AUGUSTINIAN BULLETIN BOARD -- September 2002

God serves us

We serve God, you see, and God serves us. When I said "We serve God," everyone agreed; but when I said "God serves us," I may have shocked some people. We serve him, not he us, surely - It's good for us that he should serve us by cultivating us, because unless he cultivates, or serves, this field, it will get full of thistles. What is a land-worker but someone who works, or serves, the land - So listen to the Lord Christ, and don't be alarmed when you are told that God serves, or works, you. I, he said, am the vine, you are the branches, and my Father the land-worker. So we serve God in order to bear fruit, and he serve, or works, us; in each case it is to get fruit from us. We, you see, from being barren and made fertile and fruitful; being arid and thirsty, we are filled with him; the fountain itself, though, cannot dry up. So it all happens for our sakes. Let us give thanks to him who created us and called us that

Sermon 125A, 5

- A Provincial Chapter of the Augustinians in Australia took place at Riverglenn Conference Centre, Indooroopilly, Brisbane from 28th July to 2nd August. The Chapter is a major event in an Augustinian Province where significant discernment, discussions and decision making takes place relating to the direction of the community life and ministries of the Order. Most Augustinians from the Australian Province were able to be present. For the first couple of days some lay representatives from Augustinian ministries and associations were present and actively involved in the Chapter discussions. Also present were the candidates from the Australian Province and the Korean professed brothers presently visiting Australia. During the course of the Chapter, Fr Robert Prevost osa, Prior General and President of the Chapter installed Fr Patrick Fahey osa as Prior Provincial for his second term of office.

- Fr Robert Prevost OSA Prior General recently visited Australia for the Provincial Chapter (biography) Two significant addresses he gave was a talk at the beginning of the Chapter (Opening Address) After the Chapter Fr Robert visited Sydney where he saw the various Augustinian communities and ministries in Sydney and opened AugNet. It was a privilege for the Augustinians in Australia and our friends to welcome Fr Robert to our country.

- Jubilee Mass 50th Anniversary of the Province of Our Mother of Good Counsel. On 19th March 1952, the Prior General and Curia established the Province of Our Mother of Good Counsel, Australasia. Augustinians had been present in Australia since 1838 and from the 1880's the Irish Province had commitments in Far North Queensland (present day Cairns diocese) and Augustinian communities in northern Victoria. On Tuesday 30th July a Mass to celebrate the 50th anniversary at St James, Coorparoo, site of the first Chapter of the Order in 1952. Fr Robert Prevost osa, Prior General presided and preached and was joined in the sanctuary by Fr Patrick Fahey osa, Prior Provincial and Fr D K O 'Shea who was also present at the original Provincial Chapter.

The Augustinians wish to thank all who attended, the various ministers from St James ' Parish and those who provided the supper. Your generosity and friendship is much appreciated.

- Rest in Peace Fr Christopher Nicholas McCarthy osa - born, Castlelyons, County Cork on 15th May 1912 died, Cork, 22nd July, 2002.

Professed as an Augustinian 9th July 1931
Ordained 5th July 1936
Served in Australia 1937 to 1948
St Monica 's Cairns 1937 to 1938
Gordonvale 1938 to 1941
St Monica 's, Cairns 1941 to 1942
Babinda 1942 to 1946
St Joseph 's Cairns 1946 to 1948 (1st Parish Priest of St Joseph 's)

- Mary Fitzpatrick, mother of Fr Brian Fitzpatrick osa and an affiliate of the Order. The Province expresses its sympathy to Fr Brian and his family.

- From late June to early August, four Augustinian students from Korea visited Australia. Kim Dae Ho osa (Thomas Aquinas), Kim Bok Chon osa (Johann), Jeong Jin Young osa (Linus) and Kim Hyun Won osa (Paolo) came here to develop their skills in English and become familiar with the Augustinian Province in Australia. While here they visited Augustinian communities and ministries in Sydney and Brisbane and the Provincial Chapter. It was great for the Province to welcome them here and we look forward to other groups coming in future years

Left to Right: Australian Augustinian students Tan and Joseph with their Korean Augustinian Brothers, Thomas, Johann, Paolo and Linus.

- Presently there are two Augustinians from the Cebu Province (Philippines) working in Australia. Fr Raymund Alcayaga osa has been here for over 18 months (studying at Australian Catholic University and ministering at Holy Spirit Parish, St Clair. Fr Raymund returns to the Philippines in September and the Province thanks him for his service here and wishes him well. Fr Baltazar Belocura (Jun) osa arrived in May and as a one year sabbatical is assigned to St Kieran 's Parish Manly Vale. We welcome Fr Jun.

Left to Right: Student Joseph, Fr Raymund Alcayaga osa, Student Tan and Fr Baltazar (Jun) Belocura osa

- Farewell back to Ireland, Fr Paul Dempsey osa. Due to poor health, Fr Dempsey has decided not to return to Australia after his present holidays in Ireland. He will be assigned to the Augustinian community at Ballyboden on the outskirts of Dublin. Fr Dempsey served in Australia for 52 years serving at various times in north Queensland, Villanova College, Augustinian College, Clayfield and the parishes of South Yarra and Kyabram. Here is included a tribute to Fr Paul Dempsey from the Provincial.

5th September, 2002

Dear Paul,

Following our celebration of the Fifteenth Chapter of our Province, I wish to acknowledge, on behalf of your Augustinian Brothers here in Australia, the gifts which you generously shared with us and with all the People of God to whom you ministered during your years among us.

