six secondary/preparatory schools, which provide support and mission alignment.
3. Parish and Missionary Ministry: Friars serve in parishes, schools, and missionary positions (Peru, Japan) generating institutional support for the Order's ministry work.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

The Augustinian Friars (Order of Saint Augustine) are a Catholic religious order that recruits and forms single Catholic men into priestly and brotherly religious life through a structured 9-step formation program, Virtual Come & See events, Online Discernment Group Meetings, and a year-long Augustinian Volunteer Program. Beyond vocation ministry, the Order operates Catholic parishes, runs or affiliates with educational institutions including Villanova University and Merrimack College plus six secondary schools, and conducts international missionary work in Peru and Japan.

Product overview

The Augustinian Friars offer a portfolio of vocation and formation services for Catholic men discerning religious life. Their core offerings include the 9-step Augustinian Formation Program, Virtual Come & See Events conducted via ZOOM, Online Discernment Group Meetings, and an Augustinian Vocation Blog. Additional programs include educational institutions (Villanova University, Merrimack College, and six secondary schools) and international missionary work in Peru and Japan. Downloadable resources such as Info Brochures and Prayer Folds are also available. The organization is structured across three North American provinces (Midwest, East Coast, West Coast) and is governed by the Prior General in Rome.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Augustinian Education: Educational institutions and programs rooted in Augustinian values of Truth, Unity, and Love (Veritas, Unitas, Caritas) including Villanova University and Merrimack College

Products and services

• Virtual Come & See Events Live online events for single Catholic men ages 19-45 to learn about the Augustinian Order, hear questions from other discerners, and discover resources for vocational discernment. Held via ZOOM on scheduled dates (e.g., August 19, 2026).
• Online Discernment Group Meeting Virtual group meetings held via ZOOM that use Saint Augustine's Confessions to teach practical discernment tips, reflect on vocation stories of friars, and pray together with other young men discerning religious life.
• Augustinian Formation Program (9 Steps) A structured nine-step formation process within the Augustinian Order including: discernment, associate program, pre-novitiate, novitiate, simple vows, pastoral year, solemn vows, ordination to diaconate, and ordination to priesthood. Designed for men discerning a lifelong vocation as an Augustinian priest or brother.
• Augustinian Education Educational apostolate comprising two universities (Villanova University and Merrimack College) and six secondary/preparatory schools in North America, offering Catholic higher and secondary education rooted in Augustinian values of Veritas (Truth), Unitas (Unity), and Caritas (Love).
• International Augustinian Mission Work Missionary service in Peru (since 1963) and Japan (since 1602), including 22 parishes, one hospital, and one Catholic university in the Diocese of Chulucanas in northern Peru, plus ministry in four Japanese cities (Nagasaki, Fukuoka, Nagoya, and Tokyo).

Quantifiable outcome

• Augustinian friars serve 22 parishes, 1 hospital, 1 Catholic university in Peru alone
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.

• Diocese of ChulucanascoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1963Since 1963, Augustinian missionaries from the Midwest Province have served the Diocese of Chulucanas in northern Peru, establishing 22 parishes, one hospital, one Catholic university, and various educational and social projects. Bishop John McNabb, O.S.A. and Bishop Daniel Turley, O.S.A. have led the diocese.
• Local Catholic Communities in JapancoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1602Augustinians have ministered in Japan since 1602, serving dedicated and faith-filled communities of both native Japanese and foreign-born parishioners in Nagasaki, Fukuoka, Nagoya, and Tokyo.
• Pope Leo XIV (Robert Francis Prevost)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerPope Leo XIV, elected in 2025 as the first-ever American Pope, is an Augustinian friar. Fr. Joseph Farrell, O.S.A., the newly-elected Prior General, is described as one of Pope Leo XIV's closest friends in Rome and appeared with him on the TODAY Show.
• Villanova UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVillanova University, operated by the Province of St. Thomas of Villanova, is a premier Catholic Augustinian university founded on values of Veritas, Unitas, and Caritas. The Order's friars serve in leadership and teaching roles.
• Merrimack CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMerrimack College in Massachusetts is an Augustinian-run institution of higher education rooted in the Augustinian tradition and values.
• Catholic Theological Union (CTU)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAugustinian friars studying for priesthood typically attend Catholic Theological Union in Chicago for four or five years of theological studies. The Order has a residence at St. Augustine Friary for these students.
• Knights of ColumbusminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFr. Jack Tierney, O.S.A. was featured in Columbia Magazine (Knights of Columbus publication), the magazine of the Catholic fraternal organization, in the July 2026 issue.
• Laudato Si' Action PlatformminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Order of Saint Augustine made a commitment to the Laudato Si' Action Platform, a Vatican initiative promoting environmental stewardship and sustainability, during the General Chapter of 2019.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Paulist Fathers: Catholic religious community specifically focused on parish ministry, evangelization, and reaching non-practicing Catholics in the United States — directly comparable ministry focus.
• Marianist Province of the United States: Catholic religious order running the University of Dayton and Chaminade University; comparable as a teaching-focused religious order with U.S. higher education footprint.
• Congregation of Holy Cross: Catholic religious congregation of priests and brothers running multiple universities (Notre Dame) and parishes in the U.S. Directly comparable as a teaching/formation-oriented order.
• Salesians of Don Bosco: Catholic religious order focused on youth education and parish ministry. Operates an extensive network of schools parallel to the Augustinian education apostolate.
• Society of Jesus (Jesuits): The largest Catholic religious order of priests and brothers, with parallel vocation recruitment, formation, and global missionary footprint. Directly comparable as a Catholic mendicant order focused on education, parishes, and missions.
• Order of Friars Minor (Franciscans): Catholic mendicant religious order with similar commitment to poverty, preaching, and global mission. Comparable structure of provinces, formation houses, and parishes across North America.
• Brothers of the Christian Schools (De La Salle): Catholic teaching religious兄弟hood operating schools globally; comparable as a religious兄弟hood (rather than priestly order) focused on education and formation.
• Benedictine Monks (OSB): One of the oldest Western monastic orders; comparable through their Rule-based community life, formation process, and educational apostolate through Benedictine colleges and schools.
• Capuchin Franciscans: Catholic mendicant order with similar vocation recruitment motion and parish presence across North America, competing for the same discerner demographic.
• Order of Preachers (Dominicans): Catholic mendicant order emphasizing preaching, teaching, and intellectual life. Operates its own formation, parishes, and educational institutions in direct competition for vocations.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/osavocations
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCpjs6NUk9HEG2yKUJcyi6dw
• Facebookfacebook.com/osavocations
• Instagraminstagram.com/augustinianfriars
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/augustinians

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Subsidiaries3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Augustinian Friars