Augustine Institute

The Augustine Institute (AI), located in Greenwood Village, Colorado, United States, is a private Catholic graduate school of Catholic theology, which offers master's degree programs inspired by Pope John Paul II's call for a New Evangelization.[1] In addition, the Institute produces catechetical videos, records audio drama productions, publishes books, and distributes Catholic media materials. It also publishes the ESV Catholic Edition Bible translation in North America.[2]

Augustine Institute
MottoFecisti Nos Ad Te (Latin)
Motto in English
You Have Made Us for Yourself
TypePrivate Catholic Non-profit Coeducational Higher education institution
Established2005
Religious affiliation
Catholic
Academic affiliation
ATS
PresidentTim Gray
DeanChristopher Blum
(Academic Dean)
Academic staff
11
Students328
Location
6160 S. Syracuse Way Suite 310 Greenwood Village Denver
,
Colorado
,
US
CampusUrban
ColorsGold   and   blue
NicknameAI
Websitewww.augustineinstitute.org

History

At the 1993 World Youth Day in Denver, John Paul II called Catholics to a New Evangelization, to renew their commitment to Christ. As a response to this call, in 2005 founding president Jonathan Reyes established in Denver a graduate school dedicated to transforming Catholic education for the New Evangelization,[3] particularly in response to post-modern culture.[4]

On May 19, 2007, the first class of 11 students graduated.[5] In the 2009–2010 academic year, the Augustine Institute had 84 students taking courses on campus, and 157 students enrolled in its distance education program. In 2012, AI relocated from Teikyo Lorretto Heights to Greenwood Village in the Denver Tech Center.[6] As of Fall 2019, it had 328 enrolled students or 144.1 full-time-equivalent,[7] the third-largest Catholic lay ecclesial ministry program in the United States.[8]

In 2015, the Augustine Institute merged with Lighthouse Catholic Media in “a new strategic alliance.”[9]

Academics

The Augustine Institute's programs emphasize fidelity to the magisterium, especially as expressed in Ex Corde Ecclesiae.[10] Some Catholic dioceses use the institute's academic programs to help train their permanent deacons.[11] The school stays closely connected to their local Catholic bishop, who is a member of the institute's Board of Trustees.[12]

The Augustine Institute offers a Master of Arts in Theology degree and an MA in Leadership for the New Evangelization, both of which can be earned on campus or through distance education.[13] The MA (Theology) degree curriculum focuses on the theological foundations for effective catechesis and evangelization. The required core curriculum consists of eight courses that provide students with a foundation in Theology, Evangelization, Sacred Scripture, and Church History.[14] In addition, students have four elective options. The institute also offers MA Theology students a optional Concentration in Sacred Scripture, which includes additional requirements.[15]

Education philosophy

Inspired by St. Augustine of Hippo's approach to theology and evangelization, the Institute "is committed to the pursuit of wisdom in service of Christian mission."[16] It describes its distance education program as taking place "through high-definition videos, live-streamed interactive course offerings, telephone calls, promptly answered emails, lively online discussion, and substantive feedback on assignments."[17] The vision of distance education it proposes has been described as representing "creative fidelity to the Catholic tradition." [18]

Authorization and Accreditation

The Colorado Department of Higher Education authorizes the Augustine Institute to grant degrees.[19] In October 2018, the Colorado Commission on Higher Education renewed the Augustine Institute's authorization.[20]

As of 2016,[21] the Augustine Institute is fully accredited by the Association of Theological Schools and approved for comprehensive distance education.[22]

FORMED Media Platform

The Augustine Institute operates a video, audio and ebook platform for Catholic content called FORMED,[23] which reaches over 5,000 parishes and one million subscribers “with content from 75 Catholic content providers, making it the largest collaboration of Catholic apostolates, parishes, diocese and organizations worldwide.”[24] The COVID-19 pandemic caused traffic to FORMED to double in 2020.[25] The FORMED platform is used by many Catholic parishes to facilitate their catechetical efforts and train group leaders with Bible studies, sacramental preparation and faith formation programs.[26]

Augustine Institute Studios

The Augustine Institute houses “a team of creative storytellers who craft captivating cinematic experiences”[27] called Augustine Institute Studios. Their multi-part video productions include The Search (2020),[28] Presence: The Mystery of the Eucharist (2018),[29] Signs of Grace (2018),[30] Divine Mercy in the Second Greatest Story Ever Told (2016),[31] Forgiven (2016),[32] Beloved (2015),[33] Reborn (2015),[34] and Symbolon (2014).[35]

Augustine Institute Radio Theatre

The Augustine Institute Radio Theatre has produced four audio drama series: Brother Francis: The Barefoot Saint of Assisi (2016), The Trials of St. Patrick (2017), Ode to Saint Cecilia (2017), and The Legends of Robin Hood (2019).[36] The 10-part audio drama, Brother Francis, won the 2018 Audie Award for best Audio Drama, while The Trials of St. Patrick was a finalist for the Inspirational/Faith-Based Fiction award in the same year.[37] The audio drama, The Legends of Robin Hood, won five ATC Seneca awards for Best Original Score, Best Sound Design, Best Supporting Actor, and Best Leading Actor.[38]

Journal

The Augustine Institute publishes Faith & Culture: The Journal of the Augustine Institute.[39]

Book and Bible Publishing

In addition to producing study guides and leader guides to accompany video programs, the Augustine Institute publishes books in partnership with Ignatius Press, including the What Every Catholic Should Know series.[40] The Augustine Institute also publishes the English Standard Version Catholic Edition Bible in North America in partnership with Crossway Books.[41]

