AUGUSTINIAN BULLETIN BOARD - March 2002

Temptation in the good things and bad things of this present age

In both the good things and the bad things of this world, in all of them temptation is to be met. The good things are liable to deceive us with their blandishments, the bad things to break us with their menace. So because temptation is to be met in both sorts, that is in the good things and bad things of this present age, the Christian is never wholly safe. He must say and do with his whole heart what we have just been singing to God: Have mercy on me, Lord, have mercy on me, for in you has my soul put its trust. These words produce neither discouragement in the poor nor overconfidence in the rich; on the contrary, they bring hope to those who are feeling discouraged, and do not allow those who are standing on their own feet to get swollen-headed. No one at all, you see, whose soul has put its trust in God, is either made overconfident by good fortune or broken by bad. Such people know that all these things pass like a shadow, but that he doesn't pass to whom they have said. In you has my soul put its trust.

Sermon 20A, 1

Welcome to Min-Tan Hoang (Tan) and Duy Pham (Joseph) who have recently been accepted into the Order's pre-novitiate programme. Tan and Joseph are Vietnamese Australians from Wollongong and Sydney respectively. They reside in the Augustinian community at Brookvale where they are receiving an introduction to Augustinian religious life. Tan and Joseph also attend the Kairos Institute which is an intercongregational programme for novices. Our prayers and best wishes for Tan and Joseph as they begin their Augustinian journey.

Joseph and Tan

In late February there was a meeting of some of the Provincials of English-speaking Provinces of the Order to discuss areas of common interest. The meeting was hosted by the Australian Provincial, Fr Patrick Fahey osa in Sydney and was attended by Frs Jack Deegan (Villanova, USA), Paul Graham (England/Scotland) and Richard Pido (Cebu).

People working in Augustinian ministries from Villanova College (Coorparoo), Holy Spirit Parish (St Clair), St Kieran's Parish (Manly Vale) and St Augustine's College (Brookvale) attended the APAC Spirituality Course at Tagaytay, Philippines in early February. They were accompanied by Fr Anthony Banks osa.

St Clair Parish - Two members of the Holy Spirit Parish Pastoral Council, Pat Brown and Kriz Florido recently attended the Augustinian Spirituality Conference in Tagaytay, the Philippines. They travelled on to the city of Iloilo to visit the Augustinian parish of San Jose which is the "twin" of Holy Spirit. "Twinning" refers to a special relationship developed between the two parish communities, which is for their mutual benefit. It is based on a shared Catholic faith and Augustinian tradition and acknowledges cultural differences and diversity.

Parish Youth Retreat.- February. Thirty three youth from age17 years to 25 years attended. It was held at the Christian Brothers Retreat Centre at Mulgoa, over a Saturday and Sunday. Clair Barbeau of the Diocese of Parramatta was the facilitator. The retreat ended with those attending leading the parish in the 6.00pm Sunday Mass by doing the ministries of reading, drama, welcoming, environment, homily and music.

The Holy Spirit Parish Social Justice Focus Group has decided on its theme for this year. The Group will focus on the issue of asylum seekers and refugees. Throughout the year this group aims to assist the parish community to have accurate information about these issues. They hope to assist people to distinguish between fact and fiction.

FEAST of ST JOSEPH, MUTCHILBA The feast of St Joseph will be celebrated in the little church dedicated to St Joseph at Mutchilba in the Parish of Dimbulah on Wednesday 20 March. Mass will begin at 6.00pm with Dimbulah Parish Priest, Fr Robert Greenup O.S.A., presiding and will be followed by a barbecue at the Mutchilba Community Centre. Since the retirement of Fr John Camilleri in April last year there has been no resident priest in Dimbulah Parish and no regular celebration of Mass in Mutchilba. So the annual celebration of the feast of St Joseph is an important event for the Mutchilba community and all those who have links to it. Everyone is welcome.

Congratulations to Fr Patrick Codd osa who celebrates the 50^th anniversary of his ordination to the priesthood on 8 March. Fr Codd, who lived and ministered in Australia for over 42 years is now resident at the Augustinian Priory in Limerick, Ireland.

AUGUSTINIAN CENTRE FOR SPIRITUALITY PROGRAM 2002

2 Hewitt Avenue, Greystanes 2145

Enquiries 9896 6794

FIVE-WEEK COURSES (7.30-9.00; $75)

HELPING THE FAMILY HAND ON ITS CATHOLIC HERITAGE: a course on Catholic belief and practice, focused on values of family and spiritual tradition. It addresses current issues facing Catholics and aims to help parents gain confidence in nourishing their family spiritually.

Wednesday evenings 27 February - 27 March

AFFIRMING THE MAN I AM: adult personal and spiritual development; the masculine spiritual character, how to foster one's own self-growth and wholeness. Insights from psychology and spirituality into the healing presence of God in one's own self.

Wednesday evenings June 26-July 24

AFFIRMING WHO I AM: adult personal and spiritual development for men and women. Learning new appreciation of one's person and life journey. Insights from psychology and spirituality into the healing presence of God in one's own self.

Thursday evenings 22 Aug-26 Sept

UNDERSTANDING JESUS: getting to know Jesus as a person; seeing one's life touched by God through Jesus. Discovering a mature Catholic approach to the Gospels. Relating everyday pain and hope to Jesus and finding friendship with him.

Thursday evenings 13 Nov-11 Dec

PRAYER DAYS (9.45-3.00; $15) Bring own lunch; refreshments provided.

DAY OF REST IN PRAYER (Wed 1 May): all need peace and assurance in the face of life's stresses, tensions and conflicts. Saint Augustine's "Our hearts are restless until they rest in You" will be the focus of the day. Experience guidance in healing, inner stillness and closeness with God.

PRAYING OUT OF OUR FEELINGS (Wed 4 Sept): to talk about prayer without feelings is to limit our soul and reduce prayer to something arid. And yet perhaps we often do! Our feelings lead us to God, and to see the God around us whom we have yet to come to love. A day focused on prayer through feelings.

ST AUGUSTINE'S FIRST MOVEMENT OF PRAYER (Tues 15 Oct): moving OUT to greet Christ in Word (scripture), relationships and our experience of creation.

ST AUGUSTINE'S SECOND MOVEMENT OFPRAYER (Tues 29 Oct): going WITHIN oneself to discover Christ as teacher of the heart. Here to be drawn away from loneliness to solitude with none but Him.

ST AUGUSTINE'S THIRD MOVEMENT OF PRAYER: (Tues 19 Nov): moving UPWARDS into communion where words are inadequate and all illusion gives way. Here to sense the wonder of a deep and gifted relationship with Christ.

"Life with Augustine" .. a course in his spirit and guidance for daily living. This excellent programme compiled by Edmond Maher is a self study adult education programme which provides a means by which participants can come to know more about Augustine, the times in which he lived, the Scriptures that taught him, the life inspired by him and its relevance to us today.

Enquiries to: "Life with Augustine" PO Box 679, Brookvale NSW 2100

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