Augustinian Volunteers Australia
“For an Augustinian, no one is a stranger.”
Motto of U.S. Augustinian Volunteers .....
Augustinian Volunteers Australia 2010
The Augustinian Justice and Peace Course, which is used as part of the formation program for Augustinian Volunteers Australia, was conducted at Augustinian Priory, Brookvale (Sydney) during the three weeks from 1st – 20th February 2010.
There were six candidates for Augustinian Volunteers Australia 2010. Two hailed from Brisbane, and the four from the Sydney region are from the Augustinian Parishes of St Clair (Parramatta Diocese) and North Harbour (Broken Bay Diocese).
Since 2009, the Volunteer Formation Course has undergone major developments at the academic level. The Course comprises the two units: (1) An Augustinian Spirituality for Justice, and (2) Social Ethics for the Augustinian Volunteer. Formerly the accreditation of these units was held with Sydney College of Divinity through the Broken Bay Institute (BBI) of the Diocese of Broken Bay. The latter has recently attained credit for its courses with the University of Newcastle University, the primary regional University in Australia.
A further academic development for the Volunteer Course is that the Spirituality unit developed by Augustinians in Sydney is to be given stand-alone status by the Broken Bay Institute. This means that students around Australia can link into BBI in distance mode (or even on-line eventually) to take this course on Augustinian Spirituality. The understanding with BBI at present is that there is already sufficient material for two courses, maybe a more general one on Augustinian Spirituality for Contemporary Christians and the more focused one on Augustinian Spirituality for Justice.
The Augustinian Justice and Peace Office, Brookvale, can be contacted by telephoning (02) 9905 3022 or mobile phone: 0438 646 294, or by e-mail: paul.wilson@augustinians.org.au
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
2010 + 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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