The General Curia launches a new platform to connect principals and educators across the Order's entire educational network

The International Commission for Apostolate and Evangelization of the Order of Saint Augustine has launched the Educatio Augustiniana platform. Its objective is to provide professionals from Augustinian educational centers worldwide with an interactive and collaborative experience, enabling users to connect, become acquainted, share content and resources, and collaborate on projects.

The platform is currently in its initial implementation phase, offering access to the principals of schools affiliated with the Order of Saint Augustine, whether religious or laypersons. This stage allows them to familiarize themselves with the platform and begin collaborating. Subsequently, the initiative foresees the inclusion of other administrators and educators, progressively expanding participation within the entire educational community.

As highlighted on the website of the Province of Saint John of Sahagún, a user manual for Educatio Augustiniana is already available. This guide will enable users to transform the platform into a valuable tool for strengthening the educational mission, fostering collaboration, facilitating the exchange of knowledge, and reinforcing the sense of belonging to the educational network of the Order.

Offered in multiple languages and equipped with advanced search functionalities, the platform is also available as a mobile application. To join this social network, users must simply complete a brief registration form and await approval from the platform's management team, as indicated in the accompanying image.

Project Background

"This platform arises from a need we have identified on a global scale," explains Father Javier Pérez Barba, OSA, Assistant General for Southern Europe and head of the International Commission for Apostolate and Evangelization. He further notes that the inspiration was drawn from an internal social network at the University of Pavia, which has been operating successfully and is designed for both current and former students.

A year and a half ago, the Commission for Apostolate and Evangelization set out to address this concern. The result is this tool, designed to foster an international educational network that facilitates the exchange of best practices, mutual enrichment, and connections among educators worldwide.

The commitment to education holds great significance for the Order of Saint Augustine. In this regard, the Constitutions state: "We must all highly value the apostolate of education and regard it as one of the fundamental missions of our Order. Therefore, the circumscriptions should promote the establishment of schools for the formation of children and young people." (161)

Furthermore, article 162 specifies that the primary purpose of these centers is the promotion of the human person, founded on Christian values: "Hence, above all, this apostolate must always be regarded as an essentially pastoral activity, ensuring that we teach the truth with charity and that students, alongside their humanistic and scientific education, acquire an understanding of the world, life, and humanity, enlightened by faith."

Click here to download the Educatio Augustiniana user manual