AUGUSTINIAN BULLETIN BOARD - for April 2010

The model of the Exodus and the desert journey

You must think of yourselves as brought out of Egypt, freed from a harsh slavery, in which iniquity was your master; as having also passed through the Red Sea, through baptism which was marked by the bloodstained cross of Christ. As for the enemies pursuing you from behind, consider them to be your past sins.

Because just as the Egyptians perished when the people of God passed through, so were your sins obliterated when you were baptized. So now you must make for the heavenly kingdom, to which you have been called, as to the promised land; and while you made your way through this earthly life, as through the desert, watch out for and stand up to all kinds of temptation. You receive your manna, after all, from sharing at the holy altar, and what you drink flows from the rock.

Avoid such bad examples of the past, and imitate those who did please God, not those who perished for offending God. What use was it, after all, to have escaped from Egypt through the Red Sea, only to perish from fiery serpents in the desert?

That’s how it is with people who are baptized, and set free from their past sins, and then neglect such a wonderful grace, so that they are waylaid by the poisonous bites of death-dealing seductions, and are unable to reach the promised life. Shun the example of such people, cling with steadfast obedience to the one who redeemed you, so that you may reach the kingdom; not such a one as was given to the first people, but one where you are going to live with Christ in eternal bliss.

St Augustine: Sermon 260B, 1.3....

Villanova University

A team from the Augustinians’ Villanova University in Pennsylvania, U.S.A. has made touring the Vatican’s Sistine Chapel a reality with just the simple click of a computer’s mouse. For the last two years, students and faculty from Villanova have been granted rare clearance to photograph some of Rome’s most sacred, and restricted spaces (see photo at right) – work that has led to the creation of state-of-the-art Virtual Reality Tours for the Vatican.

The Virtual Reality Tour of the Sistine Chapel was launched on 18th March 2010 on the official Vatican Web site. The tour was designed by Villanova.

Several thousand digital photographs were taken in the Chapel with an advanced motorized camera rig and then digitally stitched together, colour-corrected, and post-processed by Villanova team members to create a cubic panorama file that presents the Chapel in a three-dimensional projection. Tour visitors can zoom in for high-resolution views of the interior of the Chapel.

The Vatican web site is: http://www.vatican.va/phome_en.htm
The Villanova University web site is: http://www1.villanova.edu/villanova.html

Provincial re-elected

The Australian Province of the Order of St Augustine has just elected Fr Tony Banks OSA as Prior Provincial for a second four-year term. He will begin his new term of office at the Provincial Chapter which takes place at Brookvale (Sydney) in July 2010.

As Provincial in 2006-2010 Fr Tony led the Australian Province as it developed closer ties with other Asia-Pacific sections of the Order in Korea, Japan, Philippines, India and Indonesia. He is currently President of the Asia-Pacific Augustinian Conference, and Augustinian ministry in Korea has been placed within the jurisdiction of the Australian Province. The Order has also reached out to Vietnam and Thailand as possible future ventures.

Within Australia there have been significant Augustinian developments in Justice and Peace Ministry and in Youth Ministry, and a growth of the Augustinian Friends organisation to a membership exceeding six hundred persons. Fr Tony is a member of the Augustinian international commission for youth and is on the executive of CLRI (NSW).

Fourth Australian Augustinian Lay Congress

Participants at the 4th Augustinian National Lay Congress will ponder the Christian call to spirituality in the 21st century. The Congress is being held at Villanova College in Coorparoo (Brisbane) on Friday (all day) to Sunday (half day) 2nd-4th July 2010.

The main speakers will be two laymen, Dr Joseph Kelley and Paul Wilson. 

Dr Joseph Kelley is the Vice President for Advancement and former Provost of Merrimack College at Andover, Massachusetts, which is an Augustinian-owned university. He is also Associate Professor in Religious and Theological Studies and founder of the Center for Augustinian Study and Legacy at Merrimack. Joe holds the Ph.D. in Religious Studies from Boston University, a D. Min. in clinical pastoral psychology from the Andover-Newton Theological School, an M.A. in Theology from the Catholic University of America, and a B.A. in philosophy from Villanova University, Pennsylvania. Since his arrival at Merrimack in 1974, he has also served as Vice-President for Student Life and Director of Campus Ministry.

