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AUGUSTINIAN BULLETIN BOARD – for November 2008

Washed clean in the Lord’s Prayer

When you do wrong you think you are good because you are unwilling to see yourself as you are. You blame others, you don’t look at yourself; you accuse others, you don’t think about yourself; you place others before your eyes, you place yourself behind your back.

When I accuse you, I do the opposite. I take you from behind your back, and put you down in front of your eyes. You will see yourself and bewail yourself. There will be no more time then for you to correct yourself.

So then, despise the times of mercy and the time of judgment that will come. Because you have been singing to me in church. Mercy and judgment I will sing to you, O Lord. Now is the time of mercy, for us to correct ourselves; the time for judgment has not yet come. There is space, there’s room; we have sinned, let us correct ourselves. The journey is not yet over, the day has not yet drawn to a close, we have not yet breathed our last.

There is no need to despair, which is worse than anything, because on account of those human and pardonable sins, the more frequent the more trivial they are. God has established in the Church set times for requesting mercy, a daily  medicine of our saying Forgive us our debts, as we too forgive our debtors; so that washing our faces with these words we may share together in the body and blood of Christ.

St Augustine:  Sermon 17,5

 

Australian Augustinian Parishes Symposium

On 23rd-25th October 2008 representatives of those involved in leadership and ministry in the five Augustinian parishes in Australia - Mareeba/Dimbulah (photo, below left), Coorparoo, North Harbour, St Clair and South Yarra - gathered at the Chevalier Resource Centre, Kensington, NSW for the conference Building the City of God-Augustinian Parishes Planning for the Future.

The sixty-two participants included parish pastoral council members, parish ministry teams, parishioners actively involved in parish ministry, Augustinians in parish ministry, and members of the Augustinian Parishes Commission responsible for overseeing the symposium.

Those attending appreciated the opportunity of reflecting on what it is to be an Augustinian parish in the contemporary Australian church. They also valued meeting with people from other Augustinian parishes in Australia.

Mareeba/Dimbulah participantsSymposium lecturers

The symposium featured two keynote addresses: -  A reflection on a renewed sense of parish leadership and ministry in the present realities of the Church in Australia by Fr Orm Rush (St Paul’s Theological Seminary, Brisbane) and The Augustinian Parish by Fr Tony Banks OSA (Provincial) - see photo, above right.

Presentations by the various parish groups as well as what emerged in discussion provided further material for participants to consider. The various parishes and the Augustinian Parishes Commission will continue to consider the implications of the insights of the gathering.

 

Asia-Pacific Augustinian Conference

A number of male and female Religious Orders who constitue the Augustinian family in the Asia-Pacific keep in contact with one another through the Asia-Pacific Augustinian Conference (APAC). The tenth triennial APAC Convention took place near Manila, Philippines on 27th-31st October 2008.

APAC Convention 2008

Over fifty Augustinian men and women (see photo above) representing members in twelve nations participated. Members of the Order of St Augustine attended from Australia, India, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, the Philippines and Thailand.

Elected as APAC President for 2008-2011 was Fr Tony Banks O.S.A., (Australian Provincial). The previous APAC president was Fr Michael Sullivan O.S.A., an Australian Augustinian who is now ministering in South Korea for his twenty-third year.

 

A new Japanese Augustinian Blessed

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

KintsubaThomas Jihyoe O.S.A. (see statue at left) was born around the year 1600 in Omura, Japan, near Nagasaki. His parents, both teachers of the Christian religion, were killed for the Faith.

In 1622 he went to Manila, Philippines to enter the Augustinian Order. He took his religious vows in 1624, and then became an Augustinian priest.

After failing several times to obtain the permission of his superiors to return to Japan, he finally returned there in 1631, and ministered in secret. He brazenly obtained a position in the administration of the Governor of Nagasaki under the name Kintsuba ("golden sword").

When Thomas had to flee the city of Nagasaki, he ministered from a hillside cave, and became the object of a famous search by the soldiers of the Governor. Finally, in 1637 a group of soldiers detained him, and he then underwent cruel torture.

On 6th November 1637 he 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

Former Augustinian Church, Innisfail

Friday, 24th October 2008 saw the re-opening of the repaired and refurbished church of the Mother of Good Counsel at Innisfail in northern Queensland. Present on the joyous occasion were local Bishop of Cairns, sixteen priests (including two visiting Augustinians), Marist Brothers, Sisters of the Good Samaritan, and a large congregation.

The church had been seriously damaged by the most destructive cyclone in the Innisfail region since 1918, when Cyclone Larry late in March 2006 featured wind gusts in excess of 300 kilometres per hour.

For people with Augustinian associations, Innisfail is remembered as an area where all of the Catholic churches and most of the Catholic schools were built during the continuous Augustinian presence there from 1898 to the 1990s.

The Church of the Mother of Good Counsel (pictured at left) in Innisfail was completed in 1928 by the legendary Father Martin Michael Clancy O.S.A.

The destructive Cyclone Larry in March 2006 blew in some of the leadlight windows along the eastern side of the church.

As well, a part of the vertical section of the magnificent marble altar of 1928 was toppled and smashed, some roofing iron was torn away, and a number of cross beams shifted. The current renovations also prompted modifications to support the the liturgical changes in sanctuary design since 1928.

In 2006 the Australian Augustinian Province and various Augustinian parishes and schools in Australia were among those who donated to the cyclone relief funds for the people of Innisfail.

