AUGUSTINIAN BULLETIN BOARD - December 2002

The eternal inheritance

Inasmuch as the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, he was reared and grew up. After suffering, dying, and rising again, he received as his inheritance the kingdom of heaven. It was in being man that he received resurrection and eternal life. In being man he received it. In being the Word he did not receive it, because the Word abides unchangingly from everlasting to everlasting. So because it was that flesh, which rose again and being quickened ascended into heaven, that received resurrection and eternal life, this too is promised to us. We are waiting for that very inheritance, eternal life..

Sermon 22, 10

St Augustine's College, Brookvale. Excavation work in preparation of the Brimson Centre has begun. The Centre will be a multi-purpose hall facility which will provide a much needed space where the College community can assemble. The Centre is named after Fr David Brimson, first Rector of the College (1956 - 1964). Fr Brimson is currently in retirement in Brisbane.

AUGUSTINIAN COMMUNITY, MAREEBA

The Augustinians have a long and rich association with the Diocese of Cairns. It began with the arrival of Fr John Hutchinson O.S.A. and his two companions at Cooktown in 1884.

Subsequently, the Augustinian presence extended to all the existing mainland parishes of the Diocese. Today, however, the Parishes of Mareeba and Dimbulah are the only parishes in the Diocese, which are still served by the Augustinians.

With this background, St Thomas's Priory, Mareeba is now offering an opportunity for single men to experience a period of simple community life in the Augustinian tradition with time for prayer, parish work, recreation and personal pursuits.

For further information contact:

Robert Greenup O.S.A.
PO Box 308
Mareeba, Queensland 4880
Phone: 07 4092 1077
Fax: 07 4092 3170
Email: stthomas@ledanet.com.au

Fr Thomas Mescall O.S.A.

The late Fr Thomas Mescall O.S.A., who died in Brisbane, Australia on 22^nd October 2002, was paid tribute by a seven-minute special address to the Queensland Parliament on 3^rd December 2002.

The speech was made by Hon. Paul Lucas M.P., who was one of Fr Mescall's former secondary students at the Augustinian Order's Villanova College, Coorparoo (Brisbane), Australia. Paul is now the Minister for Innovation and Information Economy in the Queensland's state government.

The speech mentioned Fr Mescall's Irish upbringing, his humour, compassion, love of art, teaching abilities and his coaching of Villanova's sporting teams - most especially in Rugby Union football. Paul also mentioned that Fr Mescall had officiated at his marriage.

Paul indicated that two other current members of State Parliament were also past pupils of Villanova: Kerry Shine and Greg Nuttall (Minister for Industrial Relations).

Although he did not mention it in his speech, Paul is one of only two persons who have attended both Augustinian secondary schools in Australia, i.e., Villanova College in Coorparoo, Queensland, and St Augustine's College at Brookvale (Sydney), New South Wales.

Paul's address ended thus: "(Father Mescall) was a larger-than-life figure and a great man, but most of all he was a faithful, diligent and committed priest. He loved the Lord and, in particular, Our Lady. While we will all miss him, what is more important is how he touched us and educated us in many ways that hopefully will not only stay with us for the rest of our lives but will also be passed on to our children."

Augnet

A web site of particular Augustinian interest was launched in Sydney on 6th August 2002. It is http://www.augnet.org
Augnet is intended to encourage greater links between Augustinian schools via the Internet and by other means, and to enable them to understand and share further their common Augustinian spirituality and heritage. St Augustine's College, Brookvale, N.S.W., Australia and Austin Friars School, Carlisle, England were the originating participants, and Villanova Preparatory School, Ojai, California, U.S.A. is presently in the process of joining Augnet. The first co-operative initiative by Augnet was an international photographic and poster competition, which attracted entries from four Augustinian schools on three different continents. Site statistics indicate that Augnet has attracted most usage from Australia and the United Kingdom (where the Augustinian schools are making use of it in class). Other Augnet browsers are recorded as living in thirty-eight other nations, from Argentina to Austria, Brazil to Belize, Chile to China, Estonia to Egypt, Iceland to Ireland, etc. The site was intentionally launched in an incomplete state, as it is intended that staff and student involvement will increasing come into play to expand and perfect it. Such an expectation was not in vain, as the first examples of staff and student contributions have already happened. For Augnet's initial phase, the webmaster is Fr Michael Endicott O.S.A. in Brisbane. He can be contacted at webmaster@augnet.org

The Hon. Tony Abbott MHR, Minister for Employment and Industrial Relations in the Australian Federal Parliament, is seen here launching Augnet on to the Internet.

St Augustine's College, Springfield

The Archdiocese of Brisbane in Queensland has begun the construction of fourteen school buildings on a twelve-hectare (25 acre) site in Springfield, a ten-year-old development that will eventually be a city of 55,000 people on the boundary of the present cities of Brisbane and Ipswich in southeastern Queensland.

This new school site was dedicated and blessed on 13th September 2002 in a ceremony that involved two local Augustinians. As the priest-in-charge of ministry in Springfield, Fr Michael Endicott O.S.A. said the prayer of blessing. Father Michael Morahan O.S.A. presented his book on Augustinian education to Erin Wedge. Erin has been appointed Assistant Principal (Religious Education) of this new co-educational P-12 college, which will first open its doors to students on 29th January 2003.

Prompted by the presence and interest of these Augustinians who live nearby at St Augustine's Priory, Camira, the Archbishop has given the new school the name of St Augustine's College, and asked that the Augustinians assist it to adopt an Augustinian spirituality.

The temporary office of St Augustine's College, Springfield can be contacted at psspringfield@bne.catholic.edu.au

Fr Michael Morahan O.S.A. presents his book to Mrs Erin Wedge, the newly-appointed APRE of St Augustine's College, Springfield.

A WAY TO KNOW JESUS BETTER - 'The Kyabram Stations'
By Fr Dave Austin OSA
www.augustinians.org.au/communities/kyabram.html

AUGUSTINIAN CENTRE FOR SPIRITUALITY PROGRAM 2002
2 Hewitt Avenue
Greystanes 2145
Enquiries 9896 6794
www.augustinians.org.au/communities/greystanes.html

The Provincial, Fr Patrick Fahey osa,
on behalf of the Augustinians of Australia,
wishes all our website visitors a blessed and peaceful celebration
of the birth of Our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.
Best wishes for the coming year of 2003