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.

The most recent 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, an Augustinian Spirituality course in Cebu, and a Cross-Cultural Justice and Peace Immersion Experience in Negros Oriental.

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 next major event of this kind will be the Tenth Triennial APAC Convention, which will take place near Manila during the last week of October 2008.

In 2007 APAC marked with due ceremony and celebration the thirtieth anniversary of its foundation.