<February 2008>

He shows you the man in himself; he is keeping the God in him for you. And just notice how he is keeping the God for you, after showing you the man in him. Whoever loves me, he says, keeps my commandments. Whoever loves me will be loved by my Father, and I myself will love him. And as though he were asked, “What will you give the one you love?” he goes on, "and I will show myself to him."

A new commandment I give you, that you should love one another: So let it be this charity, brothers and sisters, that we gulp from the abundance of the spring, this that we take hold of, on this that we are nourished. Grasp firmly what will give you a firm grasp of things. Let charity bring you to truth, charity rear you, charity perfect you, charity stiffen you, so that you may see the seeing of the Word, and that the Word is not one thing, and another his seeing; but that what the seeing of the Word is, that is what the Word is too.

And then perhaps you will readily understand that when he said, The Son cannot do anything except what he sees the Father doing, it was just as if he were to say, “There would be no son, unless he were born of the Father.”

Augustinian Volunteers

The Order of St Augustine in Australia, commonly known as Augustinian Fathers and Brothers, is introducing an outreach of lay women and men to the needy places of ministry in Australia and, in the future, in South-East Asia.

If you are interested in hearing about this concept, you are invited to join the group either to experience what the Volunteers will be about or simply to hear more about the needs of the world and church.

To all Tertiary Students and Workers

Would you like to meet others who are interested in the needs of our planet at present?

The step in Australia will be the offering of a formation and training program. This will occur at the Centre for Augustinian Spirituality at Greystanes in western Sydney from 6th to 27th February 2008.

At this point, there are three young adult volunteers enrolled to train to become volunteers, and three others who will undertake the course solely as a general justice and peace education and awareness-raising.

The course will be grounded in Scripture, theology and social justice principles. With this in mind, it will feature a variety of presenters: Paul Wilson (justice and peace), Peter Jones O.S.A. (Augustinian spirituality), Pat Mullins S.J. who works with indigenous people in outer suburban Sydney, and a number of religious sisters (environmental awareness).

You may also respond by e-mail or on-line as above, or directly to Paul Wilson, Justice and Peace Project Officer Ph. 0438 646 294.

Three Australian Augustinians (photo above), Fathers John Barry O.S.A., Gerald Dullard O.S.A. and Patrick Fahey O.S.A., have this month marked the fiftieth anniversary of their ordination to priesthood in the Roman Catholic Church.

All three celebrated together at St Joseph's Parish, South Yarra (Melborne), where two of them serve. Fr Patrick Fahey also was the guest of a celebration at St Kieran's Church at Manly Vale (Sydney), where he is based.

On these occasions the jubilarians were joined by their fellow Augustinians, local parishioners, friends, and by numerous family members who travelled interstate to be present.

The Augustinians in South Korea rejoice at the ordination to priesthood of Jonah Kim O.S.A. (see photo) in Incheon on 9th January 2008. He first met the Augustinians in 1997, joined the Augustinian Order in 1999, and received diaconate in July 2007.

Jonah has shown a special interest in the needs of young workers and the handicapped. He has an appreciation of fine music.

The choice of his second religious name, Jonah, also reflects something of his understanding of God's call, which, in his case, took a good period of incubation to come to fruition. Like the Old Testament reluctant prophet, he found that the persistent and impelling promptings of the Spirit would not leave him at peace until it found its fulfillment in the vocation of a priest and religious.

One World Week With Augustine

This is an Irish initiative to bring people together to explore some of the spirituality of St. Augustine, to have fun in the process, and to have a sense of being united with others elsewhere in the world who are enjoying a similar experience.

The idea was developed by Kate Everitt, of the Augustinian youth ministry in Drogheda, Ireland from her experience of the One World Week with youth groups. Kate, along with Bernadette Toal and two Irish Augustinians, is organising the project. Already a number of groups in Ireland, England, USA, Australia and Canada have signed up as participants.

Participating groups will undertake to study a particular aspect of the spirituality of St. Augustine, and then celebrate the fruits of their exploration in a Celebration Day. In this they will be united in spirit with other groups celebrating elsewhere during the designated One World Week With Augustine. It is also possible that groups geographically near to one another may come together for this event.

