AUGUSTINIAN BULLETIN BOARD – for August 2008

Jesus carried our sins

In order to be the mediator between God and humanity Jesus took on something from the unjust and the mortals, retaining something with the just one and the immortal one. With the just and immortal one, you see, he retained justice; from the unjust and the mortals he took on mortality, and thus became the reconciler in the middle, throwing down the wall of our sins; which is why his people sing to him And in my God I will leap over the wall. In this way he gave back to God what sins had alienated from him, he brought back with his blood what the devil had taken possession of. He died for us, and he rose again for us.

St Augustine:  Sermon 361, 16.

Augustinian International Youth Encounter

The ninth Augustinian International Encounter for Young Adults took place in Sydney, Australia on 21st – 27th July 2008. A total of 290 young adults and male and female Augustinians participated.

The general theme of the Encounter was taken from Chapter 2 of the Acts of the Apostles, “sharing all things in common.”

On the day immediately after the completion of World Youth Day, St Augustine’s College at Brookvale (Sydney) became the venue for the opening ceremony and banquet of the Augustinian Encounter. On the following day, everyone moved five kilometres to the Collaroy Conference Centre for the remaining days of the Encounter.

A unique feature of Day 3 of the Encounter was a day of reflection in a national park that contained Australian “bush” (light forest). Guides from among the Aboriginal people of Australia explained their culture, their respect for the Earth, and their spirituality to the participants of the Encounter. The day ended with a Eucharist in the natural surroundings.

Later days of the Encounter dwelt on the topics of St Augustine, social justice and community. Sunset on Day 5 featured a candlelight Via Lucis liturgy at the Collaroy Centre.

On each day of the Encounter various national groups made prepared preparations to all participants, sometimes in song, dance and laughter and at other times in thoughtful contribution to the themes of the event.

During free time in the evenings, young adults had an Encounter coffee shop where they could relax and meet. One of the evenings featured a traditional Australian Bush Dance.

On the final evening of the Encounter, the theme of Body of Christ was brought to a conclusion by a Eucharist, which was led by the Augustinian Prior General. It was held on a grassed area immediately beside Collaroy Beach and the Pacific Ocean (see photo below).

This was the first Augustinian International Encounter held outside of Europe, and an Asian presence was much more visible than it had been at previous Encounters. This was assisted by 44 participants from the Philippines and 11 from Korea. There were also 3 young Indian Augustinians present. As well, three other Asia-Pacific nations were represented at an Augustinian Encounter for the first time: Indonesia (2 male and 1 female religious), Vietnam (6 young adults) and Thailand (2 young adults from ministries involving the Order).

The Encounter involved 236 young adults, and 47 male and 7 female Augustinian religious. These people came from 16 nations where Augustinian ministry occurs. All continents of the world were represented.

Some photographs taken by the young adult participants can be found at http://picasaweb.google.com/mbb949/AugustinianYouthEncounter08Sydney

Death of Fr Denis K. O'Shea O.S.A.

The death occurred on Friday evening, 8th August 2008 of Fr Denis Kevin O’Shea O.S.A. (His religious name was Kieran.) He died in the Minkara retirement facility at Bayview (northern Sydney) at the age of eighty-seven years.

Born at Killeenlea, County Kerry, Ireland on 9th May 1921, he attended Masterguihy National School, County Kerry in 1927 - 1934, and the Order's Good Counsel College, New Ross, County Wexford in 1934 - 1940. He joined the Augustinian Order in 1940, undertook his philosophy studies at Augustinian College, Orlagh, County Dublin, and his theology at the Augustinian House of Studies at John's Lane, Dublin.

He was ordained to the priesthood at Clonliffe College, Dublin on 22nd March 1947, and celebrated his First Mass at the Shrine of the Mother of Good Counsel in the Augustinian Church at John's Lane, Dublin on 23nd March 1947. He was sent to Australia six months later, and served his entire priestly ministry of sixty-one years in eastern Australia.