Reunion at Newcastle

There was an Augustinian community based at Cook’s Hill, Newcastle (200 kilometres north of Sydney, NSW) from 1988 to 1994. Three Augustinians served there: Fr Paul Maloney throughout, Fr Laurence Mooney from 1988 to 1991, and Fr John Murray from 1991 to 1994.

On 23rd August 2008, a 20th anniversary reunion (photo at right) was held by an ongoing Augustinian prayer group in Newcastle, with Frs Maloney and Mooney returning to Newcastle to attend. Among those present was Kathleen Smith. She was one of the founding members of the prayer group, and has been its leader since 1994.

About the reunion, she commented, "Today there were times of deep silence when everyone was meditating or listening to the beautiful words of Saint Augustine on prayer, and there were moments when waves of sound rose and fell as friends chatted and laughed over cups of tea and coffee. The wonderful shared memories were a poignant reminder of Augustinian love, friendship and hospitality."

"Today was amazing - although much water had flowed under the bridge time seemed to stand still. As one poet expresses it, 'When you meet love, Time stands still for a gaze of eternity.' "


Images of 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.

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

 

St Augustine’s College, Sydney

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

The Senior students are at present in the midst of their public examinations for the Higher School Certificate. We wish them well.

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


Villanova College, Coorparoo

Villanova is a college (an upper primary and secondary school for over 1,000 male day pupils) of the Order of Saint Augustine at Coorparoo in Brisbane, Australia.

Students of the College conducted the fourth annual Villa Visions Art Show in the lower Hanrahan Theatre of the Lecceto Arts Centre during 17th-18th October 2008. On display were paintings, prints, masks, "chalk toons" and digitally-projected electronic artworks.

In assistance to Mr Jason Lane (visual arts staff) and the arts students involved, the Year 11/12 hospitality students served food and refreshments during the Friday evening formal exhibition, and the Senior String Quartet provided musical ambience.

The Villa Visions art show also raised funds for the initiatives in the Philippines of AFAS, the College's Australian-Filipino Augustinian Solidarity group.

The parents' newsletter called Villa Visions "a creative success."

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


60th Anniversary of Villanova Players

The Villanova Players celebrated a 60th anniversary with Mass on Saturday evening, 18th October 2008. It took place in St James's Church, Coorparoo (Brisbane), which has been in the care of the Augustinians since 1952.

St James's Church, Coorparoo

One of the co-founders of the Villanova Players was the late Fr John Louis Hanrahan O.S.A., who at that time was a staff member at Villanova College, Coorparoo. He was also briefly a director of plays from the Villanova Players, under the nom de plume of John George.

At the 60th Anniversary Mass, the presider was Most Rev John Bathersby D.D., Archbishop of Brisbane and a patron of the Villanova Players. He complimented the organisation on its longevity, and paid tribute to Fr Hanrahan and to other Augustinians who assisted the Villanova Players on its road to success.

The Villanova Players (initially named the Tara Players) have presented plays (usually four per year) continuously since 1948. Their website is http://www.villanovaplayers.com/


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.

On Sunday, 7th September 2008 the 48th annual celebration of Our Lady of the Chain began at St Thomas of Villanova Church in Mareeba with a Mass at 2.30pm. The Church was filled to overflowing with people coming from far and wide to share in this special celebration.

Fr Rob Greenup OSA (on left in photo) concelebrated Mass with diocesan priests, Fr John Newman and Fr Greg Moses. The singing was led by the Italian choir.

Following Mass, the statue of Our Lady of the Chain was wheeled round the main streets of Mareeba, followed by a large crowd saying the Rosary. The day continued with a barbecue and entertainment on the school oval and culminated with a magnificent fireworks display.

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Augustinian Centre for Spirituality

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

During October 2008 Fr John McCall O.S.A. presented the course, Our Real Journey in Life is Interior. The focus was to explore what is most significant in our lives, that which gives life its deepest meaning. A number of people from the local area participated in the course and appreciated the opportunity to reflect on the place of spirituality in their lives.

Throughout each year, the resident Augustinian community offers spiritual direction, reflection days, courses in prayer, meditation and personal development, and individual residential directed retreats.

Each Monday evening the Centre hosts a group of people who come for meditation. Led by Fr Paul Maloney O.S.A., the group follows the Christian Meditation method as developed by Fr John Main O.S.B. and later by Fr Laurence Freeman O.S.B. The method involves the use of a mantra word to support a non-discursive meditative approach.

These meetings at Greystanes commence with a short teaching from the writings of John Main, followed by a half-hour period of meditation. The prayer ends with the opportunity for participants to share with one another any insights from the experience of meditation.

Anyone interested in the regular meditation meetings at Greystanes is welcome to contact the Centre at (02) 9896.6794 or Fr Paul Maloney at paulmal@bigpond.com.au .

Presently the Spirituality Team is working on the 2009 programme of prayer days and courses. Stay tuned to "Current News" here as more information on that programme comes to hand.

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 .

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 2008 are Trudi McFadden (president), Eddie Robinson (treasurer), Lesley Sing (assistant treasurer) and Yvonne Clark (secretary).

The most recent event of the AFA was an excursion on 28th September 2008 to the monastery of the Benedictine Nuns at Jamberoo, south-west of Sydney.

Mass was celebrated for the excursion members in the beautiful monastery chapel (photo at left) by Fr L. Mooney.

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.

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.

Augustinians in South Korea

For a summary elsewhere on this web site of Augustinian involvement in South Korea since the Order's arrival there in 1985, 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 9896 6794
www.augustinians.org.au/communities/greystanes.html

 

 

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