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AUGUSTINIAN BULLETIN BOARD - for December 2009 The primacy of love
When the apostles urged upon us the absolute primacy of love, they could only be belching forth what they themselves eaten.
The Lord himself, in fact, feeding them on the word of truth, the word of love, which he is himself, the living bread which came down from heaven, said, A new commandment I give you, that you should love one another. And again, By this shall everybody know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.
He came to put an end to the corruption of the flesh by the mockery he endured on the cross, and to unfasten the old chain of our death by the newness of his death; and so he made the new person with a new commandment. It was, after all, an old matter, stale news, that people should die. To prevent this prevailing over humanity forever, a new thing was done, that God should die. But because he died in the flesh, not in his divinity, through the everlasting life of his divinity he did not permit the destruction of the flesh to be everlasting.
And so, as the apostle says, He died on account of our transgressions, he rose again on account of our justification. So because he has brought the newness of life into action against the oldness of death, he himself sets a new commandment against the old sin. Any of you, then, who wish to extinguish the old sin, douse cupidity with the new commandment, and embrace love. Just as cupidity, you see, is the root of all evils, so in the same way is love the root of all good things.
St Augustine: Sermon 350,1... Ronald Francis Bopf O.S.A. - R.I.P. On 7th December 2009 the death occurred in Brisbane of Fr Ronald Bopf O.S.A., at the age of eighty-five years. He had been a member of the Augustinian Order for fifty-eight years, and a priest for fifty-four years.
He was born on 7th September 1924 at Hughenden, Queensland, and received his education from Catholic schools in Ipswich, Queensland, before attending Queensland Teachers Training College in Brisbane. Upon graduation he volunteered in 1942 for the Royal Australian Air Force, and saw active war service as a radar technician on forward RAAF bases in New Guinea and the Pacific. After the World War, he availed himself of a demobilisation scholarship to study for a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Queensland in 1946-1948. He then used his teaching qualifications at Boonah State School in 1949, and in 1950 became an Augustinian novice. Sent to the United States for his priestly studies, he was ordained a priest there in 1955. He returned to Australia in mid-1956, joined the teaching staff at St Augustine’s College at Brookvale (Sydney) in 1957, and remained there for seventeen years. In 1974, after renewal study in Italy and Ireland, he was transferred to Villanova College at Coorparoo (Brisbane) in 1975. After taking a library science course in 1976 at the Queensland Institute of Technology, in 1977 he was appointed audio-visual co-ordinator at Villanova in 1978, a position he held until his retirement in 1998, at the age of seventy-four years. With seriously declining health but with his mind as lucid as ever, he moved to permanent residential care at St Mary’s Hostel, Raceview, Ipswich in December 2007. He died in hospital at Brisbane on 7th December 2009. R.I.P. Fr Harry Leahy O.S.A. – R.I.P.
Fr Harold (“Harry) Leonard Leahy O.S.A. (see photo below) died in Dublin on 13th November 2009 at the age of 95 years. Until that moment, he had the distinction of being the living Augustinian who had begun serving in Australia the longest time ago, i.e., in 1937.
In October 1937 he arrived in the Vicariate of Cooktown (now the Diocese of Cairns) in far north Queensland, Australia. He first served for two years at Innisfail, and then for four years at Mareeba. Mareeba was then the starting point of the Gulf Mission, which meant that, as the junior priest there, Fr Leahy had the task during the dry season of making five-week journeys of priestly visitation by truck into the Gulf Country as far west as Normanton and Burketown.
During the Second World War, he was assistant priest at Tully for three years. In 1946 he became the Parish Priest there, and in 1949-1950 was Parish Priest of Mossman, north of Cairns. He was then re-assigned to Dublin, Ireland, and served there until his retirement two years ago.
As has happened again subsequently during his years of ministry in Dublin, Fr Leahy is remembered in far north Queensland particularly for his unfailing courtesy and kindness, his graciousness and his exemplary dedication to whatever ministry was assigned him.
May he rest in peace.
On 14th-15th November 2009 a weekend of celebrations at Tongala, in the former Augustinian Parish of Kyabram, Victoria, marked the hundredth anniversary of St Patrick’s Church and the fiftieth anniversary of St Patrick’s School. Augustinian friars and Brigidine Sisters returned to the parish for the festivities. (The Augustinian Order withdrew from the parish at the end of January 2006.)
There was a display in the Tongala Hall on the Saturday afternoon, 14th November, and a jubilee dinner there that evening. A Mass, at which Bishop Joe Grech was the principal concelebrant, was held on Sunday morning.
The celebrations ended by a barbecue in the school grounds, on a day when the temperature reached 40 degrees Celsius. The cutting of the jubilee cake at the BBQ was jointly done by Sr Mary Lacey CSB (formerly Mother Ignatius) who was the first principal of St Patrick’s School in 1959, by Fr David Austin O.S.A. as the last Augustinian Pastor of the area, and by a female parishioner who was one of the first students at the school.