He was a founding teacher when the Order’s Villanova College opened at its initial site at Whinstanes in Brisbane in January 1948. In March 1950 he was appointed to the Diocese of Cairns in Far North Queensland, where subsequently he became parish priest of Ravenshoe in 1952 at the age of thirty-one years, and then parish priest at Atherton in 1954. In 1951 - 1953 he was also the Diocesan Inspector of Schools in the Diocese of Cairns.

He came to what was then St Kieran’s Parish in the northern Sydney suburb of Manly Vale in November 1957, and first became parish priest there in December 1960. During his pastorate which lasted until January 1975, the present St Kieran’s Church was designed and built, being one of the first churches in Sydney to incorporate changes introduced by the Second Vatican Council. Opened in 1968, under his management the church was debt-free by 1974. He was a member of the Pastoral Council of the Archdiocese of Sydney during its first two years.

He became parish priest at St James’s Church at Coorparoo in Brisbane in January 1975, and finally was parish priest at St Augustine’s Church at Kyabram in northern Victoria in 1983-1987. He then served as a relieving priest for parishes in Victoria from 1987 until January 2003, after which he moved to St Kieran’s Priory, Manly Vale (northern Sydney) in retirement.

Fr O’Shea was a wise and prayerful Augustinian, a man who thought deeply. He was also an excellent administrator who won the support of the parishioners with whom he worked. There will be many who will mourn his passing, and who will continue to cherish his memory.

He is survived in Ireland a number of his siblings and their families. A Memorial Mass was celebrated by one of his nephews, Fr Patrick Sugrue, at his parish church in Killeentierna, Farranfore, County Kerry, Ireland, and Irish Augustinians from Cork and Limerick were among those who participated.

A vigil Vespers was held at 7.30 pm on Wednesday, 13th August 2008 at the Church of St Kieran, Manly Vale (Sydney), and a Requiem Mass there at 10.30 am on Thursday, 14th August. Burial followed nearby in the Augustinian section of French's Forest Cemetery.

 Memorial Masses for Fr Donal Paul Dempsey O.S.A. (1926 – 2008)

In the July 2008 edition of Current News on this web site the death and funeral of Fr Donal Paul Dempsey O.S.A. in Ireland were included.

Photo: Portrait of Donal Paul Dempsey O.S.A., taken early during his twelve years at Kyabram, the final chapter of his lengthy public ministry in Australia.

The three regions of Australia where he ministered from 1954 onwards have held memorial Masses. One of these Eucharists took place at St James’s Church at Coorparoo in Brisbane, Queensland on 7th July 2008. There were five Augustinians present, St James’s Parish members, staff and Old Boys of Villanova College, members of the Villanova Players, and Augustinian Friends.

On the evening of 1st July 2008 approximately 150 people attended the Memorial Mass in St Joseph’s Church at South Yarra in Melbourne, Victoria. Fr. Dempsey came to the South Yarra in 1976, was parish priest from 1982-1987, and lived there in retirement from 1999 until he went home to Ireland in May 2002.

Long-time friends, nephews and grand nephews, Presentation Sisters, past students of St. Joseph’s Parish School, many parishioners and close friends attended the Mass. During the liturgy, a eulogy was given by his nephew, Gerard, and there was a reading from the Confessions of St Augustine.

When at South Yarra Fr Dempsey had developed a ministry to Spanish-speaking immigrants. As a consequence, some Spanish-speaking people returned to the parish for the Memorial Mass and after Communion they sang a Spanish hymn.

A large number of Kyabram parishioners gathered in St. Augustine’s Church on the wintry evening of 31st July 2008 to remember, to give thanks for, and to honour their former parish priest, the late Fr Donal Paul Dempsey O.S.A.. (The Augustinian Order withdrew from Kyabram in 2005.)

