......Augustinians in Australia Respond to Burma Crisis
Fr John Murray O.S.A. of the Australian Augustinian Province is the leader of Augustinian ministry in Thailand. He has sent graphic images of the aftermath of cyclone Nargis in nearby Burma. Father John himself works with Burmese people who have crossed the border into southern Thailand. The photos here are accompanied by text provided by the Maryknoll Society in Thailand, with whom Fr John also works.
In the July 2008 edition of Maryknoll Asia South, a newsletter of the Maryknoll Missionaries, Archbishop Charles Bo of Yangon reflected on the devastating effects of cyclone Nargis for Myanmar (Burma). Under the heading, Myanmar Cannot Be Forgotten Once Again, Archbishop Bo says, “Doing good is an Herculean challenge in our nation. We are a church challenged in all directions. In those (cyclone) affected areas, all our churches, convents, clergy houses and orphanages lie in ruins.”
Archbishop Bo continues, “Yet from day one we have been in search of survivors, many times being the first outsider to reach them. A dedicated team of Caritas staff, church personnel and volunteers have been working day and night in the most affected areas” When the Emergency Response Support Team eventually arrives, the Archbishop says, thousands are able to receive life-saving assistance, shelter and basic needs.
And then in a poignant and arresting reflection, the Archbishop highlights something we may have guessed already. He says of the cyclone that, “Nature in anguish and fury uncovered the permanent disasters of a long-suffering people. China’s earthquake response exposed painful contrasts. The world needs to journey with Myanmar for a long time. The media’s attention to human tragedy is swift- but also passing…Myanmar needs longer accompaniment.”
The Archbishop then documents why this aid will need to be a long term commitment. By World Food Program data, only 60% of people in need are being fed. Shelter is a problem because 90% of the thatch trees used have been destroyed as have the houses. At least 700,000 huts need repair or rebuilding. Also 90% of the schools in the Delta region have been destroyed. Child protection is becoming an issue.
Archbishop Bo concludes with words we can take to heart, “To all of you who supported us during the emergency phase, we owe a deep debt of gratitude. We appeal to the world to continue its concern. Our people need to return to a ‘home’ where they can start their lives again.”
While the earthquake and floods in China have attracted continuing media attention in Australia, Myanmar has already dropped from consciousness. Let us make this a special effort of the Australian Augustinian Province, the more so because one of ours ministers in that part of the world. Caritas continues to accept donations – please refer to their website.
Our thanks go to Fr John Murray O.S.A. for sharing his Burmese contacts with us.
The Augustinian Justice & Peace Office encourages Augustinian Ministries and Friends to contribute to the Caritas Australia response to Burma. Links on this site will take you to the Caritas press release on the Caritas website www.caritas.org.au.
So that all may have a sense of the growing total donation in our Province, Augustinian Parishes and schools are asked to keep the Brookvale Office aware of donations made. Please give information of your ministry's contribution totals to paul.wilson@augustinians.org.au
To read a Press Release from Caritas Australia, click here.
Augustinian Volunteers Australia
“For an Augustinian, no one is a stranger.”
Motto of U.S. Augustinian Volunteers
Update No. 3 (August 2008)
World Youth Day
Events associated with World Youth Day in Sydney from 14th-20th July 2008 year have come and gone, but the impact on Augustinian Volunteers remains.
Through the week of WYD celebrations, the Augustinians handed out hundreds of vocations’ brochures to visiting pilgrims, many of whom showed interest in the Volunteers. Some four pages of names were taken of Australians and others interested in more information. This update is part of our attempt to cater for that interest.
Augustinian International Youth Encounter
Following World Youth Day, visitors from Augustinian ministries around the world gathered at Collaroy, Sydney, Australia, to share the spirit of Augustinian life in the Augustinian Youth Encounter from 21st-27th July 2008.
Photo: AYE workshop presented by our Volunteers
Thursday, 24th July 2008 was given to a study of Justice issues in all Augustinian provinces around the world through such places as India, South Africa, Puerto Rico and Korea.
Volunteer Workshop
During the Augustinian International Youth Encounter, our own Volunteers gave good account of their work for justice through their service experiences in Sydney’s western suburbs at two AYE workshops on the Thursday afternoon.
Again, there was considerable interest in volunteering and a number of candidates submitted applications for Augustinian Volunteers 2009.
Both AYE Volunteer workshops were well attended on Thursday afternoon. Discussions ranged over comparisons with Volunteers in other parts of the world, especially in the U.S. whose representatives were present; differences between part-time and full-time volunteers; and the positive effects of living in an Augustinian Volunteer Community for those who opt for full time.
Photo (at above right) This Augustinian Volunteer works with Sudanese children.
Review of the Volunteers' ministry
At the commencement of the University mid-year vacation, in the first week of July 2008, the Volunteers gathered at the Augustinian Spirituality Centre, Greystanes for their regular review. The day began at 10.00 a.m. and concluded at 2.00 p.m. All four of the present Volunteers attended, together with Volunteer Course staff members, Frs Peter Jones OSA, Paul Maloney OSA and Brian Fitzpatrick OSA as well as the Course Coordinator Mr Paul Wilson.
Using a pastoral-theological process, the group reflected on the previous six weeks of Ministry and determined how they needed to work from here to ensure the most effective use of their Ministry. A significant outcome was the desire of the group to be more committed to their tasks and to work more cohesively as a Volunteer Team and Community.
Ministry needed
An outcome of the AYE workshop and of the recent Volunteers' review day has been the renewed realization that the ministries carried out by volunteers in the Mt Druitt area (western Sydney, Australia) are sorely needed (photos below).
The presentation at the workshop at the Augustinian International Encounter included slides of the areas and organisations in which Volunteers work. If only in a symbolic manner, these images brought home to participants the limited services still available in suburbs on the fringes of Sydney. They also highlighted the need for a Christian presence in the lives of people who must struggle given their geographical context. It is this Christian witness and support for Justice that our Volunteers seek to give.
Future Ministry Centres
Augustinian Volunteers Australia seek to minister alongside Augustinian Communities of Priests or Sisters, wherever that is possible, and to work for justice in areas of high social need. For that reason, openings are now being planned for part-time or full- time volunteers in the following cities and in the given time frame:
2009 Brisbane South and West Ministering primarily to refugees
2009/10 South Yarra, Melbourne Ministering mainly with homeless people and intellectually-challenged people
2009/10 Mareeba, Nth Queensland With indigenous people
2009 + Thailand With poor farmers
Looking to Volunteer?
As a result of World Youth Day, an increased interest has been registered in Volunteers in this country, especially with the Augustinians.
This might therefore be a good time for you to consider what you will do with that extra time you have while you’re studying next year, or how you might fill the gap year you have promised yourself.
For more details on this web site about Augustinian Volunteers Australia, click here.
For further information go to:
www.augustinians.org.au/social justice
Or contact:
Mr Paul Wilson,
Augustinian Justice & Peace Office,
St Augustine’s Priory,
P.O. Box 679 Brookvale NSW, 2100, Australia.
Phone (02) 9905 3022 Mobile phone: 0438 646 294
Email: paul.wilson@augustinians.org.au
Website: www.augustinians.org.au
Further news
To read news of the progress of the present group of Augustinian Volunteers Australia, click here.
There is always social justice material available on the Augustinian international website. Go to www.osanet.org
Fr Brian Fitzpatrick O.S.A.
Province Social Justice Coordinator.
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