NEWSLETTER
AUGUSTINIAN FORMATION ASSOCIATION (AFA)
Supporting the training of brothers and priests for the Augustinian Order
Post Office Box 679, Brookvale 2100
In this final newsletter for 2001 I would like to welcome the 60 plus new members to AFA. This increase in membership is a direct result of the recent membership drive I foreshadowed in the last newsletter.
At times the committee agonises over ways to maintain and encourage membership. When putting the campaign together I was very much comforted by the support and enthusiasm of Maurice Kelly Goodna, John and Margaret Harvey Mareeba, Maureen Caldow and Maureen Atkins Kyabram, Monica Meagher South Yarra, Kevin Ryan Coorparoo, Marg Turner Echuca, Sue and John Colwell Manly Vale / Brookvale / Balgowlah, your efforts bore fruit and are very much appreciated. In telephone discussions with them I found that other events were occurring in various Parishes to coincide with the feast of St Augustine and St Monica (the aim was to have the campaign close to these feasts), such as Priory open days and sausage sizzles and cups of tea after Mass.
Although the timing of the campaign was appropriate from point of view of being about the time of the feast days, it did in some cases clash with other fund raising events in Parishes. In this regard I wish to express my thanks to the parish priests for their understanding and support and I note that Fr Brian Fitzpatrick OSA Goodna and Fr Dave Austin OSA Kyabram have indicated to me that they have just or are about to run a campaign in their parishes. Hopefully the concept of an awareness event for the Association can become an annual occasion occurring simultaneously in Augustinian parishes, timed by the Augustinians and the Association so as not to clash with other fundraising items: ideally fitted into the calendar of events for the year by both.
The AFA Christmas Party this year is to be held at the Warringah Golf Club on 24 November 2001 and if any member from outside Sydney is to be in town at that time and would like to attend please contact me before 14 November 2001 for details.
On a closing note, on behalf of the committee I would like to wish all members and their families God's Peace for the Christmas period. A positive side of the events of 11 September 2001 and beyond is that we have been caused to pause and reflect on life and perhaps lifestyle. There is no doubt that with the flood of documentaries on Islam we are being exposed, perhaps for the first time in such detail, to the people of this persuasion, their culture and where they live. They like us have their extreme and passive elements, where fortunately the latter are the vast majority. This insight into the Islamic world, I believe is also a positive outcome.
Michael Halloway,
President
Tel (02) 9949 1758
Recently there was a campaign conducted to increase membership of the Association throughout the various Augustinian parishes in Australia. Welcome to new members of AFA. As well being a way of materially supporting the work of the Augustinians in preparing new members of the Order I hope you find the Association to be an experience of Christian friendship in the Augustinian spirit. I also thank existing members for their continuing support. On behalf of the Order I am grateful to those many local AFA members who spoke publicly for the membership drive - your efforts have been fruitful. Thanks also to my fellow Augustinians in the parishes who supported the drive and to Michael Halloway (AFA President) who co-ordinated the campaign.
Presently there are three men who are in contact with the Order in Australia with a view to finding out more about Augustinian religious life and discerning whether to apply to join the Order. This is very good news. It has been some time since we had someone preparing for Augustinian religious life so the present interest being shown is a great sign of hope. Your prayers for these enquirers is very much appreciated.
Congratulations to Fr Robert Prevost OSA who was elected as the new Prior General of the Augustinians at the recent General Chapter of the Order in Rome. Fr Prevost is from the United States where he was Provincial of the Midwest Province at the time of his election as Prior General. As well as time in his own country he has lived in Rome and spent many at the Order's mission in the region of Chulucanas, Peru. We look forward to the time when he visits Australia as Prior General. AFA also expresses best wishes for Fr Miguel Angel Orcasitas who has just completed 12 years as Prior General.
Finally I pray for a blessed and peaceful Christmas for each one of you and your families. We have been shaken by those world events which injure our hope. Towards the end of Augustine's life he increasingly had to respond to the worries of his people who were living in very anxious times. His masterpiece the City of God is a work of great optimism because hope is correctly located in God's enduring presence and care which transcends the triumphs and tragedies of life in the earthly city. May the love and peace of God revealed in the birth of the Christ-child bring harmony and renewed strength to our world.
Fr Peter Jones OSA
Dates for your diary
- Saturday 24th November 2001 Christmas function at Warringah Golf
Club
- The Augustinian Lay Conference in Echuca 27th, 28th and 29th April being organised by Augustinian Friends is drawn to your notice. It promises to be a most worthwhile event and give the opportunity for members from all over Australia to meet.
Prayers requested
Prayers are requested for the following members who are not enjoying good health:
- Dorothy Brennan
- Jack Pike
- Marcia Rush
- Baden Keating
- Fr Dave Brimson osa
- Fr Tom Mescall osa
Any other members of AFA requesting prayers please write to: Fr Peter Jones osa.
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