The Parish Council President welcomed everyone and read a message from the Prior Provincial, Fr Tony Banks O.S.A.. Fr. Michael Morley, the present parish priest, was joined at the altar by Fr. John Barry O.S.A. of South Yarra and Monsignor Peter Jeffrey and Fr John Leahy both from Shepparton.

Alma Limbrick in her eulogy reminded all present of the loving and winning ways of ‘Demps’. She spoke with gratitude of his eagerness that lay people like herself and others be given the opportunity to study and to receive good formation in their faith.

Monsignor Peter Jeffrey in speaking on behalf of the Bishop of the Diocese added his praise and appreciation of Fr Dempsey and of all Augustinians who had worked in the Diocese of Sandhurst since its inception. He noted and applauded the way the present Pope is making good use of Augustinian thought and spirituality in his various addresses.

Art gallery exhibit honours an earlier Australian Augustinian.

Brother Gregory Fitzgerald O.S.A. (pictured below), who died at Brisbane, Australia in 1976, is presently being honoured by a display in the Moree Plains Gallery in north-western New South Wales. (As of 21st August 2008, the display is still open; the exhibition has been extended a number of times.)

He was one of ten children of a family that owned Kunderang, a cattle station on the Macleay River in the Northern Rivers' District of New South Wales. After being a stockman on the family property, at the age of twenty-eight years Gregory in 1919 first met the Augustinian Order when he travelled to Italy. He then joined the Order in Ireland in 1922, and was sent to Rome to study for priesthood.

When he found the learning of Latin too difficult, he remained in the Order as a brother. In this capacity, he served in Rome until he returned to Australia in 1940, and subsequently then served in Australia until his death at the age of eighty-five years in 1976.

He had a natural talent for woodcarving, and made a number of intricately-carved walking sticks that featured Australian flora and fauna. His carving task was all the more difficult because he preferred to use Australian hardwood, which is particularly difficult to carve, and because he used only a simple pen knife, rasp and sandpaper.

During his long life, he carved an estimated forty pieces, and usually he gave them away soon after he carved them. Some of his works are quite valuable. The Augustinian Order only possesses one of these works, which is the well-worn walking stick that Bro Gregory himself used.

One walking stick was sent to President John F. Kennedy, and is still in the official Kennedy Presidential Library in Massachusetts. Another walking stick was given to Archbishop Mannix in Melbourne, who put it to practical use. Others were presented to the Irish President, Éamon de Valera, and to U.S. General Douglas MacArthur.

The display is called Hidden Treasures: Brother Gregory’s Craft, and is open to the public free of charge at the gallery (see photo) from 26th May until some time in August 2008.

(Intending visitors should check with the gallery, because the exact closing date is yet to be announced.)

The display contains some of Bro. Gregory’s walking sticks, his art books, some poetry that he composed, and photographs of other carvings he undertook.

As part of the display, the Gallery is distributing a fifteen-page booklet that details Brother Gregory's life and works; it contains photographs of a number of his works.

The Moree Plains Gallery is housed in one of the most important historic buildings locally, having been built as a bank over ninety years ago. It is located in the centre of this town, which is 628 kms from Sydney. It is open five days per week: from 10.00 a.m. to 5.00 p.m. Tuesday-Friday, and from 10.00 a.m. to 2.00 p.m. Saturdays. (Closed Sunday and Monday.)

For further details contact the gallery at http://www.moreeplainsgallery.org.au/  or phone the gallery on 02 6757 3320.

The Provincial Office would be pleased to hear from anyone who visits the display; phone 02 9905 3049 (office hours).

St Augustine’s College, Sydney

During World Youth Day 2008 (WYD), St Augustine’s College hosted 230 pilgrims from  Augustinian Schools and universities around the world. The College was nominated as an English-speaking site for pilgrims travelling from Canada, United States of America, United Kingdom, several Asian countries including the Philippines and also three groups from Queensland.