In speeches throughout the two days, the Augustinian contribution to the Church in Tongala was frequently praised, and the late Fr J. L. (“Larry”) Meagher O.S.A. was especially mentioned as the Pastor who in 1959 agreed to the parishioners’ request for a Catholic school at Tongala.
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.
The event was named One Mind, One Heart (see poster), inspired by these words of St Augustine about community.
Through the Concert and related donations, over $12,000 was raised, which will be used by Caritas Australia to assist disaster victims and reconstruction in affected areas of Samoa, Indonesia, the Philippines, Vietnam and Cambodia.
The very modern web site of Holy Spirit Parish is located on the Internet at http://www.holyspiritstclair.com.au
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 of St Augustine has ministered in the parish since 1976.
The Day of Refection took place on Saturday, 31st October 2009, and some parishioners from South Yarra will traveled to Kyabram for the day to show support and solidarity with the people in Northern Victoria.
Fr Buckley spoke on the topic of the Common Good in the thought of St Augustine, and on the recent papal encyclical, Caritas in Veritate.
The South Yarra parish website is located at: http://www.parishofsouthyarra.org.au
In this part of Australia, the Augustinians began their pastoral leadership in Manly Vale in 1952 and at Balgowlah in 2004.
In its liturgies the parish practices "Advent waiting" by refraining from singing carols until Christmas night. However, the community will anticipate Christmas at a Carols Night in the grounds of St Kieran’s School at Manly Vale on Friday evening, 4th December 2009 at 7.00.pm. All are welcome to bring a chair or rug to sit on, and a willing voice.
The parish web site is http://northharbour.catholicau.com/index.html
The family and youth ministry of the parish has its own special website. Go to
Villanova is a college (an upper primary and secondary school which enrolled approximately 1,160 male day pupils for the 2009 academic year) of the Order of Saint Augustine at Coorparoo in Brisbane, Australia.
In December 2009 Fr Michael Morahan O.S.A. will complete his term of office as Rector (Principal) of Villanova College. His fifteen years in this role was lengthier than that of any of his six Augustinian predecessors.
The ceremony included a Mass (see photo at right), a tour of the wetlands rehabilitation area, and dinner. The event was co-sponsored by the Villanova Parents and Friends Association, Sports Club, Music Support Group and Old Boys Association. Past parents and friends of the College were also present.
In the final Parents Newsletter for 2009, Fr Morahan expressed thanks to all who have assisted him over the past fifteen years. Mr Dennis Harvey will become Villanova’s eighth Principal, and its first lay Principal, on 1st January 2010.
In appreciation of Fr Morahan’s fifteen years of service, the current Chair of the Villanova College Council, Mr Pat Mullins, wrote, “Leaving aside monuments, festivals, sporting facilities, cultural events and academic success, Villanova remains a special and nurturing community of students who love and respect each other and who love and respect their teachers. This is Mike Morahan's greatest contribution to Villanova. We (in the wider Augustinian family) recognise this and are indebted to Mike for it.”
The College's web site is: http://www.vnc.qld.edu.au
Augustinians first went to South Korea in 1985, when 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 training of its Korean-born Augustinians as a primary ministry.
The Korean Augustinian student (seminary) community had a recent outing to Imjingak (see photo below). Imjingak is a symbolic tourist resort representing the painful history of national division and the fratricidal Korean War in the early 1950s. It is only a few kilometers from the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) on the Imjin River which flows south from North Korea.
The resort has many monuments dedicated to the war, including the Bridge of Freedom, which was named after the 12,773 exchange prisoners of war in North Korea who crossed to freedom in the South in 1953. In addition, there is the Bell of Peace, a 21-ton bell made to commemorate a longing for peace and reunification of the Korean Peninsula.
There is even a large pond in the shape of a united Korea. In the rear of the photo can be seen the prayers of visitors written on paper and tied to the fence. In 2010 the Catholic Church will conduct a Youth Rally at the site and offer prayers for unification.
On a less sombre note nearby is Art Valley that was created as an idealistic town for artists, Book City where all the Korean publication firms are gathered, a Soybean Village and a make-believe English Village where as many as 700 students reside to learn the English language.
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.
A small oasis of quiet and hospitality in western suburban Sydney, Australia, the Augustinian Centre for Spirituality at Greystanes (see 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.
Each year the Centre hosts a colloquium for Augustinians. In early November six members of the Order participated in this year’s gathering with the theme will be Spirituality and the practice of self-care. The presenters were Fr John McCall OSA and Dr Alex Nelson. The colloquium focussed on the need to attend to the well-being of the spiritual and emotional dimensions of one’s life.
November is also the month in which the Centre hosts the annual meeting of the National Committee of Augustinian Friends. This year’s meeting spent considerable time in preparing for the forthcoming National Lay Congress. 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.
Next Prayer Day – Tuesday 1st December (9.45am – 2.30 pm) – Preparing a Room for Christ to be born (Prayer for the Advent Season). Facilitated by Fr Paul Maloney OSA. For bookings or more information please contact the Centre at osaspirit@bigpond.com.au or 9896-6794.