Mr Paul Wilson was appointed by the Augustinians in 2006 to the Province's Justice and Peace Office in Sydney, and is the Director of Augustinian Volunteers Australia.

The theme of the Congress is Go forth on your path, and will invite participants to discern how we love and serve God in the twenty-first century.

For further information and bookings, contact the nearest Augustinian Priory, or the Provincial Office (business hours) – phone (02) 9905 3049 or osaadmin@bigpond.com

Augustinians in South Korea

The Order of Saint Augustine first went to South Korea in 1985, and two Australian Augustinians were in the group of four priests initially sent there. The Order in Korea accepted its first Korean-born candidates in 1990, and still regards the task of training its Korean-born Augustinians as a primary ministry.

The Augustinian Delegation of Korea now staffs three communities, located at Incheon, Kanghwa Island and Yeon-Chon (north of Seoul).

With the 2009-2010 novitiate of the Delegation completed only a month previously, a novice (pictured with his novice master) for 2010-2011 was received on 17th February 2010. He first came to the Augustinians in 2006.

The Augustinian Delegation has nine Koreans in solemn vows (five priests and four lay brothers), three in simple vows, one novice and two postulants. There are also three expatriate Augustinian priests, two from the Cebu Province (Philippines) and one from Australia.

In September 2010 the Delegation looks forward to its twenty-fifth anniversary.

For a summary elsewhere on this web site of Augustinian involvement in South Korea since the Order's arrival there in 1985, click here.

For news on this web site about the Augustinians in Korea and in other areas of the Asia-Pacific, click here.

Augustinian Parish of North Harbour, Sydney

The Catholic Community of North Harbour in the Diocese of Broken Bay is the union, which happened on 1st July 2006, of the two previous adjacent Augustinian-administered parishes of Manly Vale and Balgowlah, which are located in the northern beaches area of Sydney.

The Augustinians began their pastoral leadership in Manly Vale in 1952 and at Balgowlah in 2004.

Parishioners were invited to an information meeting on Sunday afternoon, 27th March 2010 to examine proposed designs for the renewal of St Kieran’s Church.

At the same meeting, a report was also presented on the extensive work of a sub-committee of the Parish Pastoral Council regarding further possible uses of the Church of St Cecilia (see photo at left ), which is also within the North Harbour Parish.

Fr Peter Wieneke O.S.A. stressed that at this juncture no decisions have been taken as to the structural alteration of either church. He stated, “My expectation is that by the end of 2010 we will have a clear vision of what we want for our two churches; a plan for maintenance of the churches with or without structural renewal, and strategies to accomplish both.”

The parish web site is http://northharbour.catholicau.com/index.html

St Thomas of Villanova Parish, Mareeba

The Parish of St Thomas of Villanova in Mareeba has been staffed by the Order of Saint Augustine since it began almost a century ago. Mareeba is located on the tableland behind the tropical tourist city of Cairns, in northern Queensland, Australia. It is part of the Diocese of Cairns.

Seventeen people from Mareeba parish (see photo), including Augustinian parish priest Robert Greenup and Deacon Ralph Madigan, recently embarked on a Harvest Pilgrimage to the Holy Land. Deacon Ralph wrote about his experience on this pilgrimage:

“Over a three week period from 8th to 27th February seventeen Mareeba parishioners undertook a biblical pilgrimage of Egypt, Jordan and Israel.  We visited many of the sites of the Old Testament and the places of the Gospels where Jesus was born, baptised, preached, performed miracles and was put to death.

Personally it was a wonderful experience to visit these sites, just to stand and reflect on the humanity of Jesus and to think of the many struggles and sufferings he had to endure through his life.

