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AUGUSTINIAN BULLETIN BOARD – for September 2008

Choose the hard things, which will bring you ease
and rest without end forever

Don’t let God’s chastisements get you down, or else God may leave you alone so that you perish forever.

But we should beg God to soften the blows, and so moderate them that we don’t collapse; and we should beg God to correct us for our salvation, according to our measure, and to pay up afterward what God has promised to the saints.

So let us stick it out, this saving medicine from God, and let us not run away from the scourge. That’s what God’s teaching us with, that’s what God’s warning us with, that’s how God’s building us up with.

St Augustine:  Sermon 113A, 14x


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 (photo below).

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

St Augustine’s College at Brookvale (Sydney) was 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.

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 3 young Indian Augustinians present. As well, three other Asia-Pacific nations were represented 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.

He is survived in Ireland by 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.

His full obituary appeared here last month. May he rest in peace.

 

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.

Internationally, the feast of St Augustine is celebrated on 28th August each year.

Around that time the College celebrates St Augustine by having its annual Patron's Day.

The event this year was held on Friday, 29th August, and on this occasion involved a Eucharist on campus at the Brimson Centre (photo above) for all staff and students, and a fund-raising walkathon for the students.

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


Villanova College, Coorparoo

Villanova, the college (an upper primary and secondary school for over 1,000 male day pupils) of the Order of Saint Augustine in Brisbane, Australia, was once again this year the host of the Queensland Catholic Schools and Colleges Musical Festival (QCMF), which Villanova confidently began eighteen years ago.

Conducted at Villanova over three days, 15th – 17th August 2008, the QCMF this year attracted 250 entries from eighty different Catholic schools. Five hundred work shifts at QCMF were filled by Villanova paresnts, staff, students and past pupils, and this was greatly appreciated by the QCMF Planning Committee.


Photo: Hanrahan Theatre, Villanova College.

Dr Peter Morris, the Director of Music at Villanova, publicly thanked the members of the Villanova staff, parent body and students who gave a hand during the very busy three days of the festival. He added, "I am confident that in the eyes of all of our guests Villanova was again seen as a very special place."

Villanova itself had 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.

The Villanova ensembles performed well, and received 14 gold medals, seven silver medals, and two bronze medals.

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.

St Thomas of Villanova Church, Mareeba.

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.

During July the Centre took a short rest as World Youth Day absorbed the energies and enthusiasm of Sydney and then as some members of the Spirituality Team were involved in the Augustinian Youth Encounter at Collaroy.

In late July 2008 Fr Paul Maloney travelled to Ballarat to guide the retreat for the Nazareth Sisters community there.

In early August the Centre welcomed three staff members from St Augustine’s College, Brookvale as part of the ongoing programme of retreats for staff from the Order’s colleges. (see photo).

The weekend of 22nd – 24th August was a particularly busy one for Fr Paul. On the Friday evening he presided at Eucharist and gave a talk on St Monica to a gathering of Augustinian Friends at North Harbour parish. On the weekend he travelled to Newcastle with Fr Laurence Mooney where there was a 20th anniversary (of the foundation of the Augustinian community at Newcastle 1988-1994) gathering which was well attended by friends and supporters of the Augustinians during the Newcastle years.

On 26th August the Centre hosted a prayer day based on the Lectio Divina method of praying the Scriptures. This day will be repeated as bookings filled up early and others would also like the opportunity.

Finally, at the end of August the group named Augustinian Volunteers gathered at Greystanes for Mass, a meal and a chance to prayerfully reflect on their volunteer experience. The gathering will be a regular part of the Augustinian volunteer programme.

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 their annual Mass and lunch on Sunday, 31st August 2008.

The Mass was in St Kieran's Church at Manly Vale (Sydney), and the luncheon in the parish centre.

To obtain more details about the Augustinian Formation Association generally, 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 being shared by Ruth McGowan and Maureen Atkins of northern Victoria, 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 on Friday night, 22nd August 2008. Father Paul Maloney celebrated Mass, and then gave a short talk on St Augustine's lifelong relationship with St Monica, his mother.

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.

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 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.

A special paraliturgy took place in the parish church for the feast of St Augustine on Thursday evening, 28th August 2008. As well as prayers led by Fr Brian Fitzpatrick O.S.A. (parish moderator) and Scripture readings, there was a mime of the life of Augustine performed by the young adults of the parish.

This mime had earlier been performed to great acclaim at the Augustinian International Youth Encounter at Collaroy (Sydney) last month (see photo at left).

Young adult and youth activities are particularly vibrant in Holy Spirit Parish.

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.

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 the outgoing parish priest 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




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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