Catechesis for the pilgrims took place at the College during the week with Bishop Daniel Flores (USA), Bishop Most Rev Rochus Tatamai (PNG) and Bishop Most Rev. Peter Ingham (Australia) attending.

On Thursday 17th July, Saint Augustine’s College provided three yachts to sail on Sydney harbour while Pope Benedict  XVI was aboard the boat ‘Sydney 2000’. Prior Provincial Fr Tony Banks OSA (at right) invited several Augustinian dignitaries and pilgrims from around the world to join him aboard the yachts to experience the special occasion.

Pilgrims also enjoyed visiting the local area, in particular Manly Beach where the local businesses were overwhelmed with the friendly visitors. Many pilgrims travelled on the ferries and jet cat services to the city where each day different activities were held throughout the CBD including the Stations of the Cross. On Saturday 19th July students from the College, including College Captain Andrew Connell travelled to North Sydney to walk across Sydney Harbour Bridge (photo below) to Randwick Racecourse where the pilgrims bedded down for the night amongst 250,000 other pilgrims.

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The racecourse was a sea of colour with the pilgrims flying their flags and WYD scarves to greet the Pontiff when he arrived the following morning to conclude the week long proceedings with the Papal Mass. Another 250,000 Sydney-siders joined the pilgrims for the Mass, creating the largest religious gathering in the history of Australia.

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

Villanova College, Coorparoo

Villanova is an Augustinian day school for over 1,000 male students in the upper primary and secondary years of education.

It was begun by the Irish Province of the Order of St Augustine at a smaller location in Whinstanes (Brisbane, Queensland, Australia) on 25th January 1948, under the rectorship of the late Fr R.B. O'Donnell O.S.A.. It transferred to its present site at Coorparoo (Brisbane) in 1954.

The weekly newsletter to Villanova parents offers the latest news on various curricular and extracurricular developments at the College. Recently, there have been the Mid-Year Academic Awards, and a community benefit grant of $33,000 to enable stage lighting and professional audio equipment at the Augustine Centre on the school property.

Preparations are well in hand for the annual QCMF music festival on 15th-17th August 2008. Villanova has a total of twenty-five QCMF entries in a broad range of age groups and categories: band, strings, percussion, baroque, jazz, big band, vocal, choral, Irish ensemble, symphonic band and full orchestra. More details appear on the Internet at http://www.vnc.qld.edu.au/music 

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

Mareeba Parish

Mareeba is located on the tableland behind the tropical tourist city of Cairns, in northern Queensland, Australia. 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. The Dimbulah parish was added to the pastoral responsibility of the Augustinian pastor of Mareeba a number of years ago.

A Mareeba correspondent writes: After four weeks the scaffolding is down and a new roof is in place at the Church of St Thomas of Villanova in Mareeba

To maintain this beautiful church structurally and aesthetically is a costly necessity but for some time now the roof, seventy-one years old, which contains asbestos, has been leaking in several places.

After much discussion and deliberation, quotes for the removal of the old roof and the installation of a new one were obtained. Work began on 30th June 2008. This was the start of school holidays, making it possible for the work to be carried out without children being in the close vicinity.

Interruptions to daily and Sunday Masses were kept to a minimum. Daily Masses were held in St Thomas’s Parish School staffroom for the first two weeks. Sunday Masses were able to be held in the Church itself throughout the work period.

The new roof is deep profile colourbond metal sheeting of “paperbark” colour and the entire project cost $111,685. If we are fortunate enough for it to last as long as the old roof it will have cost the parish a mere $30 a week. We can now worship in the wet season without needing buckets to catch the rain!

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Centre for Augustinian Spirituality

A small oasis of quiet and hospitality in suburban Sydney, Australia, the Augustinian Centre at Greystanes seeks to assist persons and groups of all faith backgrounds in their spiritual journey. The resident Augustinian community there offers spiritual direction, reflection days, courses in prayer, meditation and personal development, and individual residential directed retreats.

