AUGUSTINIAN BULLETIN BOARD - June 2002

Maurice Albert O'Connor OSA
22 February 1921 - 10 May 2002

On the morning 10 May, Fr Maurice O'Connor osa, died at Manly Hospital (Sydney) after having not enjoyed good health in recent times.

Maurice was born in Tralee, County Kerry, Ireland. After joining the Augustinians in 1939 he professed his first vows as an Augustinian religious on 25 September 1940. Ordained a priest in Dublin on 22 March 1947 Maurice was appointed to Australia in 1950 spending a period of time in Dundee parish, Scotland on the way. Maurice served in St Joseph's Parish, Cairns from 1950 to 1953 and for a brief time in 1959. From 1953 to 1959 and from 1960 to 1971 he served at St Thomas of Villanova Parish, Mareeba (in Cairns diocese) being the parish priest there from 1964. In 1971 he was appointed to Kyabram in northern Victoria being the parish priest there from 1975. In 1979 Maurice was appointed to St Kieran's Parish, Manly Vale. In 1991 he was appointed to St Rita's Parish, Redland Bay returning to Manly Vale in 1995.

Maurice though retired from full-time parish ministry was still very much a presence in Manly Vale and assisted where he was able.

It was clear from the vigil prayer service and funeral Mass for Maurice how esteemed and loved he was by his Augustinian brothers, the people of Manly Vale parish and his many friends. He will be missed even as we rejoice that he is entrusted into the presence of God.

The Augustinians in Australia extend sympathy to Maurice's brother James (in Ireland) and other members of the family.

"Faithful hearts should be allowed to mourn for their loved ones,
but with a grief that can be healed.
Let them shed tears that can be wiped away,
tears that can be quickly checked by
the joy of that faith which assures us
that when believers died they go
but a little way to a better place.

Let the loving care of the brothers
be an added consolation to those who mourn."

St Augustine. Sermon. 172

1. Listening to the Land and its People - a public forum on "Listening to the Land and its People" will be held at 7.30 pm on 18th July at St Andrew's, Montmorency, Melbourne. Fr Rod Cameron osa has been asked to join the panel of four speakers.

   Last year, when Alastair Pritchard, a pastor of the Uniting Church at Montmorency, was visiting North Queensland, he was keen on meeting Aboriginal people and Fr Rod introduced him to a number of his Aboriginal friends. This led to Fr Rod's participation in the coming event at Montmorency.

2. On Thursday 13 June at 7.30pm the Augustinian Friends Group of St Thomas's Parish in Mareeba are meeting at the home of Jeanette and Barry Hartley. The group is intending to start the course Life with Augustine. On Sunday 16 June the Augustinian Friends group is gathering together after the 6pm Mass at St Christopher's Church, Kuranda. A shared meal and social get together is planned.
   
   

3. The Parish of Goodna in the Archdiocese of Brisbane, Queensland is administered by the Augustinians. Within this parish, Springfield is an eight-year-old development that now has 1,200 houses. Brisbane Catholic Education is beginning an archdiocesan school there with the lower primary and secondary grades in January 2003. The Archbishop of Brisbane has named the school Saint Augustine’s College, and has asked the Augustinians of the area to assist its development of an Augustinian spirituality. This nurturing of an Augustinian spirituality will be boosted by the fact that the newly-appointed Principal of the proposed college is Mr Leon Capra, whose sons have graduated from the Augustinian Order’s Villanova College in nearby Coorparoo in very recent times.

   Fr Michael Morahan O.S.A., the Rector (Principal) of Villanova, congratulated Mr Capra in a recent edition of Villanova’s weekly newsletter.
   He then added, "I have offered ... our practical support in the beginnings of the new college, should they need it. We look forward to the new college being part of our worldwide network of Augustinians school. For us at Villanova it will provide a more immediate opportunity for staff, students and parents to share our heritage."

   Mr Capra is already planning a college web site, which will include information on the emphases of Augustinian spirituality and Augustinian education.
   Mr Capra can be contacted at lcapra@bne.catholic.edu.au

   Father Michael Endicott O.S.A., who leads the Church’s ministry in Springfield, can be contacted at mendicott@optushome.com.au
   
   

AUGUSTINIAN CENTRE FOR SPIRITUALITY PROGRAM 2002
2 Hewitt Avenue
Greystanes 2145
Enquiries 9896 6794

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

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): We 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.

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