All friends of the Centre are invited to an Advent Mass of Thanksgiving to mark the conclusion of the year’s activities, on Monday 7th December at 7.45 pm. (Please RSVP if you are coming - osaspirit@bigpond.com.au or 9896-6794.
The Augustinian Community at Greystanes – Frs Paul Maloney, John McCall, Senan Ward and Peter Jones wish all friends of the Augustinians a happy and holy Christmas and all the best for 2010!
For more information on the Centre, please phone (02) 9896 6749, or e-mail osaspirit@bigpond.com.au
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.
By agreement, the topics discussed were (1) migrants and refugees to Australia, and (2) the emissions trading scheme being debated by the Federal Parliament.
Photo: Front exterior of St James's Church, Coorparoo.
One goal of these electronic conferences is to support the social justice group in each Augustinian parish.
See the parish web site for further details: http://www.stjames-coorparoo.org.au/
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.
The College held a Festival of Carols on Sunday evening, 29th November 2009 at Tolentine Park, which is a grassed area on the college property. It was a community event, advertised in the college newsletter and to the houses in neighbouring streets by a flyer placed in all mailboxes.
Leading the singing was the Carols Choir of staff and students, assisted by St Augustine’s Concert Band.
The College's web site is www.saintaug.nsw.edu.au
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.
Celebrations kicked off on Friday night with joyful reunions, great entertainment and delicious food. The International Club was gaily decorated with balloons and festive garlands. Saturday saw formal speeches of much warmth and congratulations, especially those directed towards the Sisters of Mercy. The concert was varied and entertaining, as was the roll call. Most popular during the day was the “memories room.” The tuckshop did a great trade in café-style foods and the memorabilia sold well.
On Sunday, breakfast was delicious and this was followed by Mass, celebrated by Bishop James Foley, assisted by parish priest, Fr Rob Greenup O.S.A., Fr Tony Banks O.S.A. and Deacon Ralph Madigan.
So many people travelled long distances to attend the centenary celebrations and all declared them a resounding success. The happiness of the weekend was tangible.
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.
It has now fulfilled this role for a number of decades.
Based in Sydney, Australia, its office bearers for 2009 are Trudi McFadden (president), Eddie Robinson (treasurer), Lesley Sing (assistant treasurer) and Yvonne Clark (secretary).
A goal for AFA in 2009 is to seek ways of expanding its membership, especially seeing that the number of Augustinian students in formation is increasing, meaning that additional support would be very timely.
The annual AFA end-of-year celebration was held at the Warringah Golf Club on Saturday evening, 28th November 2009. A schedule of activities for 2010 will be announced shortly.
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 further information, contact any of the Augustinian parishes listed hereunder, or telephone 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:
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
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 of 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.
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.)
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,
Augustinian Ministry Websites 2009
FOR SOME CURRENT NEWS ABOUT THE ORDER OUTSIDE AUSTRALIA Click here
The Augustinian international web site is: http://www.osanet.org/home.asp?language=EN AUGUSTINIAN CENTRE FOR SPIRITUALITY
PROGRAM 2009
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The Mass was followed by the blessing of a jubilee garden located between the church and the school. The garden features a tiled representation of a combination of Augustinian and Brigidine logos (see photo), which was designed by local parishioner Maria Radenov.
To join Caritas Australia in assisting the victims of the recent earthquakes and typhoons in the Asia-Pacific region, Basic Gift, which is the young adult group of Holy Spirit Parish, planned and conducted a Pacific Aid Appeal Carpark Concert at the parish for seven hours on Saturday, 31st October 2009. It featured pop music bands and cultural performing groups from the local area, including some persons who are members of the parish.
A Day of Reflection for Kyabram, Victoria
(see photo at right) by the Victorian Augustinian Friends group was led by Fr Brian Buckley O.S.A., parish priest at South Yarra. The Parish of Kyabram had been administered by the Augustinians from its inception in 1903 until 2006, and at one time Fr Buckley had been parish priest there. 
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. 
One particular ceremony of acknowledgment and thanks to Fr Morahan took place on Saturday, 21st November 2009 at the Cor Unum Centre at Villanova Park, which is the College’s sporting complex at Tingalpa. 
Four teachers from St Augustine’s College, Brookvale (Sydney) participated in a retreat at the Centre in late November (see photo). Such retreats are offered to support the staff in their witness to the Augustinian charism, and in their own personal faith journey.
St James’s Parish was one of the Augustinian parishes in eastern Australia that participated in the third annual tele/video conference conducted by the Augustinian Justice and Peace Office, Sydney. This took place on the evening of 25th November 2009. The event was open to all parishioners.
The In Contact newsletter of the parish reported that the centenary of St. Thomas of Villanova Parish School at Mareeba was celebrated in fine style on the weekend of 9th-11th October 2009. Since Rev. Mother Gertrude brought the Sisters of Mercy to the town in 1909, Mareeba has seen both good and bad times, but the “Convent school” prospered and now boasts 400 plus students and an entirely lay staff.
The Augustinian Formation Association prays for and raises funds for the formation of current Augustinian candidates and for future Augustinians. 
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.
