AUGUSTINIAN BULLETIN BOARD - May 2004

The newly baptized exhorted to live good Christian lives

You have been singing a new song, infantes, so recently made new by him; and we have been singing it with you, because we have been redeemed at the same price. Let me now admonish you as fraternal charity demands; not only you, but all those who are listening; admonish you as your brother and your father; as your brother, because one mother Church gave birth to us all; as your father because it was I who begot you through the gospel.

Live good lives, my most dearly beloved children, so that you may get good results from receiving such a great sacrament. Let vices be corrected, behaviour well ordered, virtues cultivated. May each of you be attended through life by devotion, holiness, chastity, humility, sobriety; so that as you offer such fruits to God, he may delight in you, and you in him. May I too have joy from the fulfilment of your hope, when I see in you the fruits with which my hope is regarded.

Love the Lord, because he loves you; pay frequent visits to this mother who bore you. Consider what this mother has conferred upon you, joining creatures to the creator, making slaves into children of God..., making the devil's henchmen into Christ's brothers and sisters. You won't show yourselves ungrateful for these immense benefits received from her, if you show her the proper consideration of your presence. Nor can any of you hope to have God as a gracious Father, if you neglect the Church as your mother.

Sermon 255A, 2

DAVID BRIMSON OSA
25th August 1916 - 17th April 2004

In the late hours of the evening of Saturday, 17th April, Fr David Brimson died at Nazareth House, Wynuum, Brisbane. Dave was born in Brisbane in 1916. His mother died when the family was quite young so Dave took on the responsibility of helping his father look after a younger sister and brother.

While working in the Queensland Public Service in Far North Queensland he met the Augustinians at Gordonvale in the Cairns diocese. He applied to join the Order and together with Bernard Connolly made the perilous wartime sea journey across the Pacific in order to travel to the Augustinian novitiate in the United States. Dave professed his first Augustinian vows on 10th September, 1943. After studies at Villanova University and the Catholic University of America he was ordained in Washington on 8 June, 1948.

Fr Dave returned to Australia in early 1950 being appointed the Novice Master of the first novitiate of the Order to be opened in Australia at Whinstanes, Brisbane. While at Whinstanes Fr Dave also taught at Villanova College which was then located there. In 1954 the novitiate with Fr Dave moved to Rochester, Victoria. His time as Novice Master would came to an end with an appointment as the founding Rector of St Augustine's College, Brookvale.

When Cardinal Gilroy entrusted the new parish of Manly Vale to the Augustinians in 1952 it was on the condition that the Order open a boys' Catholic school in the area. In February 1956 St Augustine's College opened with a staff of two Augustinians and 65 students. From the earliest, simple and austere beginnings the school is now a thriving educational presence in the local area. Fr Dave was the Rector of the school for the first nine years (1956-1964). In recognition of his unique place in the College the new hall opened in 2003 was named the Brimson Centre.

Fr Dave was parish priest of St Joseph's parish at Parramatta in Cairns from 1965 to 1971.

In early 1971 he returned to Sydney this time being appointed to St Kieran's parish, Manly Vale. His ministry was in the parish until early 1975 when he began a four year ministry of giving retreats and seminars throughout Australia including remote regional areas. During this time (1975 to 1978) his home base remained at Manly Vale.

In early 1979 Fr Dave moved to Brisbane where for the next twelve years he was Catholic Chaplain at Griffith University and Mt Gravatt College of Advanced Education. During this time he lived at the Augustinian parish at Coorparoo (St James) except for a period of time at the Order's priory at Clayfield (1983-1986). In 1997 Fr Dave moved to Villanova Priory until 2001 when poor health necessitated his move to Nazareth House at Wynuum in Brisbane. In this period of his life he remained alert and was keenly interested in what was taking place at St Augustine's College, Brookvale which remained close to his heart. Although he was not able to travel to Sydney for the opening of the Brimson Centre he was able to pre-record a filmed message which was shown at the opening on St Augustine's Day, 2003. The College Principal, Mr Tim Cleary afterwards visited Fr Dave to show him a recording of the opening celebrations.

Earlier this year Fr Dave's health deteriorated significantly. When it came his death was peaceful. May Fr Dave rest in God's peace.

• Welcome to Br Jeong Jin Young (Linus) osa from Korea who arrived in Australia in late April. In July, he will begin studies for a Masters degree in Theology at the Catholic Institute of Sydney. Br Linus, who is preparing for ordained ministry, will be a member of the Brookvale community while in Australia.

• Prayers are requested for the Augustinians in Australia as we prepare for our forthcoming Mid-Chapter (11-16 July 2004) which will take place in Sydney.

• Augustinian Friends Second National Congress of Augustinian Laity - Brookvale NSW 2004 - from Friday 1 October 2004 to Sunday 3 October 2004. See flyer link

• Augustinians involved in parish ministry met in Sydney in late April to reflect on this significant area of the Order's ministry in Australia. They looked at a variety of models of parish ministry. Guest speakers included Bishop Michael Malone (Bishop of Maitland-Newcastle) and Fr Gerry Iverson (Parish Priest, Greystanes)

LECCETO COMMUNITY 2004

The Augustinians annually invite young people to come together and form a community based around the ideals and the Rule of Life established by St Augustine in the fourth / fifth century. These values are timeless in their application and are good for men and women who want to come together in mutual respect to spend time with others intent upon their God and seeking unity of heart and mind. The community caters for people in the workplace and for those who are taking time off from work for fulltime studies. Using common funds and setting time aside in busy lives for prayer, contemplation and service the community nurtures each other and challenges each one as to their ability to be there for others and for God. Please contact Fr Tony Banks osa who will guide the community in 2004. You will also be supported by the Augustinian sisters and brothers in the Brookvale area. Fr Tony is available on
Phone (02) 9938 0207 Mobile 0418 200 410
E-mail tonybanks@augustinians.org.au

Click here to view the Leccetto Flyer (pdf)

FATHER DAVID BRIMSON

The autobiography of Fr. David Brimson OSA, founding rector of St. Augustine's College, Brookvale, NSW was published in May 2003.

"Brim-Full Memories" tells the story of David Brimson's childhood in Brisbane, his youth during the Second World War, entry and training in the Augustinian Order and his eventful life as a priest.

Now in retirement at Nazareth House, Brisbane, David Brimson has looked back over his long experience of ministry and given us this interesting story in 56 pages, supported by numerous photographs.

Cost is $14 incl. postage in Australia.
Order from Augustinian Press, P.O. Box 679, Brookvale NSW 2100 (osaadmin@bigpond.com.)

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 2004
2 Hewitt Avenue
Greystanes 2145
Enquiries 9896 6794
www.augustinians.org.au/communities/greystanes.html

The Augustinians wish all our website visitors a joyful and peaceful Easter