The theme chosen for exploration is friendship in the spirituality of Augustine. Each group will explore the theme in a series of four meetings at any time of their choice between early April and the week of 11th-18th May 2008, using materials that will be prepared and provided by the coordinating committee mentioned above.

Then each group will be invited to hold a celebration day in the week May 11th-18th, 2008. This week was chosen because May 16th is the feast of St Alypius. Groups that are nearby may decide to come together for this celebration day.

Suggestions will be offered for the format of this day, but each group will be free to give it the shape most suitable for itself. It is suggested that each group make some record of the event for circulation to others by whatever means they wish – photos, You Tube video clips, emails, website, print, etc.

Groups can be of any age, and of any range of ages. Persons can enquire about and/or express interest in forming a group to participate by visiting the home page of the Augnet web site http://www.augnet.org by following the prompts.

Enrolment is also possible via the Augnet, and there is also a forum available by clicking on the bottom banner of the Augnet page.

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.

Because Lent begins relatively early this year, the parish has already commenced to promote its 2008 Lenten Program.

The individual units within the 2008 Lenten program will consist of a reading, and reflection of the next Sunday’s Gospel, followed by a session of “Catholics Making a Difference” from the Café series.

“Catholics Making a Difference” is a part of the resource, helping Catholics to explore their faith, through works, witness and word. Each of the seven talks are challenging Catholics to make practical responses in the areas of social action, human rights and sharing the Good News.

As the series is shown on video, the parish will conduct these sessions in the Parish Meeting Room. The groups will be held on Monday Mornings at 10.00 am, Wednesday Evenings at 7.30 pm and Thursday afternoons at 1.30 pm. The first sessions will be on February 4th, 6th and 7th respectively.

It’s all happening! The colossus that will be the ninth international Augustinian Encounter for Young Adults is now over a year into its planning stage. (At left: some of the planning team.)

This Encounter, which will occur at Brookvale and Collaroy on Sydney’s northern peninsula, takes place from Monday afternoon, 21st July 2008 until the morning of the following Sunday.

(Monday 21st July 2008 is the day immediately after the conclusion of World Youth Day 2008 with the Pope's Mass at Randwick.)

It is confidently anticipated that attendance at the Augustinian Encounter will be between 400 and 600 young adults and their Augustinian mentors. Already the following countries have indicated their likely participation: Belgium, England, India, Indonesia, Japan, Nigeria, Panama, Philippines, Puerto Rico, Slovakia and South Korea.

Furthermore, registrations are anticipated from Brazil, Canada, China, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Panama, South Africa, Spain, USA, and Vietnam. In the coming months this list will grow.

Michael Dela Cruz, who attended the meeting of Augustinian Youth Animators in Rome in July 2007, is employed by the Australian Province as the full-time projects officer for World Youth Day (15th – 20th July 2008) and the International Augustinian Encounter (21st-26th July 2008).

Mareeba is located on the tableland behind the tropical tourist city of Cairns, in northern Queensland, Australia.

On Sunday, 20th January 2008 at the 10.00am Mass in St Thomas’s Church at Mareeba, parishioners joined with the Philippine members of the community in celebrating the feast of Santo Nino (the Holy Infant).

This feast is celebrated every year in St Thomas’s. The focus of the feast is on the child Jesus who, together with Mary and Joseph, lived quietly and humbly in preparation for his redemptive mission in the world.

Fr Rob Greenup OSA presided at the Mass in a filled church. The music and singing were truly beautiful. Some hymns were sung in Tagalog, with traditional harmonies.

After Mass the statue of the Santo Nino was carried in procession around the church and parish school grounds, with most of the congregation taking part (see photo).

This was followed by Filipino food, refreshments and friendship. Many people travelled from throughout the Diocese of Cairns to share in this special celebration.

In 2007 St Augustine’s College at Brookvale (Sydney) excelled once again with their results for the Higher School Certificate (involving, among other factors, State-wide public examinations). Five of its students achieved a UAI (University admission index) result in the 90’s.

The 2007 School Captain attained a place in the State-wide all rounders list, thereby receiving a Premier’s Award. The award is given to students who achieve in the top performance band for 10 or more units.

