AUGUSTINIAN BULLETIN BOARD - August 2004

Love and the Lord will draw near

Don't look for a high mountain, where you may kid yourself that you are nearer to God. If you lift yourself high up, he withdraws far away from you; if you humble yourself low, he bends down to you. The tax collector stood a long way off, and that made it all the easier for God to draw near to him; he didn't even dare to raise his eyes to heaven, and he already had with him the one who made heaven. So how are we to take delight in the Lord if the Lord is so far away from us? But don't let him be far away! It's you who made him be far away. Love and he will draw near; love and he will live with you. The Lord is very near, do not be anxious at all.

Sermon 21. 2

• The Mid-Chapter - (11-16 July 2004) took place in Sydney. The Prior General of the Augustinians, Fr Robert Prevost osa visited Australia to preside at the Mid-Chapter. More information on the Mid-Chapter in the September Bulletin Board.

   

• Congratulations to Archbishop John Bathersby (Brisbane and formerly Cairns) and June Cochrane (recently retired pastoral associate at South Yarra Parish) on their affiliation to the Order. The Augustinians are appreciative of the friendship and support they have received from Archbishop John and June over the years.

• Augustinian Friends Second National Congress of Augustinian Laity - Brookvale NSW 2004 - from Friday 1 October 2004 to Sunday 3 October 2004. Download a brochure (pdf)

Archbishop of Brisbane, Rev John Bathersby, will lead off the Villanova College Community Walkathon on August 27th. The participants will walk the journey taken by a number of students from Villanova College Whinstanes to Villanova College Coorparoo in February 1954 to continue their education in the Augustinian tradition. This was the year the young College made the move from its original site, which had operated since 1948, but had struggled to increase enrolments.

All walkers on the historic journey will be seeking donations for their efforts. The journey of 11.2 kilometres is aiming to raise $30,000-00, which will boost the funds of AFAS (Australian Filipino Augustinian Solidarity), a student ministry group at the College, as well as provide a significant injection into the One Mind One Heart Project as it moves closer to its fund-raising target of $1.5m.

The aim of the Project is to draw the Villanova Community together in support of the construction of the Augustine Centre at the College and the expansion and re-development of the College playing fields at Tingalpa. This twofold project, which will facilitate the Sports and the Arts programs at the College is both a celebration of Villanova's proud journey to date and a statement that the journey in many ways is only beginning, as the College moves confidently into the future.

Any student who returns $200-00 or more for his efforts, besides being eligible for attractive prizes, will ensure his family's name is associated with a chair in the Fr Hanrahan OSA Theatre, the centre-piece of the Augustine Centre which will be completed in October.

Villanova Primary students getting into the swing for the big walk.

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 the late 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.

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