Are you on a mission from God? Do you evangelize every day?
Most Catholics know, at least on some level, that we are indeed on a mission from God – to share Christ with the world. But we tend to think of evangelization as something beyond our abilities. And we still envision missionaries as people called to leave their everyday lives and travel to the ends of the earth.
St. Thérèse of Lisieux is a patroness of the Church’s missions – and she never left her convent in France. While she prayed the daily Hours, knelt in Adoration, wrote her famous Story of a Soul, and even washed the supper dishes, Thérèse was part of a circle of prayer and support that changed lives around the world. This month of her feast day is celebrated as World Missions Month.
The Augustine Institute, which exists to carry out the mission of the New Evangelization, thinks each of us can be Thérèse. We can be part of a worldwide circle of prayer and support that changes lives – right from where we are.
The Mission Circle
Each of us has been given gifts of time, talent, and treasure for a purpose. We read in the First Letter of Peter:
As each has received a gift, employ it for one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace … in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ.
-1 Peter 4:10-11
This time of year, as the autumn harvest moves toward Advent, we think especially about how we might share our gifts as good stewards. As with evangelization, the good stewardship of God’s gifts doesn’t happen alone. We need the power of connection – both to multiply our efforts and to strengthen and support one another.
That’s where The Augustine Institute’s Mission Circle comes in. The Mission Circle grew out of the desire to share the Institute’s work of bringing Christ to the world with as wide a network as possible. The Mission Circle is a community dedicated to daily prayer and a monthly financial contribution to support The Augustine Institute’s mission. Learn more!
The Mission Circle provides critical support for platforms like FORMED, the Amen prayer and meditation app, Word of Life curriculum, the Augustine Institute Graduate School of Theology, and much more, all designed to help Catholics understand, live, and share their faith.
Who’s in the circle?
“As a working mother, it is not easy for me to participate in faith formation programs organized at my parish. However, I have been able to join faith enriching programs at my own pace since I joined the Mission Circle. I am truly grateful for this.” -Mission Circle member since 2020
The Augustine Institute Mission Circle is open to anyone, at any time, who wants to make an Impact on the New Evangelization. Mission Circle members donate a minimum of $15 each month and pray for the mission of the Augustine Institute. Mission Circle Premium members donate $25 or more each month and receive extra benefits, such as free Augustine Institute Short Courses, free access to FORMED, spiritual retreats, and more.
Through October 31, the Mission Circle celebrates its patron, St. Thérèse of Lisieux. Mission Circle members who join in October will receive extra exclusive gifts from the Augustine Institute, including a 25% off code for Catholic Market and a free Augustine Institute Short course on Women Who Became Doctors of the Church. Click here to join now.
At whatever level of membership, the Mission Circle powerfully supports its members in their own growth in faith and ability to share the Good News. The blessings go both ways. When you join, you receive a Welcome Kit with an Augustine Institute-curated book. Other Mission Circle membership benefits include:
- Holy Day devotions and community prayer
- Monthly audio talks from Augustine Institute and Catholic speakers
- Exclusive discounts on Catholic Market
- Monthly interactive Bible studies and Rosaries
- Access to a community forum full of Catholics on fire for their faith
- Sneak peeks of the latest Augustine Institute releases
A founding member of the Augustine Institute Mission Circle put it this way:
I’m excited to be a part of the New Evangelization by becoming a member of the Mission Circle. I love that the Augustine Institute provides so many ways to grow in knowledge of our Catholic faith no matter where you are on your faith journey. I feel much more equipped to share my faith because I understand it more clearly.
Multiplying the impact
St. Thérèse, from her convent cell, changed the world with her prayer and support. Members of the Augustine Institute Mission Circle are doing the same from their homes, and the numbers show it.
Amen has over 250,000 downloads and has received over 20,000 5-star ratings.
FORMED offers educational and entertaining Catholic video content to nearly 1.5 million subscribers across the globe.
Over 330,000 people receive Daily Reflections on the Mass readings, available on both FORMED and Amen.
Over 40,000 students are using the Word of Life curriculum in its inaugural year.
This year, enrollment at the Augustine Institute Graduate School of Theology reached one of the highest totals since the school’s founding.
And beyond the numbers, there is the great joy of being together in bringing Christ to the world. When asked why belonging to the Augustine Institute Mission Circle means so much, a member since 2019 responded:
Most important, for me, I think, is the connection with a network that is worldwide. I feel united with Christians all over the world and feel the power of that connection. The Mission Circle reaches so many.
Click here to join The Augustine Institute Mission Circle and know the power of connection!
This content is brought to you in partnership with The Augustine Institute.
And today we celebrate...