AUGUSTINIAN BULLETIN BOARD - June 2005

One loaf, one body, many though we be 

The bread which you can see on the altar, sanctified by the word of God, is the body of Christ. That cup, or rather what the cup contains, sanctified by the word of God, is the blood of Christ. It was by means of these things that the Lord Christ wished to present us with his body and blood, which he shed for our sake for the forgiveness of sins. If you receive them well, you are yourselves what you receive. You see, the apostle says, We being many, are one loaf, one body. That's how he explained the sacrament of the Lord's table; one loaf, one body, is what we all are, may though we be.

In this loaf of bread you are given clearly to understand how much you should love unity. I mean, was that loaf made from one grain? Weren't there many grains of wheat? But before they came into the loaf they were all separate; they were joined together by means of water and after a certain amount of pounding and crushing. Unless wheat is ground, after all, and moistened with water, it can't possibly get into this shape which is called bread. In the same way you too were being ground and pounded, as it were, by the humiliation of fasting and the sacrament of exorcism. Then came baptism, and you were, in a manner of speaking, moistened with water in order to be shaped into bread. But it's not yet bread without fire to bake it. So what does fire represent? That's the chrism, the anointing. Oil, the fire-feeder, you see, is the sacrament of the Holy Spirit.

St Augustine , Sermon 227

YEAR OF THE EUCHARIST - Augustine on the Eucharist

Augustine Centre Blessed

Mass on stage of the Hanrahan Theatre, with a number of Augustinians in the background

Another cherished dream has been fulfilled at Villanova College, the Order's school for upper primary and secondary male day students at Coorparoo (Brisbane). On 25 th May there was the blessing and official opening of the long-awaited Augustine Centre at the immediate left of the college's impressive main entrance. The centre will draw into this one purpose-built structure the education in the dramatic and musical arts. It follows the slope of the ground to go from a one-level entrance to three levels at the rear of the building.

One of the significant features of the building is the Hanrahan Theatre, named after Villanova's second Rector, Fr John Louis Hanrahan O.S.A., who was a co-founder of a Catholic theatre group in Brisbane, the Villanova Players. The Augustine Centre was blessed on 25th May by Most Rev John Bathersby, Archbishop of Brisbane, who also presided at a Eucharist in the theatre and spoke glowingly about the contributions of the Augustinians and of Villanova in the Archdiocese since the college began in 1948.

During the formal part of the ceremony, Fr Tony Banks O.S.A., speaking on behalf of Fr Patrick Fahey O.S.A. (Provincial), congratulated all at the college for this magnificent project, and especially thanked the Principal/Rector, Fr Michael Morahan O.S.A., for his leadership of the school community during the years that this project moved from a vision to an operating reality.

Cricketing Guest

Ricky Ponting at St Augustine’s College

Ricky Ponting, the captain of Australia's cricket team, spent a day recently at Saint Augustine's College, the Order's day school for upper primary and secondary boys in Brookvale (Sydney). His invitation to the College was arranged by a College parent who knows him well.

Ricky was willing to undertake a series of activities that included an address of the entire school assembly, a meeting with fathers and sons involved in the college's cricketing activities, and conducting two cricket coaching clinics for the students. What impressed everyone was the personable way that Ricky threw himself into the task, and his approachability made it obvious that he enjoyed the day as much as those who had the chance of meeting him - even if he did have to sign about one thousand autographs during the day!

Conference Speaker

Some of the participants at the Conference in Manila

The Australian Province provided one of the three presenters in a recent six-day conference about the spiritual tradition of Saint Augustine at Manila, Philippines. He was Father Tony Banks O.S.A. of Brookvale (Sydney), who spoke upon aspects of social justice in the writings of Augustine. The other two speakers were Fr Thomas Martin O.S.A. of Villanova University, U.S.A., and Sister Maria Ma. Luz of the Philippines.

The gathering attracted 160 people from parts of Southeast Asia ( Philippines, Thailand and Japan) and two participants from Augustinian ministries in Sydney, Australia. It was conducted by APAC (Asian and Pacific Augustinian Conference), which comprises a number of religious orders of men and women who follow the Rule of Saint Augustine.

Augustinian National Youth Festival

Planning group of the eighth Australian Augustinian Youth Festival

At regular intervals since 1988, the Augustinians in Australia have offered to young adults in their ministries a youth festival extending over a few days. These gatherings have taken place in the three eastern mainland states. The eighth festival will take place from Sunday 15 th January to Friday 20 th January 2006. The venue will be Koorjewarre Retreat Centre, Springbrook, (Gold Coast hinterland), Queensland. A young adult planning group, with representatives for three states, has already begun preparations.

