"THE AUGUSTINIAN" August 2004

David John Brimson OSA 25th August 1916 to 17th April 2004

Excerpts from Homily-Fr Dave Brimson OSA's Funeral
By Fr Pat Fahey OSA

Describing the living of the Christian life as a sporting contest is a favourite analogy of St Paul.

It is useful to look at this analogy once more as we celebrate the life and death of David John Brimson, Augustinian and Presbyter of the Church-a man who spent approximately 87 years as a Christian contestant.

Our brother, Dave, was one who entered the contest with dedication and enthusiasm. His teenage years were not easy. After the death of his mother, he bore the responsibility of nourishing the Catholic faith of his siblings, which he did with dedication and love.

The contest continued in earnest when at the age of 25, he followed his call to the Augustinian way of life and to the Priesthood. To begin his training, he left country and family, making his way to the United States through what was then the dangerous war zone of the Pacific returning to Australia after his studies and ordination. Dave taught the faith in schools and parishes. He formed young Augustinians in their calling. He celebrated the eucharist and preached. He travelled throughout Western New South Wales and Western Australia giving retreats to relatively isolated communities of Religious. His final assignment before retirement was that of Chaplain to Griffith University in Brisbane.

In his book on the Augustinians in Australia, Stan Arneil concludes his thumbnail sketch of Dave with these words: "It has always been a busy life for Father Dave Brimson. It always will be." Well, Dave my elder brother, it no longer is a busy life for you. It is now one in which you take your God-rest in the Sabbath of eternal life. As the Lord must have said to you: "Come, O blessed one of my Father, possess the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world." May your soul and the souls of all the faithful departed through the mercy of God rest in peace. Amen.

Above: Prior General, Very Rev Robert Prevost osa and Br Minh-Tan Hoang osa at the Intermediate Chapter.

THE AUGUSTINIANS IN 2004
Fr Pat Fahey osa

During the recent Intermediate Chapter, the Prior General gave a rather upbeat assessment of the contemporary state of the Order.

At the present time, the total membership of the Order throughout the world is approximately 3000 friars solemnly professed and/or ordained to the priesthood. In addition, there are approximately 500 young men in novitiates throughout the world. Even granting an attrition rate of, perhaps, 50%, this still indicates that the Order is growing.

As might be expected, the Order, like almost all other religious groups, is struggling in the Western industrialized world. This is partly due to the effects of secularism in modern Western society. But there are indications that the effects of secularism are being gradually reversed to some extent. Secularism is not as acceptable to the present generation of young people (generation Y) as it was to the previous generation X. Consequently, young people are more open to religion today than they have been for many years. This gives hope for the future of vocations to the priesthood and the religious life in the Western world.

But among the Augustinians, the real areas of growth are found in Central and South America, Asia (Philippines, Korea and India), and Africa. It is in Africa (Nigeria) that the newest Province of the Order is located, and it is already sending missionaries to other parts of Africa. Augustinian formation houses are also found in Kenya, and the Congo, and an international study house has been established in Nairobi.

In Asia, six priests have just been ordained for the Region of India, and approximately ten Filipino Augustinians have been ordained both for the Province of Cebu and the Vicariate of the Orient.

Central and South America are doing well, with solid student numbers in both the Provinces of Mexico and Mechoacan. Peru. Bolivia, Brazil and Argentina give evidence of continual growth and much hope for the future.

Keep up your prayers and work for the growth of the Reign of Christ on earth, and for the Augustinians who wish to serve God and their fellow human beings in peace, justice and love.

Sabbatical Report from Tim Cleary, Principal, St Augustine's College, Brookvale

I had a wonderful time travelling to Augustinian destinations in other countries and I thoroughly enjoyed the cultural experiences of the trip. I was very fortunate to visit Augustinian schools and priories in Ireland, Rome, Milan, Tuscany, Spain, Madrid, Seville and Salamanca as well as Philadelphia and San Diego. I was fortunate to meet some of our Augustinian priests including Fr Pat Codd in Limerick, Ireland. In Rome I had a general audience with the Pope and visited Ostia Antica, the Church of Santa Maria del Popolo (birthplace of the Order of St Augustine), Sanctuary of our Mother of Good Council Gennazzano, S Agostino (where the remains of St Monica lie) and then on to St Monica's College for a meeting with Fr Brian O'Sullivan, Prior of St Monica's. In Tuscany I stayed with Fr Brian Lowery and Fr Ian Wilson in San Gimignano and visited Augustinian Hermitages in Tuscany including Lecceto. In Milan I visited the Duomo and Piazza S Pietro (where the remains of St Augustine were lying). In America I visited Old St Augustine's Church Villanova University, Malvern Prep School, St Nicholas of Tolentine and St Augustine's High School. The value of meeting these communities and in sharing our Augustinian experience will hopefully be seen in this College over coming years.

June receives her affiliation certificate from Provincial Fr Pat Fahey osa.