Throughout those 52 years, you shared your talents in community life. You loved the "occasion" in which to rejoice, and your fine baritone voice was at the centre of many of our festive gatherings, liturgical and extra-liturgical. You gave yourself unstintingly to preaching the word of God, to presiding at the eucharist, and to teaching the young (especially the students of the Order).

Your leadership in the Church was exercised in the parishes of Babinda in Far North Queensland, St Jamess, Coorparoo, Queensland, Saint Josephs, South Yarra in Victoria, and St Augustines, Kyabram, Northern Victoria. To your people you were considerate, encouraging and self-lessly devoted. You passed on to them the benefits of your continual study. You led them into the post Vatican II Church, where they minister today as informed members.

Your leadership was not confined to the parochial. You inherited the mantle of Director of the Villanova Players - the Brisbane Catholic Theatre - from its founding Director, Louis Hanrahan, OSA, demonstrating your interest in and ability for the Arts. You undertook the responsibility of leading Villanova College as its Rector, and were elected Counsellor of the Province on a number occasions.

Above all, Paul, you were a good brother to all of us, open, hospitable, forgiving and truly Augustinian. May you always be that.

We salute you and thank you for your 52 years of ministry in the Australian Province of our Order. We pray that God will continue to bless you, and to grant you in your twilight years much peace and love. Pray for us. We pray for you.

On behalf of your brothers in Augustine,
I remain,
Yours fraternally,
Patrick Fahey, OSA
Prior Provincial

- Six youth from Holy Spirit Parish, St Clair attended the World Youth Day in Canada in late July. Before departure they gathered with Fr Raymund Alcayaga osa and Parramatta Diocese Youth Worker Claire Barbeau.

- Aboriginal Mass, St Thomas 's Mareeba

This annual celebration will be held on Sunday 20 October at 10.00am in St Thomas 's. We are honoured this year to have Miriam-Rose Ungunmerr-Baumann as our special guest, along with the Pamagirri Dancers from Kuranda and the AICC singers from Cairns.

Miriam-Rose is from the Daly River in the Northern Territory, being born into an Aboriginal society, a member of the Malfiyin people, she was taught about Aboriginal law, culture and spirituality. At the age of seven she was introduced to Christianity through the Catholic Mission at Daly River and later began to take a serious interest in art. Miriam-Rose is a writer, poet, teacher, artist and speechmaker and at present is Principal of the Catholic School at Daly River.

During the Mass on 20 October Miriam-Rose will speak about her spirituality and her experiences as an Aboriginal person. Miriam-Rose will also visit schools in the area.

Please come along and share in this special celebration, which will be followed by morning tea in the presbytery grounds.

Catholic Secondary School Plans Released for Mareeba

Catholic Diocesan Education Services in Cairns have announced plans to establish a Catholic Secondary College in Mareeba. The plans were announced at a meeting held at St ThomasŐs Catholic School on August 22. Director of Catholic Education for the Diocese of Cairns, Carmel Ross, told the meeting that after many months of careful consideration, the Diocesan Education Board of Governance had given the go-ahead for the school to be established...

For further information contact: Carmel Ross, Director of Catholic Education, on 07 4050 9713

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

Catholic Secondary School Plans Released for Mareeba

Catholic Diocesan Education Services in Cairns have announced plans to establish a Catholic Secondary College in Mareeba. The plans were announced at a meeting held at St Thomas 's Catholic School on August 22. Director of Catholic Education for the Diocese of Cairns, Carmel Ross, told the meeting that after many months of careful consideration, the Diocesan Education Board of Governance had given the go-ahead for the school to be established...

For further information contact: Carmel Ross, Director of Catholic Education, on 07 4050 9713

PRAYER DAYS IN THE SPRING

Discover an Augustinian approach to prayer . . .

St. Augustine is a most helpful teacher of prayer for our modern-day mentality. Many people find his way of prayer to be most practical for them. These three days at the Augustinian Centre offer a cumulative experience of Augustine 's way of praying or you can choose an individual day that speaks to your present needs.

9:45 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. Cost $15:00 per day (concession available)
BYO Lunch. Refreshments provided.

Tuesday October 15th. 2002.
St. Augustine 's First Movement of Prayer

THE ART OF OBSERVING:
This prayer movement is outward to greet the world in all its wonder. As children we observe all of reality this way. Somehow as we get older, we find ourselves lost in the daily grind of work and responsibility. We discover that we 've lost our sense of childlike curiosity over life 's daily delightfulness.

In the afternoon session we open ourselves to experiencing God in friendship and hospitality for others.

Tuesday October 29th. 2002
St. Augustine 's Second Movement of Prayer

THE ART OF CONVERSING:
This movement suggests going within oneself to discover Christ as the teacher of the heart. Here he reveals to us what it is that God wants us to know at a particular moment.

In the afternoon session we discover how lovingly the Living Word is made flesh (incarnated) in our hearts.

Tuesday November 19th. 2002
St. Augustine 's Third Movement of Prayer

THE ART OF CONTEMPLATING: This movement allows Christ to draw us more deeply within the Trinitarian Community of Love. Here we sense the wonder of a deep and gifted relationship with our God.

In the afternoon session we forget our cares and the vibrations of a busy life, make friends with an inner silence and renew ourselves.

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Affirming The Man I Am - Part II

A weekend workshop for men to explore further the personal development themes of Affirming Who I Am . Inquiring into the masculine spiritual character, looking at dreams and searching for God's healing presence in all of life.

Saturday December 7th (9.30 -4.00) and Sunday 8th (9.30-300) 2002
Cost : $75

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