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AUGUSTINIAN BULLETIN BOARD - for February 2009

The love involved in friendship must be gratuitous

The love involved in friendship ought to be gratuitous. I mean, the reason you have a friend, or love one, ought not to be so that he can do something for you; if that’s why you love him, so that he can get you some money, or some temporal advantage, then you aren’t really loving him, but the thing he gets for you. A friend is to be loved freely, for his own sake, not for the sake of something else. If the rule of friendship urges you to love human beings freely for their own sakes, how much more freely is God to be loved, who bids you to love other people!

There can be nothing more delightful than God. I mean, in people there are always things that cause offense; still, through friendship you force yourself to put up with things that offend you in a person, for the sake of friendship. So if you ought not to break the ties of friendship with a human being just because of some things in him you have to put up with, what things should ever force you to break the ties of friendship with God?

You can find nothing more delightful than God. God is not something that can ever offend you, if you don’t offend him; there is nothing more beautiful, nothing more full of light than he is.

St Augustine:  Sermon 385,4

 

The late Fr James E. Bolton O.S.A.

After a number of years of serious illness, Fr James Edward Bolton O.S.A. died at Holy Spirit Home, Carseldine (Brisbane) on 21st December 2008 at the age of seventy-nine years.

May he rest in peace.

His biography appears in the previous news page of this web site.

Copies of his memorial card are available free of charge by contacting the Provincial Office, P.O. Box 679 Brookvale NSW 2100, Australia. Phone: 02 9905 3049, or e-mail: osaadmin@bigpond.com

 

Earthquakes

On 4th-6th January 2009 there was a series of powerful earthquakes centred west of  Manokwari and east of Sorong along the 350 kms of the northern coastline that separates these cities in West Papua, Indonesia. The earthquakes and aftershocks killed four persons and injured over 500 others. According to published reports, the earthquakes displaced an estimated 23,000 people and damaged 6,000 houses, 88 government buildings, a number of tourist hotels, and 67 schools.

At the city of Manokwari, the strongest of these earthquakes measured 7.6 on the ten-point Richter scale of earthquake severity. The area has seen Augustinian presence since Dutch Augustinians arrived there in 1953.  The Order is now represented in the Manokwari district by three Papuan Augustinian priests, who staff a city parish and the jungle parish at Ayawasi that is surrounded by 150 kms of jungle in the hinterland.

Neither diocesan nor Augustinian property was seriously affected by the earthquakes. The greatest damage to church property was to the church at Senopi, a jungle parish between Manokwari and Ayawasi. This church was built decades ago by Fr Martinus van der Kraan O.S.A. and is now staffed by a diocesan priest.

The front wall of this wooden church (pictured above) collapsed.

There are four Dutch and eleven Indonesian Augustinian priests in West Papua, plus a greater number of Augustinian seminarians, novices and postulants. They are Australia's nearest Augustinian neighbours, being closer - for example - to the Augustinian priory in Mareeba, northern Australia, than Mareeba is to Sydney, Australia's largest city.

Augustinian photo galleries named Papua:Aimas, Papua:Ayawasi, Papua:Senopi and Papua:Sorong appear on the web site http://www.augnet.org when you click on http://www.augnet.org/default.asp?ipageid=6

A new Japanese Augustinian Blessed

Monday, 24th November 2008 saw the beatification ceremony of Fr Thomas Jihyoe O.S.A. (Thomas of Augustine) take place in Nagasaki, Japan. By this ceremony, Thomas became a "Blessed" of the Church, which is one step away from his being declared a saint sometime in the future.

Thomas Jihyoe O.S.A. (see statue at right) was born around the year 1600 in Omura, Japan, near Nagasaki. On 6th November 1637, this first Japanese-born Augustinian priest was hung by his feet with his head inserted into a pit of rotting garbage until he died. For more details go to http://www.augnet.org and search for “Thomas Jihyoe.” or to http://www.augnet.org/default.asp?ipageid=756

Augustinians in South Korea

For a more extensive summary elsewhere on this web site of Augustinian involvement in South Korea since the Order's arrival there in 1985, click here. Australian Augustinians were in 1985 part of that first Augustinian group to go to Korea, and one Australian Augustinian serves there still in what is now a semi-autonomous Augustinian Delegation under the auspices of the Australian Augustinian Province.

January 2009 saw two special ceremonies involving Korean Augustinians, the diaconate of Bro. Luca (left) on 8th January, and the reception into novitiate of Bro. Austin (right) on 11th January.

Luca is the fifth Korean-born Augustinian working in Korea to have received the diaconate.Sixty photos of the Order of Saint Augustine in Korea are available on the Internet by selecting the photo gallery named Korea after you click on http://www.augnet.org/default.asp?ipageid=6


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. Since the opening of the parish's John Barry Library on 11th May 2008, the library's facilities have been increased.

The intention is to further expand the interest in and access to the John Barry Library (pictured above) in 2009. A dedicated team, led by Mary McCormick, is preparing to explore means of attracting more parishioners and others from the broader community to use the facilities of the library.

The parish website is: www.ozemail.com.au/~osasthyarra


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.

The 2009 academic year has begun with the College's maintaining its high enrolment numbers.

During the recent summer holidays the large courtyard behind the main (original) building was brought to a common level throughout, and re-landscaped.

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


Villanova College, Coorparoo

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.

The Strategic Planning process (logo below) has become an important part of achieving Villanova's mission as an Augustinian Catholic school.

