NEWSLETTER

AUGUSTINIAN FORMATION ASSOCIATION (AFA)

Supporting the training of brothers and priests for the Augustinian Order

Post Office Box 679, Brookvale 2100

No. 2/00 July 2000

Thanks for your continued support of the association. Membership fees and proceeds from our recent raffle have permitted us to maintain our commitment to the Augustinian candidates studying in Korea.

Many of our members are also members of the Augustinian Friends. On 27^th to 29^th April 2001 Augustinian Friends are hosting the first national Augustinian Lay Conference in Australia at Echuca, Victoria.

Echuca has special significance for the Augustinians as it was there that the Order set up its first Australian Priory in 1886. Keep the dates for the conference in mind, Augustinian Friends will be providing details in the coming months.

Michael Halloway
President

Fr Peter Jones OSA writes...

The Gospels portray vividly the enthusiasm with which the earliest friends of Jesus followed him during his public ministry. Jesus captivates the hearts of many. He does not do so by manipulation or promises of easy answers to the difficulties of life. Rather the Spirit working within his listeners enables them to see and hear in the person of Jesus the very revelation of God. In Jesus, they witness an integrity which far surpasses what they had experienced.

The stories of the early friends are our stories. Our being Christians is about our relationship with God being anchored in our relationship with Jesus Christ. This relationship we experience both personally and as a community. All that follows from our religious faith - prayer, our compassion toward others, our working for justice, our integrity, the way we approach all aspects of life - all of this founded in our own having Jesus Christ at the centre of our lives.

For all of us, the journey of life is marked by being formed in the ways of the Gospel. The Spirit within leads us on this adventurous path. For those who are being welcomed into and prepared for life as Augustinian religious the following of Jesus Christ has to be at the heart of the process. It is a living, conscious relationship with Jesus Christ and with the community that follows Christ that gives any Christian religious commitment its meaning.

In this spirit, our prayers for one another to grow as people imbued by the spirit of the Gospel are of great value.

Thanks - I wish to express my thanks in regard to two very successful activities to date this year - the stall at the Warringah Mall market day and the raffle. Thanks to all involved in the organisation to those who made donations and to all who supported these activities.

Augustinian Website.

An invitation to visit the recently released website of the Augustinians in Australia. The website has the following features.
Note: The Augustinian Formation Association has its own page on the site.

1. The monthly Bulletin Board keeps you informed of upcoming events
   
   
2. International links lead you to the Order's international site which enables you to visit the websites of other Provinces.

So, we encourage you to visit the site and tell your friends.

Prayers for AFA Members

We are happy to inform members throughout Australia that prayers for members of the Association will take place at the following Augustinian parishes:

Echuca

Mass for the intention of AFA members
Saturday 26^th August 7 pm (Vigil)

Goodna

Mass for the intention of AFA members
Sunday 29^th October 9.30 am

Kyabram

Mass for the intention of AFA members
Sunday 20^th August 10.30 am

Manly Vale

Annual Mass for the Association
Sunday 20^th August 12.30 pm

Mareeba

Prayers for members of the Association will be included in the Mass for the people of the parish
Sunday 27^th August

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