He will be studying sports science and movement at the University of New South Wales. He is a talented footballer who has been targeted as an up-and-coming player for the Sea Eagles professional Rugby League Team.

Each year St Augustine’s College celebrates its students' HSC results with a barbeque on the College grounds. Pictured are the five HSC 2007 Senior students of the College who received UAI’s in the 90’s.

* The College’s Orphanage Project 2007. A daily blog of the infirmary construction project during April 2007 at the orphanage in Bulacan, Philippines is uploaded on the internet. Go to:
http://augustineorphanageproject.blogspot.com

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.

On Sunday, 25th November 2007, a barbeque (see photo) was held in the beautiful garden area between St Joseph’s Church and the Parish Centre.

It was an opportunity for parishioners from St Thomas Aquinas and St Joseph’s, South Yarra to come together in pre-Christmas festive spirit to renew friendships and also to meet new parishioners.

The day was an initiative of the Parish Council, with all members contributing to the success of the day.

Proceeds from the barbeque and raffle enabled Christmas hampers to be distributed to the needy in the community: so the joy of the occasion will spread throughout area.

All in all we were blessed with great weather for the day and parishioners are keen to have another occasion like this soon.

St Joseph’s Emergency Housing Association Inc also made up hampers for those in the units on the parish property that it manages.

The Christmas Day celebrations commenced in the parish with a Family Mass on Christmas Eve and children were asked to dress up as shepherds and angels. A group of young parents prepared the children and guided them in prayer and singing. Many visitors were present at all the Masses.

The parish priest, Fr John Barry O.S.A., celebrated Midnight Mass at St Joseph’s Church, with many remaining for the supper which followed. Masses were celebrated in the morning at both churches in the South Yarra parish. The words of St Augustine “He who sings prays twice” was lived out very much in the parish during this season!

The Catholic Community of North Harbour (a parish conducted by the Augustinians in metropolitan Sydney, Australia) will bring the internationally-acclaimed religious songwriter, guitarist and singer, Jesse Manibusan from Texas, USA to Sydney, Australia in March 2008.

He will be offering a series of liturgical workshops for adults, a youth festival for young adults and educational events for school groups from Monday 24th March to Sunday 30th March 2008 inclusive. These events will take place at St Kieran’s Parish Centre, Manly Vale (Sydney, Australia) and at St Augustine’s College, which is located nearby in Brookvale.

Jesse Manibusan (see photo below) is a pastoral musician in Grapevine, Texas, where he resides with Jodi his wife and their three children.

He engages his audience with a mix of rap, rock, pop, reggae, gospel and other musical styles in order to bring alive the Good News of the Gospel. He holds a master's degree in multicultural ministries from the Franciscan School of Theology in Berkeley, California.

Jesse describes himself a Catholic lay evangelist who uses music, comedy and stories to connect with people. Very much in demand in the United States as a motivational speaker, Jesse’s uplifting message touches all generations.

He says, “God gives us life. We may have disappointments, we may be really angry or depressed. It’s good we can have a moment to say to God, ‘Thank you for life.’”

He has a unique gift of being able to engage and reach out to any audience – at a retreat, or within a large group of adolescents at a youth festival, and with a crowd of 500,000 people who heard him in Toronto during World Youth Day 2002.

A dynamic speaker, Jesse shares from the heart the love of Christ and the call to live out baptism in every aspect of life! He challenge every age group and generation, "You're Catholic, so what?"

Jesse has released a number of CD collections of religious music, and was named Artist of the Year by the United Catholic Music Association (U.S.A.).

Awards and recognition aside, Jesse puts everything in perspective. “It’s not about me,” he said. “It’s about God. And it’s not an issue of whether we believe. It’s an issue that we know God believes. Every time we mess up God says, ‘Get up. I believe in you. Don’t be afraid to be who you are. Get over it. Know who I am. Look to me and see a reflection of yourself.’ This is about God believing in us.”

He says, “Our song is our prayer. So let's pray our words and our deeds point to Christ...anything else and it's just entertainment."