The generation of this new second round of the five-year Strategic Plan has taken place under the close guidance of the College Council and the Rector (College Principal). It has involved staff, parents and past students as well as research into various educational developments.

This input from parents, staff, and past students has crystallised specific aspirations and projects to achieve over the next five years, and allows the College staff and other volunteer workers within the College community to undertake the detailed planning and work needed to bring these to reality.

The College web site states the following:

"The previous round of strategic planning resulted in major advances such as the Schooling Project and its restorative practices and the three sub-schools, the development of the Cor Unum Centre, the new fields at Villanova Park, the Augustine Centre and its Hanrahan Theatre.

This present round is equally challenging and exciting. We will continue our quest to adapt the schooling boys enjoy at Villanova to their needs at different stages of their development and to support their efforts to achieve the best they can academically and in their personal and spiritual development. We will continue the work to provide facilities and other resources to support these goals.

The new master plan is the backdrop to this plan. We plan to push forward providing staff with the professional development they need to be the best kind of educators for boys in this challenging time."

Read more on the college web site at: http://www.vnc.qld.edu.au

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 parish's Social Justice Group and the local Penrith City Council are inviting parishioners to participate in a Sustainability Street Program for 2009. The program helps participants to cut energy usage, water usage and waste generation, and gives participants the opportunity to meet like-minded fellow-participants in their neighbourhood. The program involves monthly workshops of two hours' duration; these will continue from February to July 2009.

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) in July 2008. It is following up last year's WYD-inspired outreach to youth by further initiatives in 2009.

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In 2009 two young people, Sharon and Cameron, have joined the Family and Youth Ministry team as part-time co-workers within the parish team. Along with Ben (pictured), who is the part-time Youth Music Minister, they will facilitate care and support for young adults.

Thursday nights at the Parish Centre in Manly Vale have now been set aside for events, gatherings, and activities to build-up and strengthen the parish community engaging with its families and youth. There is hope to create an atmosphere where youth can gather for teaching, fun, prayer, food and community, and to create a space for the rest of the community to share their gifts with the young while benefiting from the gifts of the young.

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

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 adjacent Dimbulah parish was added to the pastoral responsibility of the Augustinian pastor of Mareeba a number of years ago.

The annual festival of Santo Niño de Cebu is held on the third Sunday in January. A novena with the rosary and other prayers is said in preparation for the festival. On Sunday 18th January 2009, at the 10.00am Mass in St Thomas’s Church Mareeba, parishioners joined with the Filipino members of the community (see photo).

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.

Augustinian parish priest Rob Greenup presided at Mass and the church was full with many travelling from throughout the diocese to share in the special celebration. The music and singing was truly beautiful with some songs being sung in Tagalog, by members of the Mareeba Filipino community, harmonising beautifully.

After Mass the image of Santo Niño was carried in procession around the church and parish school grounds, with most of the congregation taking part and saying the rosary.

This was followed by beautiful Filipino food, refreshments and friendship, held on the basketball courts of the parish school.

The celebration of the feast day began in Mareeba in January 1985. After 24 years the devotion to Santo Niño by the Filipinos in Mareeba and surrounding areas has never waned. In fact, the numbers have increased over these years with the devotion and prayers touching so many lives. It is becoming more popular not only with the Filipino people but also with the other members of the parish who come from many different cultural backgrounds.

In January 2010 we will celebrate the Silver Anniversary of the feast of Santo Niño and the planning has already begun.

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Augustinian Centre for Spirituality

A small oasis of quiet and hospitality in suburban Sydney, Australia, the Augustinian Centre (see photo below) at Greystanes seeks to assist persons and groups of all faith backgrounds in their spiritual journey.

 

The 2009 programme of prayer days and courses is available on this web site. For the program for 2009, click here.

These gatherings seek to support participants in their spiritual journey. Readers of the Augustinian website are most welcome to attend these courses and prayer days.  If you are interested in coming to any of these please contact Fr Peter Jones OSA at (02) 9896 6794 or peter.jones@augustinians.org.au.

Coming up in February (Tuesday 24th) is a prayer day – Praying with Saint Paul led by Fr Paul Maloney OSA. In this Year of Paul the day will focus on some Pauline texts and themes as an aid in our prayer.

Also during February the Centre will be hosting preparatory courses for those young adults participating in the Augustinian volunteer programme this year. The two courses ( Issues in Social Justice taught by Paul Wilson (Augustinian Social Justice Officer); Augustinian Spirituality for Social Justice taught by Frs Paul Maloney & Peter Jones) have received accreditation from Broken Bay Institute so that for those who wish the courses can be taken for credit.

In addition to the courses those of the young adult volunteers who will undertake the community based full-time volunteer programme this year will also be offered some formative orientation for community living based on Augustinian values.

Anyone interested in the regular meditation meetings at Greystanes is welcome to contact Fr Paul Maloney at the Centre at (02) 9896 6794.

Augustinian Formation Association (A.F.A.)

The AFA prays for and raises funds for the formation of future Augustinians. 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.

To obtain more details about the Augustinian Formation Association, contact Fr L. Mooney O.S.A. (AFA chaplain) or 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.

Leaders of the various Friends' branches met at the Augustinian Centre for Spirituality at Greystanes (Sydney) on the weekend of 7th-9th November 2008 (see photo below).

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 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

Amici is the Friends' newsletter in Australia. 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.

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 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


Augustinian Ministry Websites 2008

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
2 Hewitt Avenue
Greystanes 2145
Enquiries (02) 9896 6794
www.augustinians.org.au/communities/greystanes.html

 

 

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