PASTORAL ASSOCIATE EXTRAORDINAIRE
By Fr John Barry osa, Parish Priest, Parish of South Yarra, St Joseph's and St Thomas Aquinas'

On June 30, 2004, June Frances Cochrane retired as Pastoral Associate of the Parish of South Yarra.

June was born in Casterton in Western Victoria and spent her early years there. The family moved to Adelaide where June was educated and eventually entered nursing. Initially she was drawn to care of the elderly, but because of the physical difficulty of lifting patients, she moved into theatre work and into nursing education.

In 1981, June moved to Melbourne and took up a position as Director of the Royal College of Nursing, Australia. By great fortune she settled in the parish of South Yarra.

The next ten years were years of demanding work as she helped change the face of nursing education in Australia. She travelled often to Canberra for meetings with the Minister for health and gained the confidence of her associates. When after 10 years, she finished at the College, their newsletter carried the heading "Visionary Leader retires". In the following year in the 1992 Australia Day Honours List she was awarded the A.M. for services to nursing. June prepared to return to Adelaide.

The Parish Council in South Yarra voted unanimously to ask June to take on the position of Pastoral Associate. She accepted and so began, on July 1, 1991, a whole new career for June, and a new life for the parish. She began new studies, and involved herself in all aspects of the life of the community from Liturgy to Ecumenism to social needs. In particular she enjoyed returning to her first love of care for the aged and gave extraordinary help to many who were having trouble coping with advancing years. All the little extras that needed to be done, such as setting out chairs for meetings, filing copies of minutes, writing letters of thanks were done spontaneously and with a minimum of fuss. At times she was left in charge of the parish and handled it admirably. Any visiting Augustinian was welcomed and knew that June would assist in any way necessary. The example of her own deep prayer life and faith may well be her most lasting legacy to South Yarra.

Early this year June announced her intention to retire at the end of June and finally to return to Adelaide after 23 years as a parishioner and 13 of those years as Pastoral Associate. She returns to her family with the thanks of all.

Editors note:
On 4th July, the parish arranged a celebration of thank-you to June for her significant contribution to the life of the Parish over 23 years. For the past 13 years June contributed greatly to the life of the community in the role of Pastoral Associate. Rev Fr Pat Fahey OSA, Augustinian Provincial, joined in the celebration and presented June with an affiliation into the order of St Augustine.

LAST WEEKDAY MASS AT ST AUGUSTINE'S CHURCH, BROOKVALE
By Sr Gavina Barrera OSA

The last week day Mass at St Augustine's Church was presided by Fr Peter Wieneke, OSA, concelebrated by Frs Tony Banks and Peter Jones, OSA.
It was celebrated in a spirit of thanksgiving in memory of those parishioners and Augustinians who actively participated in the weekday Masses.
In his homily, Fr Peter Wieneke, while acknowledging a sense of loss with the passing of the weekday Mass at Brookvale, highlighted that the weekday Mass at Manly Vale would now be a new worshiping community.

THE AUGUSTINIANS

Fr Bernie Connolly osa (far right) together with his classmates of 1943. The group, who made their First Profession in 1943, celebrated 60 years of Augustinian life in September 2003.

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WITHDRAWAL FROM NORTHERN VICTORIA and GOODNA / SPRINGFIELD

During their Province Mid-Chapter in July this year, the Augustinians endeavoured to assess their personnel resources in relation to the ministries they presently exercise within Australia.

Our men are ageing; our human resources are overstretched. Over one half of the Province is aged seventy years or older. This has led the Augustinians of the Australian Province to consider realistically their ministerial commitments. Following on from the Chapter of 2002 where we decided to review the Northern Victorian situation every two years and decided not to renew our contract with the Archdiocese of Brisbane at Goodna / Springfield, the Mid-Chapter came to the decision to withdraw from two of our double ministries:

• the parishes of Echuca and Kyabram in Victoria the parish of Goodna and
• the ecumenical ministry of Springfield in Queensland.

It is with a heavy heart that we do this. Echuca and Kyabram are our two oldest ministries. Goodna and Springfield are two of our newest ministries. But we just do not have the resources to continue to minister in them. It has been recognized by the Province membership for some time that we need to consolidate our ministries in such a way as to be more available to each other as Religious Brothers and Priests, living in community. With diminishing membership, this has become increasingly difficult.

The Provincial and Council are presently negotiating with the respective bishops as to the time and manner of transition and then of our withdrawal. The Pastoral Councils will be part of the advisory team during transition. These details will be made known as soon as they are finalized.

In the meantime, we beg the understanding and prayers of our parishioners. Scenes like this are being played out, not just here, but everywhere in the Australian Church. The dioceses in which we serve and the Order of Saint Augustine are in desperate need of vocations to the Priesthood and the Religious life. Together, we beg the intercession of our Mother of Good Counsel with the Lord Jesus to help us in our need.

Statement of the Augustinian Provincial and Council
31 July, 2004