Travelling through the desert of Egypt and seeing that dry barren land made me think of the perseverance of Moses taking his people to the promised land.  It is amazing that people are still living in the desert with their animals.

We visited the historical sites of the pyramids of Egypt, the ancient city of Petra in Jordan, and the sites of King Herod’s palaces in Caesarea and Masada. 

Some of the highlights for me were climbing Mt Sinai on a camel at 2.00am in the morning and walking down again; being able to exercise my role as a deacon at daily Mass together with Fr Rob at special places such as on board a boat on the Sea of Galilee and on Mt Tabor; walking through the old city of Jerusalem and following the Stations of the Cross on the Via Dolorosa; spending an hour in silent prayer in the darkness of the night in the Garden of Gethsemane and attending a High Mass in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem with 32 Australian priests.

Our tour guides had a wealth of knowledge about the sites we visited and they shared their insights with us. We travelled with a great group of people who enjoyed each other’s company and always cared about each other’s wellbeing.  The days were full on, but always interesting and enjoyable.  To me I will never forget this experience of my visit to these sacred places.”

St Joseph's Parish, South Yarra

South of the River, a popular and well-known community choir in southern inner Melbourne, gave a concert in the St Joseph’s Parish, South Yarra on the evening of 17th February 2010 as a fundraising gift to St Joseph’s Emergency Housing.

An audience of over 150 persons was given a program of a capella singing of folk music and contemporary ballads. There were twenty singers, two of whom were South Yarra parishioners.

Fr Brian Buckley O.S.A., P.P. reported that the reaction of the audience was very favourable and that, as well, the evening was a very successful social occasion. The event raised $4,500 for St Joseph’s Emergency Housing.

A separate event was a Concert of Sacred Music held in St Joseph's Church at 11.30 am on Palm Sunday, 28th March 2010. It featured the sacred music of Vivaldi and Pergolesi for soprano, contralto and strings. The vocal soloists were Natsuko Mineghishi and Christina Jonas.

The South Yarra parish website is located at: http://www.parishofsouthyarra.org.au

Augustinian Parish, Coorparoo

The Parish of St James, Coorparoo (Brisbane) has been in the care of the Augustinians since 1952. Villanova College, also conducted by the Order, is located within the parish.

A weekly program of Bible studies and prayer for young adults began in St James’s Priory on Friday evening, 12th February, and continues weekly.

It is being conducted by Deacon Tan O.S.A.

The program dwells on a different book of the Bible each Friday evening, and allows some time for questions and for a discussion of the implications of the Scriptures for the participants. As the program sessions are each basically self-contained, it is not necessary that a participant be free to attend every meeting. Additional members are welcome.

For further information, contact the parish office at (07) 3397 1671 during office hours, or see the parish web site: http://www.stjames-coorparoo.org.au/

Villanova College, Coorparoo

Villanova is a college of the Order of Saint Augustine at Coorparoo in Brisbane, Australia.

During most of the past three decades, each few years Villanova has co-produced and co-hosted a full-length musical comedy in association with Loreto College, Coorparoo, often dipping into the repertoire of Gilbert and Sullivan and popular Broadway musicals.

In March, there were four sold-out performances of Godspell, in which willing staff and students from both colleges worked tirelessly as lead actors, choir, orchestra, dancers, stage crew, ushers and production team.

Mr Jason Lane, a Villanova staff member who was Co-Producer, wrote in the college newsletter, "The creativity, diversity and high standard of the Arts at Villanova are a gift we are all able to share and enjoy. Personally, it was a wonderful experience to produce a musical of such a high standard as Godspell. This has been a significant undertaking."

He concluded by remarking, "So, 'Prepare Ye!' for the next combined Villanova-Loreto musical production in two years time!"

Another event in March: Queensland's 2010 program of Schools Constitutional Conventions has concluded with twenty-eight delegates elected to represent Queensland at the National Schools Constitutional Convention in Canberra.