For enquiries, booking details and for further information as it becomes available, please contact Father Tony Banks O.S.A. at P.O. Box 679, Brookvale NSW 2100, Australia, or phone (02) 9905 3049, or email tonybanks@augustinians.org.au

Augustinian Friends

Father Paul Maloney O.S.A

The lay association called Augustinians Friends functions from a number of Augustinian venues in Sydney, Melbourne, Kyabram (northern Victoria), Brisbane and Mareeba ( North Queensland). A forthcoming activity in Sydney will involve input, reflection and discussion on the Rule of Saint Augustine. The Augustinian Centre of Spirituality at Greystanes (western Sydney) is the venue, and some of the Augustinians there will conduct the activities of the day.

Father Paul Maloney O.S.A., who is Prior of the community and also the chaplain of the Augustinian Friends, advises that the gathering is not exclusive to members of the Augustinian Friends. For further information, look at the entry under the date of Sunday, 19 th June in the Augustinian Centre of Spirituality section of this web site.

Augustinian Bishop Fondly Remembered

Bishop van Diepen O.S.A. ordaining Fr. Peter Wieneke O.S.A. in Brisbane, 1972.

Bishop Pieter van Diepen O.S.A., who was Bishop of Manokwari, Indonesia, died in retirement in the Netherlands on 1 st April. He was aged eighty-eight years. He had been a priest for sixty years, and was Bishop of Manokwari for twenty-two of those years, from 1966 to 1988. He is especially remembered by Augustinians in Australia for one particular visit he made to Brisbane in 1972. On that occasion he ordained to the priesthood Peter Wieneke O.S.A., who is now parish priest of the parishes of Manly Vale and Balgowlah (Sydney).

Fr Wieneke recalled, "A couple of days prior to my ordination, Bishop van Diepen came to our family home for dinner. When, at the end of the ordination ceremony, Bishop Peter addressed my folks and said thanks to them for their part in passing on the gift of faith, they received the message from someone already known to them. On my part, I was very grateful to the Bishop for the way he put my parents at ease. Even in 1972 the presence of a bishop at a family meal was enough to raise the anxiety level of the hosts."

Holy Spirit Parish, St Clair

Sanctuary of Holy Spirit Church, St Clair

Holy Spirit Parish at St Clair ( Sydney) held a 'Sharing Our Time and Talent' weekend on 7 th-8 th May. Over two hundred people responded to commit to ministry for the next twelve months. On 24 th May the Feast of Our Lady Help of Christians, Patroness of Australia, was highlighted. The Gospel call of Mary to care for the disciples of Jesus was used to lead to reflect on the call of every baptised person to ministry.

After Mass there was an opportunity to get to know one another better while sharing fellowship. These activities were the initiative of the Parish Pastoral Council and the Liturgy Committee of this Augustinian parish. Father Peter Tangey O.S.A. is parish priest, and Fr Jun Belacura O.S.A. is the associate pastor.

Manly Vale Parish

Fr Dom at work

Since Ash Wednesday some new banners have been gracing St Kieran's Church, Manly Vale (Sydney) for the major feasts and seasons. These banners are the work of Fr Dom Besares O.S.A. who has joined the Augustinian Community in the Priory at Manly Vale and the parish pastoral team.

Fr Dom's natural talent is supported by a Master of Fine Arts degree from Manila. He has held an art show in his native country, the Philippines, where he worked in parish ministry and in university chaplaincy.

International Youth Encounter 2006

(Left to right:) Frs Joe Farrell O.S.A. and Wim Sleddens O.S.A. of the Augustinian International Commission for Youth, photographed in front of the famous Ponte Coperto ("Covered Bridge") at Pavia on 7th March 2005

An international Augustinian Encounter for Youth (aged from 18 to 26 years inclusive) takes place every three years. Australia has always been represented at these encounters, even though all of them have taken place in Europe. The next gathering will take place in Pavia, northern Italy fourteen months from now, on 1 st-8 th August 2006. Some details were published here in the Current News section in April; go back to the April edition to read all about it.

Enquiries please contact Father Tony Banks O.S.A. at P.O. Box 679, Brookvale NSW 2100, Australia, or phone (02) 9905 3049, or email: tonybanks@augustinians.org.au

Anniversaries

Congratulations to:-

Fr Ronald Bopf O.S.A. (Villanova Priory, Brisbane). 50 th anniversary of priesthood.

Fr Jun Belacura O.S.A. (St. Clair, Sydney), 25 th anniversary of Augustinian profession.

Rest in Peace

• Bishop Pieter van Diepen O.S.A.

• Monica Mooney, mother of Fr Laurence Mooney O.S.A. (Greystanes)

• Susanna Vita, sister of Dominador Besares O.S.A. (Manly Vale).

FOR SOME CURRENT NEWS ABOUT THE ORDER OUTSIDE AUSTRALIA Click here

AUGUSTINIAN CENTRE FOR SPIRITUALITY PROGRAM 2005
2 Hewitt Avenue
Greystanes 2145
Enquiries 9896 6794
www.augustinians.org.au/communities/greystanes.html