About Tolle Lege Day
The Province of Saint Thomas of Villanova embarks on its fifth-annual Augustinian giving day. It is no coincidence that we’ve chosen to host our giving day on April 24th, the feast of the Conversion of St. Augustine. We’ve named our giving day Tolle Lege (Take up and Read) Day, calling to mind the words that moved Augustine to pick up the Scriptures and find his way to faith. On this day, Augustinian religious and lay communities will come together with one mind and one heart to celebrate the Augustinian Way of Life and all those who share in it. This day is a 24-hour fundraising event will provide an opportunity to generate awareness of the Augustinian Charism to a broad community, create excitement about our wide Augustinian connections and provide financial support to sustain the friars’ lives and their ministries.
Our Goal
On this fifth Tolle Lege Day, our goal is all about participation, and gifts of any amount are welcome and encouraged. We seek to engage the collaboration of alumni of our current/former schools, parishioners of our current/former parishes; friends and relatives of the Augustinians; and others connected to the friars. Your gift to the Augustinian Fund helps us to ensure a strong presence of Augustinians in our schools, parishes, and ministries now and into the future.
About the National Shrine of Saint Rita of Cascia
Founded in 1907 by the Augustinian Province of Saint Thomas of Villanova, the National Shrine of Saint Rita of Cascia serves the needs of people from throughout the country by sharing the heroic story and timeless virtues of our namesake, Saint Rita of Cascia. As a woman of deep faith, Saint Rita experienced Christ's healing presence in the face of violence and death that touched her family over 600 years ago. After her husband was murdered, Saint Rita bore the Gospel message of reconciliation and peace to the wounded world around her, and in doing so, she became a friend to humanity, lifting people to new life in the love of God. Known as the patron saint of impossible cases and hopeless causes, Saint Rita continues to offer hope and comfort to everyone who seeks her intercession and companionship. And, inspired by her life and the message of perseverance, reconciliation, and peacemaking that defined so much of it, the Shrine continues to provide a place for prayerful pilgrimage and retreat, transforming sacramental experiences, and meaningful dialogue for every person it encounters. To learn more about the work and ministry of the National Shrine of Saint Rita of Cascia, please visit: www.saintritashrine.org
Your Impact
As a Mendicant Order, much of what we Augustinians are about as religious, committed to service of the Church and of God’s people, is made possible through the generosity of individuals who wish to collaborate with us. You impact the care of our elderly and infirm friars living in St. Thomas of Villanova Monastery, and the education and training of our newest Province members. Your kindness also supports the various Augustinian ministries that serve the marginalized and those in need.