If any group associated with the Order of Saint Augustine and its ministries is interested in a program or retreat by the Centre staff, please contact Fr Peter Jones O.S.A. at Greystanes at (02) 9896-6794 or osaspirit@bigpond.com.au .

Augustinians in South Korea

Ten young adults from Augustinian ministries in South Korea accompanied a Korean Augustinian priest to the Augustinian International Youth Encounter in Sydney, Australia on 21st – 27th July 2008 (see photo).

In Australia (and seated at the right end of the photo) is Fr Brian Buckley O.S.A., who has been appointed to Melbourne after twenty-two years in Korea as one of the founders of the Order in Korea.

Before his departure, a farewell Mass was celebrated in his honour at the Augustinian spirituality centre in Incheon.

Augustinian Parish, St Clair

Holy Spirit Parish at St Clair in western Sydney, Australia, was established twenty-five years ago, and has been administered by the Order of Saint Augustine for the past eleven years.

At the Sunday evening Mass on 27th July 2008, a number of the forty-eight parishioners who attended the Augustinian International Youth Encounter spoke to the congregation about their experience. They also mentioned how the Encounter (and World Youth Day immediately before it) had boosted their faith and their sense of community.

The parish web site is http://www.holyspiritstclair.com.au  

Augustinian Parish of North Harbour

This parish that covers a number of suburbs in metropolitan Sydney including Manly Vale, Balgowlah and Brookvale was heavily involved in World Youth Day (WYD). Houses in the parish hosted 268 "homestay" WYD pilgrims for one week; they came from Canada, Germany, Malaysia, New Zealand and St Lucia. Saint Kieran's School had another 117 pilgrims from United States, Germany and New Zealand.

The Parish Centre at Manly Vale was a catechetical centre for three days of WYD. The bishops (pictured below, left to right) Most Rev. Seamus Freeman, Bishop of Ossory in Ireland, Most Rev. Peter Cullinane, Bishop of Palmerston North in New Zealand, and Most Rev Mario Conte, Archbishop of Glasgow in Scotland, were the catechetical speakers.

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There was generous involvement from parishioners in making their houses available for WYD pilgrims, and in assisting with the meals provided at the parish centre for the pilgrims after the catechetical sessions.

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


Augustinian Parish, South Yarra

In Melbourne, the capital city of the Australian State of Victoria, the Augustinians have care of the Parish of Saint Joseph, South Yarra. The parish also has a second church, dedicated to St Thomas Aquinas, at Bromby Street, South Yarra. The Order has been present in the parish since 1976.

After almost twenty years as Parish Priest of St Joseph’s Parish in South Yarra, Fr John Barry O.S.A. officially began retirement on 10th August 2008. 

During his time at South Yarra, he has overseen many community outreach innovations such as an emergency crisis shelter, ten emergency housing apartments, a food bank, a frozen bread program and pastoral visitation for the isolated, sick and mentally ill.  Fr Barry (see photo) recently established a parish library for use by parishioners and others.  

On Sunday, 10th August 2008 the people of the South Yarra Parish and beyond gathered in St Joseph’s Church at 10.30 am to welcome the incoming Parish Priest, Fr Brian Buckley O. S. A. and to thank Fr John Barry O. S. A. The homilist was Fr Tony Banks O.S.A. (Provincial).

Parish members ceremonially lead Fr Buckley (at altar in photo below) to significant areas in the Church, the Baptismal font, the place of Holy Oils, the Reconciliation Room, the stand for the Book of Gospels and the Tabernacle, inviting him to lead them in all Faith endeavours. Music provided by the Music group enhanced the whole liturgy.

After the symbolic liturgy in the parish church, the Parish Centre became the scene of much greeting for Fr Brian and much tender recognition for Fr John.

A current member of the Parish Pastoral Council, Andrew George, welcomed Fr Brian on behalf of the people and Therese Phillips, a long-time parishioner, spoke feelingly of Fr John’s extraordinary contribution to the life of the parish and of his influence on all parishioners.