The organisation of twelve School Constitutional Conventions across Queensland enabled over 650 senior secondary students from 165 schools to discuss constitutional issues and to participate in the selection process for Queensland's team of twenty-eight delegates to the National Convention.

The selection process for delegates involved students presenting a speech at one of the Conventions. Approximately one hundred and forty students in Queensland nominated and presented speeches. A Year Eleven student from Villanova College was selected as one of the twenty-eight Queensland delegates for the National Schools Constitutional Convention in Canberra.

The college web site is: http://www.vnc.qld.edu.au

St Augustine’s College, Sydney

St Augustine's College is an Augustinian day school for over 1,000 male day pupils in the upper primary and secondary years of education. Founded in 1956, it is located at Brookvale (Sydney), Australia.

St Augustine’s College was the host of the Broken Bay Year Twelve Event (BYTE) on Wednesday, 10th March 2009.

BYTE is a regional gathering that is organised annually for Year 12 students in Catholic Secondary Schools in this southern portion of the Diocese of Broken Bay. On this occasion, the visiting 600 Senior male and female students came from Stella Maris College, Mater Maria College, St Paul’s College, Mercy Catholic College, and St Pius X College. One hundred Seniors from St Augustine’s College also participated.

BYTE gatherings began during World Youth Day in 2008 to encourage Senior students to “believe they can achieve” no matter what the circumstances, and to explore their Catholic faith.

The day included opportunity for the students to discuss healthy relationships and their future options. A guest speaker was Most Rev David Walker D.D., the Bishop of Broken Bay (see photo below).

The College’s spacious auditorium, the Brimson Centre, was used for a number of BYTE events during the day.

St Augustine’s College Captain said, “Being surrounded by over 600 visiting year 12 students from other Catholic colleges created a fantastic atmosphere. Collectively learning how to believe in our abilities, with so many other students, was an empowering experience.”

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In the photo (above), Bishop Walker stands with two of the College’s executive team, Ms. Margaret McElhone and Mr Tim Cleary (Principal).

A variety of parent-related events have taken place at the College in recent times, including a Father and Son Breakfast and a Parents' Welcoming Evening. The photos above show staff personnel and parents at these events.

The College's web site is www.saintaug.nsw.edu.au

Augustinian Centre for Spirituality

A small oasis of quiet and hospitality in western suburban Sydney, Australia, the Augustinian Centre for Spirituality at Greystanes (photo below) assists persons and groups of all faith backgrounds in their spiritual journey.

Its resident Augustinian community offers spiritual direction, reflection days, courses in prayer and meditation, and individual residential directed retreats.

The 2010 program of prayer days and courses is available on this web site: click here.

For more information on the Centre, please phone (02) 9896 6749, or e-mail osaspirit@bigpond.com.au


Youth Leaders

.The Australian Augustinian Province conducts a national six-day Augustinian youth festival every two or three years, and takes a group of participants to each triennial six-day Augustinian international youth encounter.

The previous international encounter was held in Sydney after World Youth Day in July 2008.

The next six-day Augustinian international youth encounter (see logo at right) will occur in London in September 2010.

Persons seeking further information about the London event should as soon as possible look at the London AYE web site www.aye10.org for additional details.

To learn about joining the Australian group for London, contact the Augustinian Youth Officer immediately at michael.delacruz@augustinians.org.au

Augustinian Formation Association (A.F.A.)

The Augustinian Formation Association prays for and raises funds for the formation of current Augustinian candidates and for future Augustinians.

It has now fulfilled this role for a number of decades.

Based in Sydney, Australia, its current office bearers are Trudi McFadden (president), Eddie Robinson (treasurer), Lesley Sing (assistant treasurer) and Yvonne Clark (secretary).

The AFA is hoping to expand its membership, especially seeing that the number of Augustinian students in formation is increasing, meaning that additional support would be very timely.

To obtain more details about the Augustinian Formation Association, contact the staff of the Provincial Office on (w) (02) 9905 3049.