References
  1. "Augustine Institute on the forefront of the New Evangelization :: Catholic News Agency (CNA)". Catholic News Agency. 2007-11-05. Retrieved 2012-06-09.
  2. Smith, Peter Jesserer (13 May 2020). "Augustine Institute Publishes Major New Catholic Bible". National Catholic Register. Retrieved 11 August 2020.
  3. "Augustine Institute to open in Denver :: Catholic News Agency (CNA)". Catholic News Agency. 2005-02-24. Retrieved 2012-06-09.
  4. Fernandez-Sardina, Martha (13 May 2016). "Q&A: The Augustine Institute—10 years of winning the post-modern culture". Denver Catholic. Retrieved 11 August 2020.
  5. "Archdiocese of Denver - DCR - New Augustine Institute". Archden.org. Archived from the original on 2012-03-06. Retrieved 2012-06-09.
  6. "Archdiocese of Denver - DCR - Local News". Archden.org. Archived from the original on 2013-02-24. Retrieved 2012-06-09.
  7. "Member Schools: Augustine Institute". ats.edu. Association of Theological Schools. Retrieved 11 August 2020.
  8. Michal J. Kramarek, Ph.D.; Mary L. Gautier, Ph.D. "Catholic Ministry Formation Enrollment: Statistical Overview for 2018-2019" (PDF). Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate, Georgetown University. p. 33. Retrieved 11 August 2020.
  9. Middendorf, Mark (December 2015). "(Press Release)" (PDF). Lighthouse Catholic Media. Retrieved 11 August 2020.
  10. "Archdiocese of Denver - DCR - Local News". Archden.org. Archived from the original on 2012-03-06. Retrieved 2012-06-09.
  11. "Denver’s Augustine Institute Spreads Message Through DVD Courses"
  12. "Board of Trustees". augustineinstitute.org. Augustine Institute. Retrieved 11 August 2020.
  13. "Member Schools: Augustine Institute". ats.edu. Association of Theological Schools. Retrieved 11 August 2020.
  14. "Augustine Institute Graduate Bulletin 2020-21" (PDF). Augustine Institute. pp. 10–12. Retrieved 11 August 2020.
  15. "Augustine Institute Graduate Bulletin 2020-21" (PDF). Augustine Institute. p. 16. Retrieved 11 August 2020.
  16. "Augustine Institute Graduate Bulletin 2020-21" (PDF). Augustine Institute. p. 4. Retrieved 11 August 2020.
  17. "Augustine Institute Graduate Bulletin 2020-21" (PDF). Augustine Institute. p. 6. Retrieved 11 August 2020.
  18. Blum, Christopher (18 July 2018). "Catholic Distance Education: What Would Newman Say?". CruxNow.com. Crux Catholic Media. Retrieved 11 August 2020.
  19. "Private Accredited - Colorado Department of Higher Education". Highered.colorado.gov. Retrieved 2012-06-09.
  20. "Accreditation". augustineinstitute.org. Augustine Institute. Retrieved 11 August 2020.
  21. "Accreditation affirms school's excellence". Denver Catholic. 17 May 2016. Retrieved 11 August 2020.
  22. "Member Schools: Augustine Institute". ats.edu. Association of Theological Schools. Retrieved 11 August 2020.
  23. Lambert, Aaron (30 November 2015). "FORMED: 'Netflix' for Catholics". Denver Catholic. Retrieved 11 August 2020.
  24. "Augustine Institute launches new version of ground-breaking platform, FORMED". Religion News Service. 11 September 2019. Retrieved 11 August 2020.
  25. Weber, Kerry (17 May 2020). "Social distancing and the sacraments: How the coronavirus pandemic has changed our sense of communion". americamagazine.org. America: The Jesuit Review. Retrieved 11 August 2020.
  26. "Parishes". augustineinstitute.org. Augustine Institute. Retrieved 11 August 2020.
  27. "Augustine Institute Studios". augustinestudios.org. Augustine Institute. Retrieved 11 August 2020.
  28. "Introducing the Search". formed.org. Augustine Institute. Retrieved 11 August 2020.
  29. "Presence: The Mystery of the Eucharist". Retrieved 11 August 2020.
  30. "Signs of Grace". Augustine Institute. Retrieved 11 August 2020.
  31. "Divine Mercy: The Second Greatest Story Ever Told". imdb.com. Retrieved 11 August 2020.
  32. Rainone, Colleen (January–March 2017). "AD: Forgiven—The Transforming Power of Confession DVDs/Study Guide". catechetics.com. The Catechetical Review. Retrieved 11 August 2020.
  33. "Beloved". imdb.com. Retrieved 11 August 2020.
  34. "Reborn". imdb.com. Retrieved 11 August 2020.
  35. "Symbolon: Knowing the Faith". imdb.com. Retrieved 11 August 2020.
  36. McCusker, Paul. "A.I.R. Theatre". paulmccusker.com. Retrieved 11 August 2020.
  37. "2018 Audie Awards". audiopub.org. Audio Publishers Association. Retrieved 11 August 2020.
  38. "3rd Annual ATC Seneca Awards Winners". thesenecas.org. Retrieved 11 August 2020.
  39. "Faith & Culture: The Journal of the Augustine Institute". Augustine Institute. Retrieved 11 August 2020.
  40. "Ignatius Press Augustine Institute Books". catholic.market. Retrieved 11 August 2020.
  41. Smith, Peter Jesserer (13 May 2020). "Augustine Institute Publishes Major New Catholic Bible". ncregister.com. National Catholic Register. Retrieved 11 August 2020.
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