A South Yarra parishioner has uploaded on the Internet some images of the liturgy and festivities in the Parish Hall on 10th August 2008. Click on:           http://www.flickr.com/gp/98089177@N00/HE27Fp

St Joseph’s Parish web site is www.ozemail.com.au/~osasthyarra

Augustinian Volunteers Australia

News Flash: The Province Social Justice Office has encouraged that assistance be given to cyclone victims in Burma, and in recent weeks this has successfully happened. As of 1st August 2008, a total in excess of AUS$7,000 has been sent to Caritas Australia from a number of Augustinian ministries. To read more on the Social Justice page on this web site, click here.

Augustinian Volunteers Australia has commenced its Justice and Peace activity. This is happening in an outer-western suburb of Sydney, Australia. Five young adults are participating. With others, during February 2008 they undertook a formation period in social justice, Catholic social teaching, critical analysis and Augustinian spirituality.

On 25th February 2008 they then began assisting three already-established social justice ministries of the Catholic Church in the suburb of Mount Druitt, Sydney.

(Above): Three of the Volunteers for 2008.

These Augustinian Volunteers serve one full day per week in activities that include an education support program, migrant family assistance and men’s shelter assistance. The Volunteers live at their respective home addresses elsewhere in Sydney.

Augustinian Volunteers Australia is directed and supervised by Paul Wilson (see photo), a layman who is employed full-time as the Justice and Peace Officer of the Australian Augustinian Province.

It is anticipated that the Augustinian Volunteers program in coming years will also have provision for full-time members who will live in an Augustinian Volunteers lay community for twelve months, as already occurs within Augustinian Volunteers (U.S.A.). (To read thought-provoking and heart-warming reports from some of the current Augustinian Volunteers U.S.A., click here.)

Augustinian Volunteers Australia invites interested young adults to assist its future planning by completing the obligation-free survey attached to this web site.

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

Augnet: what's new?!

Augnet, a comprehensive web site on Saint Augustine and the Order of Saint Augustine, was fully redesigned and renovated in May 2006.

It now carries 1,398 pages of text, which contain over 1,860 illustrations. The Augnet web site was officially "launched" at a ceremony in Sydney in August 2002, with the Augustinian Prior General from Rome as the guest of honour.

New technical features in the renovated Augnet include a search engine, which searches every page of Augnet for any word or phrase that is nominated by a user, and a site map, which quickly allows a visitor to see and understand the local arrangement of Augnet's sections and sub-sections.

Over 2,750 large images in extensive photo galleries illustrate Augustinian events and places internationally. The photo galleries most recently added illustrate Sydney, Australia, and three galleries of Augustinian ministry in India, London (England) and at the Escorial (Spain), and additional images are regularly added to other galleries whenever they become available.

Since May 2006, over 90,000 separate (distinct) visitors have used Augnet at least once, in a total of 580,000 visits (i.e., an average of over six visits each). These persons have made a total of 1,132,416 Augnet page visits. There was a monthly record of 38,166 visits to Augnet during July 2007, which is an average of 1,210 visits a day. The second-highest monthly tally of 34,936 occurred in April 2008.

On 12th October 2006 Augnet received 1,000 visits within one 24-hour period for the first time. On 16th January 2008 there was a new daily record of 2,353 visits attained.

Because of the international usage of Augnet, the web site has almost an identical usage rate in each of the twenty-four hours of the day, and also equal usage on all days of the week (except for a slight decrease on Saturdays). The average duration per visit is three and one half minutes.

Visit this web site at http://www.augnet.org

Augustinian Ministry Websites 2008

• 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: www.ozemail.com.au/~osasthyarra

• 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/en/default.htm

AUGUSTINIAN CENTRE FOR SPIRITUALITY PROGRAM 2007
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Greystanes 2145
Enquiries 9896 6794
www.augustinians.org.au/communities/greystanes.html