Augustinian Friends

Augustinian Friends is a lay group conducted in Australia for those wishing to learn more about the spirituality of Saint Augustine of Hippo, and to have contact with others who share this goal. Branches of the Friends operate at a number of Augustinian venues in Brisbane, Mareeba, Melbourne, Northern Victoria, and Sydney.

The Friends' newsletter, Amici, has now reached its tenth anniversary, and much has happened within Augustinian Friends during this decade. For example, there have been three Lay Congresses: in Echuca in 2001, Sydney (Brookvale) in 2004, and in Melbourne (South Yarra) in 2007.

The 4th National Congress for Augustinian Laity will take place from Thursday, 1st July to Sunday, 4th July 2010, at Villanova College in the Brisbane suburb of Coorparoo. For information, contact any of the Augustinian parishes listed hereunder, or the Provincial Office at (02) 9905 3049 during business hours.

The annual meeting of the National Committee of Augustinian Friends took place at the Augustinian Centre for Spirituality at Greystanes (Sydney) on the weekend of 6th-8th November 2009 (see photo below).

The meeting also approved a parish programme for the Easter period developed by the Augustinian Spirituality Team. Local Augustinian groups will offer to run the programme in Augustinian parishes. It is particularly suitable for those who have just completed the RCIA programme

The position of Co-Leaders of the National Committee is presently shared by Ruth McGowan and Maureen Atkins of northern Victoria, and Fr. Paul Maloney O.S.A. is the chaplain of the group.

The English and U.S. Augustinians are involved with generally similar Augustinian Friends movements in their respective nations.

In England, “Friends of Augustine” has now begun its own website:
http://www.friendsofaugustine.org In the United States, the web site is http://www.augustinianfriends.org

For an Amici newsletter subscription or for any additional information on the Friends, contact Fr Paul Maloney at Greystanes (Sydney) at paulmal@bigpond.com.au or phone him on (02) 9631 0340.

For additional information about Augustinian Friends on this web site, click here.

Augustinian Volunteers Australia 2010

The Augustinian Justice and Peace Course, which is used as part of the formation program for Augustinian Volunteers Australia, was conducted at Augustinian Priory, Brookvale (Sydney) during the three weeks from 1st – 20th February 2010.

There were six candidates for Augustinian Volunteers Australia 2010. Two came from Brisbane, and the four from the Sydney region are from the Augustinian Parishes of St Clair (Parramatta Diocese) and North Harbour (Broken Bay Diocese). 

More details about Augustinian Volunteers Australia are available on the social justice section of this web site.

Contact:

Mr Paul Wilson, Justice and Peace Project Officer, c/- St Augustine’s Priory,
P.O. Box 679 Brookvale NSW 2100, Australia. Mobile phone: 0438 646 294 Email: paul.wilson@augustinians.org.au Website: www.augustinians.org.au

Augustinian Ministry Websites 2010

• St Augustine’s College – Brookvale NSW Australia
  Website: www.saintaug.nsw.edu.au

• St James’ Parish – Coorparoo Qld Australia
  Website: http://www.stjames-coorparoo.org.au/

• Villanova College – Coorparoo Qld Australia
  Website: www.vnc.qld.edu.au

• Parish of North Harbour – Manly Vale & Balgowlah, NSW Australia
  Website: http://www.northharbour.catholicau.com

• St Joseph’s Parish – South Yarra Vic Australia
  Website: http://www.parishofsouthyarra.org.au

• Holy Spirit Parish – St Clair NSW Australia
  Website: www.holyspiritstclair.com.au

• Augustinians in Korea
• Website: http://www.osakorea.or.kr

FOR SOME CURRENT NEWS ABOUT THE ORDER OUTSIDE AUSTRALIA Click here

The Augustinian international web site is:
http://www.osanet.org/home.asp

AUGUSTINIAN CENTRE FOR SPIRITUALITY PROGRAM 2010
2 Hewitt Avenue
Greystanes 2145
Enquiries (02) 9896 6794
www.augustinians.org.au/communities/greystanes.html