Precise details of specific Jesse Manibusan events, their date and venue during 24th-30th March 2008 are available on a special web site: http://www.realliferealpower.com.au

For the past ten years the Centre for Augustinian Spirituality has been in operation at Greystanes, in western metropolitan Sydney, Australia. Four Augustinians live there in community. Fr Peter Jones O.S.A. (pictured) is the Director of the Centre.

During late November and early December Fr Paul Maloney O.S.A. offered a meditation course at the Uniting Church parish at North Parramatta.

This invitation came about as some members of that congregation had already experienced a similar course at the Centre and there have been enthusiastic responses from participants.

Formally the year’s activities drew to a close at the Centre on the 3rd December 2007 with the celebration of the Eucharist and refreshments that followed. About twenty-five friends of the Centre attended. The Advent theme of hope was an opportunity to reflect on the nurturing of Christian hope in ourselves and in face of global concerns as a key theme of Christian spirituality.

Already a few specific requests have come in as the team gives thought to the courses and reflection days to be offered in 2008.

In that context the Augustinian Spirituality Team based at the Centre invites individuals and Augustinian groups to contact them (osaspirit@bigpond.com.au ) as to ideas you may have with regard to ways the Centre may be able to respond to your needs in 2008.

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 .

Villanova College, Coorparoo

Villanova is an Augustinian day school of over 1,000 male day students in the upper primary and secondary years of education. It began at a smaller location in Whinstanes (Brisbane, Queensland, Australia) on 25th January 1948, and moved to its present site at Coorparoo (Brisbane) in 1954.

Villanova is in its sixty-first year in 2008. More details of its celebration of its sixtieth anniversary will be published here soon.

The Senior (graduating) Class of 2007 has been congratulated for having three of its members achieve an OP 1 result in Queensland-wide academic assessment. Almost half of the Villanova class received OPs in the 1 - 10 range. Of the 103 offers subsequently made to Villanova students last month, ninety were to universities and the remaining thirteen were to TAFE Institutes.

The 2007 Dux of the College was a recipient of the Lord Florey Students Prize, which recognises those students who were among the top five hundred 2007 high school graduates in Australia. Twelve Villanova students in previous years have also received this prestigeous award.

Augustinian Friends is a lay group conducted in Australia for those wishing to learn more about the spirituality of Saint Augustine, 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 position of Co-Leaders of the National Committee is presently being shared by Ruth McGowan and Maureen Atkins of northern Victoria (see photo), and Fr. Paul Maloney O.S.A. is chaplain of the group.

There was a Friends' gathering at St Kieran's Parish Centre, Manly Vale, Sydney (photo above) on Sunday, 18th November. Father Paul Maloney spoke about the present activities of the Order of Saint Augustine throughout the Asia-Pacific. This was preceded by a Mass, and followed by a meal.

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

Amici is the Friends' newsletter. For a 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.

The AFA prays for and raises funds for the formation of future Augustinians. It is based in Sydney. Among its office bearers for 2007 are Trudi McFadden (president), Eddie Robinson (treasurer), Lesley Sing (assistant treasurer) and Yvonne Clark (secretary). Along with two new members, they form the AFA Executive.

A recent AFA event was a weekend bus outing to Bathurst, NSW, (see photo above), which Fr Laurence Mooney O.S.A. (Director of Formation) and four young men in formation also attended.

The most recent AFA event was be the annual end-of-year celebration on Saturday evening, 1st December 2007 in the dining room of the Manly-Warringah Master Builders Club, Dee Why (Sydney).

For more information about the Augustinian Formation Association, contact Fr Laurence Mooney O.S.A. (AFA chaplain) or the staff of the Provincial Office on (w) 02 9905 3049.

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 1,324 pages of text, which also contain over 1,790 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 2,500 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 69,616 separate (distinct) visitors have used Augnet at least once, in a total of 470,380 visits (i.e., an average of seven visits each). These persons have made a total of 920,394 Augnet page visits. There was a monthly record of 37,613 visits to Augnet during July 2007, which is an average of 1,210 visits a day.

On 12th October 2006 Augnet received 1,000 visits within one 24-hour period for the first time. On 21st July 2007 there was a new daily record of 3,804 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.

Augustinian Volunteers

To all Tertiary Students and Workers

Augustinian Ministry Websites 2008