AUGUSTINIAN BULLETIN BOARD - May 2003

What are we going to do in the resurrection?
Sing alleluia

You'll say to me, "What am I going to do in the resurrection? There will be no functions for the parts of my body to perform; what am I going to do?" Doesn't it strike you as doing anything, just standing, seeing, loving, praising? Look here, these holy days which are being celebrated after the Lord's resurrection, stand for the life that will be ours after our resurrection. You see, just as the forty days of Lent before Easter stood for the difficulties of this mortal life and its troubles, so these happy days stand for the future life, where we will be reigning with the Lord. The life which is represented by the forty days before Easter is the one we now have; the life which is represented by the fifty days after the Lord's resurrection is not now being lived, but hoped for, and in being hoped for is loved. And by that very love God who promised all these things is being praised, and such praises are what alleluia is. Blessed, it says, are those who dwell in your house, Lord; they will praise you forever and ever.

Sermon 243, 8

Congratulations to:

• Kyabram Parish - 100th anniversary of parish. On 1st May 1903 the Kyabram Free Press carried the news that the parish of Kyabram had been established. Previously the area was part of Echuca parish with first Mass celebrated in the first Catholic church of St Monica's Kyabram West on 12th May 1878 (125 years ago). The establishment of the parish in 1903 also marked the beginning of an Augustinian community living in Kyabram.
  
  
• Augustinians in Indonesia Papua - (formally Irian Jaya) - 50th anniversary of Augustinian presence there. In 1953 Augustinians from the Netherlands arrived to begin their ministry. Today there are Indonesian Papuan Augustinians as well as Dutch and Filipino Augustinians working in the region. The Augustinians there are the nearest Augustinian neighbours to Australia.
  
  
• Fr Abel van der Veer osa on being awarded the Australian Service Medal (South East Asia Division) for his service as an air force chaplain in the late 1970's and early 1980's
  
  
• INTERNATIONAL YOUTH GATHERING - GUADARRAMA, SPAIN (near Madrid) 30TH JULY - 5 AUGUST 2003
  
  Augustinian youth gatherings are for people aged 18-28 who have a connection with the Order of St Augustine and who wish to explore their spiritualty in an encounter with people from across the world.
  
  They continue a tradition of encounter and prayer. In light of September 11 and the present troubles in our world the accent in 2003 is on justice in our time and the hope that common purposes, hearts set together on God, and the ministry of the members of our Church across the world might set a better hope for the future. These are themes dear to the hearts of all Augustinians.
  
  For further information please contact Fr Tony Banks osa.
  Email: skabanks@ozemail.com.au
  
  
• MAREEBA NEWS
  
  Rain was not far away when the Easter Vigil Mass began at St Thomas's Church, with Fr Robert Greenup leading the procession and carrying the Easter candle (which had been lit from the fire in the priory grounds) into the darkened church. A large crowd followed, each lighting their candles at the church entrance. During the Mass, Tanya Barker was baptised and Eleanor Gatto, Rebecca Haynes, Vicki Henderson, Elizabeth James and Laurie Toppin were received into the Catholic Church. These six adults have been journeying together in the Adult Catechumenate for many months, along with their sponsors and catechists. We welcome them into our family of faith and ask you to keep them in your prayers.
  
  On Friday 9 May, St Thomas's School is holding a Mothers Day Mass in the church. Mass will start at 11.40am and the school children will be taking an active part in this special Mass. Fr Robert Greenup will be the presider and all parents, friends and parishioners are invited along.
  
  On Sunday 18 May, the Catholic Aborigines of the Mareeba Parish have organised a Bush Mass. This annual event will be held at an ancient camping site of the Muluridji people on the banks of the Barron River near Biboohra. The Mass will begin at 2.00pm, with Fr Robert Greenup presiding, and afterwards there will be an afternoon tea of freshly cooked damper and billy tea. Everyone is most welcome to share in this celebration and maps showing the exact location are available on the table at the back of the church or phone Julie at the priory office on 4092 1077. (Please bring a chair/rug and a mug)
  
  
• AUGUSTINIAN COMMUNITY, MAREEBA
  
  The Augustinians have a long and rich association with the Diocese of Cairns. It began with the arrival of Fr John Hutchinson O.S.A. and his two companions at Cooktown in 1884.
  
  Subsequently, the Augustinian presence extended to all the existing mainland parishes of the Diocese. Today, however, the Parishes of Mareeba and Dimbulah are the only parishes in the Diocese, which are still served by the Augustinians.
  
  With this background, St Thomas's Priory, Mareeba is now offering an opportunity for single men to experience a period of simple community life in the Augustinian tradition with time for prayer, parish work, recreation and personal pursuits.
  

For further information contact:

Robert Greenup O.S.A.
PO Box 308,
Mareeba, Queensland 4880
Phone: 07 4092 1077
Fax: 07 4092 3170
Email: stthomas@ledanet.com.au

AUGUSTINIAN CENTRE FOR SPIRITUALITY PROGRAM 2003
2 Hewitt Avenue
Greystanes 2145
Enquiries 9896 6794
www.augustinians.org.au/communities/greystanes.html