APAC - (Asia Pacific Augustinian Conference)

We work with our brother and sister Augustinians throughout the Asia-Pacific region. Our men of the Order of St Augustine (OSA) work in India, West Papua (Indonesia), Japan, Philippines and South Korea as well as Australia.

We also have other branches of the Augustinian family (Augustinian Recollects, Discalced Augustinians, Augustinians of the Assumption, Augustinian contemplative nuns and numerous congregations of Augustinian Sisters) who work with us in developing Augustinian Spirituality across the Asia-Pacific region.

The objects of the Conference are:

• To meet the need for close communication at all levels, foster relations and develop forms of assistance among all the members;
• To promote projects at regional, national and international levels;
• To promote vocations to our Augustinian family, better formation of our candidates, ongoing formation and Augustinian spirituality; and
• To increase our common awareness of the values, needs and aspirations of the people of Asia and the Pacific, especially those of the poor and the young, and to develop new models of evangelisation.

The major works of the Conference include:

Joint Formation programs

Every three years students for the priesthood, the sisterhood and the brotherhood, from the different families and the different regions, can come together in the Philippines to encounter each other, to be workshopped by combined formators on Augustinian life, to understand the different issues faced across our region and to promote closer ties with one another.

Courses on Augustinian Spirituality, Apostolates and Social Justice

Every three years the Augustinian family invites members and co-workers to a conference in which the life of Augustine and his relevance for today are explored. Conferences of this nature are usually held in the Philippines, although one has also been conducted successfully at Kerala in India. There has been an Augustinian Spirituality course in Cebu (Philippines), and a Cross-Cultural Justice and Peace Immersion Experience in Negros Oriental (Philippines).

Youth jamborees

These multi-national youth events thus far have been conducted in the Philippines and in Australia.

The largest of these gatherings occurred in various parts of the Philippines during 2007 - two APAC youth jamborees in the northern and southern Philippines for a total of over 700 young adults.

Participants at an APAC Youth Jamboree, Manila: November 2007

Asia-Pacific conventions

We bring our people together across the region to develop cross-cultural ties, to introduce and extend their knowledge of Augustine, and to celebrate the life and the vitality of our Asia-Pacific region.The most recent major event of this kind was the Tenth Triennial APAC Convention, which took place near Manila during the last week of October 2008.

Previously, in 2007, APAC marked with due ceremony and celebration the thirtieth anniversary of its foundation.