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Nº 2 – 2012

OSA INTeractive

2-2012

Editorial board:

Michael Di Gregorio, OSA

Robert Guessetto, OSA

Melchor Mirador, OSA

Collaborators:

Manuel Calderon, OSAKolawole Chabi, OSASr. Anne Marie DauguetPaolo Del Bianco, OSAPasquale Di Lernia, OSAJosé Gallardo, OSAAntonio Gaytan, OSARoger Ivan Guerra, OSAChristian Iorio, OSAMatchado Jean, OSAMiguel Angel Juarez, OSAFranz Klein, OSAClaudia KockRobert Marsh, OSAS. Suzzane Mottu, ANDPBrian O’Sullivan, OSAMauricio Saavedra, OSA Rafael Santana, OSAElia Taban, OSAVeronica Vandonii

Graphic, layout and printing:

Tipolitografia 2000 sas

di De Magistris R. & C.

Via Trento 46, Grottaferrata (Rm)

CURIA GENERALIZIAAGOSTINIANA

Via Paolo VI, 25 – Roma (Italia)Tel. +39.06.680061

Fax +39.06.68006299E.mail: osaint@osacuria.org

In this issue

front page:

3. Editorial

3. The Diploma Course in Augustinian Spirituality

augustinian family :

5. The Roman Synod (October 7-28, 2012)

6. Vocation Promoters of the Order Meet in Rome

8. Congress of Augustinian Educators and Schools

10. Lay Augustinian Congress in Rome

11. Visit of Cardinal Prospero Grech O.S.A. to Korea

12. International Assembly of Augustinian Contemplative Nuns

14. Growing in Communion: Revitalizing Community Life

16. Conquering Vast Distances in Asia Pacific

18. A New Beginning of Augustinian Presence in Havana, Cuba

19. Groundbreaking for a Premier School in Bulacan, Philippines

20. Blessed Simon Returns to Florence

22. The First Gathering of Contemplative Augustinians in the Philippines

23. Publications: (Italian) The Heart of Fr. Marco Tells a Story: 26 years in Apurimac in the Peruvian Andes

Front cover:

1. Participants at the Congress of Vocation Promoters of the Order held last July 2-6, 2012in the Augustinian Patristic Institute, Rome

2. Participants at the Congress on Lay Augustinians held last July 11-17, 2012 in the Augu -stinian Patristic Institute, Rome

Back cover:

1. Some participants of the International Assembly of OSA Contemplative Nuns held lastSeptember 30 till October 5, 2012 in Guadarrama, Spain

2. Coffee-break for the participants of the OSA Spirituality Course held in Rome last Spring

OSA Interactive and www.augustinians.net Information Network of the Order of Saint Augustine

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The Diploma Course in Augustinian Spirituality was held in Romefor a second year; this time for English – speaking participants. Thecourse is offered by the Institute of Augustinian Spirituality of the Orderin collaboration with the “Institutum Patristicum Augustinianum” in accor-dance with the program of the General Chapter of 2007.

The objective of the course is to ensure that participants obtain asubstantial academic, historic, cultural and spiritual formation in thethought of Saint Augustine, in the Augustinian Theological School andthe tradition of the Order throughout its historical development. In addi-tion to the personal spiritual enrichment of the participants, the courseaims to assist friars and sisters to acquire a fuller understanding of Augus-tinian Spirituality in order that they be better equipped to work in theservice of the Gospel based on the Augustinian charism.

Important was the participation of men and women religious of theAugustinian Family. Nineteen participants from different continents anddifferent countries, young and older, persevered with joy until the end ofthe course. Africa was particularly well-represented. There were 13 friars,4 Augustinian Missionary Sisters and two School Sisters of Notre Dame.The fraternal spirit among the friars and sisters was an additional andmuch appreciated component of the course.They participated very ac-tively in the lectures held at the Curia and in the visits to sites of Augustin-ian, ecclesial and historic importance in Italy. To meet the requirementsof the diploma, they sat for a final exam and presented their research ona thesis topic on various Augustinian themes.

Fr. Robert Prevost, Prior General, celebrated the Holy Eucharist withthe participants at the inauguration of the course at Saint Augustine’sChurch, Campo Marzio, Rome and at the conclusion at Santa Maria delPopolo, Rome, where all participants received a Certificate of Partici -pation.

THE DIPLOMA COURSE INAUGUSTINIAN SPIRITUALITY

The participants in Roccaporena during their retreat in Cascia

EditorialAs the academic year 2011-

2012 drew to a close in the city ofRome, the scene of students andprofessors ascending and descend-ing the steps of the Patristic Insti-tute was replaced by that of friarsand laity who had come to partic-ipate in one of two InternationalCongresses that were held in theEternal City during the month ofJuly. The first was that for Augustin-ian Vocation Promoters, bringingtogether 38 friars from many cir-cumscriptions of the Order for fivedays of conferences, discussion, fel-lowship, prayer, and the exchangeof hopes and challenges whichthey experience in the importantministry which has been entrustedto them by the Order. The secondgathering was that for Augustinianlaity. Close to 150 lay men andwomen, together with a smallgroup of friars who collaboratewith them in their various regions,gathered under the banner “ToBe the Body of Christ in Today’sWorld,” in order to reflect on thechallenge that is theirs to live andcommunicate the Augustiniancharism precisely as committed laymen and women in the 21st Cen-tury. Despite what is sometimes anotable summer exodus from thecity of Rome, Via Paolo VI and theAugustinianum were filled with en-ergy, enthusiasm and activity duringthese days of fraternal sharing, re-flection and prayer.

Many hundreds of miles awayyet another group, bound also byAugustinian ties and values, gath-ered in Lima, Peru in the final daysof July and the first days of August,around the theme of Augustinianeducation. Here approximately200 friars and their lay colleaguesfrom diverse educational centersof the Order considered the edu-cational community, its mission,and its participants from a Gospel-Augustinian point of view.

The coming together of nearly400 friars and laity in these variousgatherings in which friendships aremade and deepened, ideas ex-pressed and exchanged, experi-ences lived and shared, cannothelp but renew and strengthen thevalues we hold as brothers andsisters in Augustine. From eachencounter participants returnedhome confirmed in the ideals theyclaim and the commitment to liveand proclaim them anew.

FR. MICHAEL DI GREGORIO, OSACoordinator of Communications

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The Course calls our attention to the ecclesial nature of Augustinian Spirituality: that of a restless heartat the service of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and offering a pathway to the fullness of the “City of God”. “Thespirituality of the Order... proceeds from the follow-ing of Christ according to the teachings of theGospel and the action of the Holy Spirit. Its prin-cipal point of reference is the teaching and exam-ple of Saint Augustine, complemented by the tradi-tion of the Order. The principal document of ourspirituality is the Rule, which must direct our livesand action. Augustinian spirituality, developedover time, and enriched by the example and teach-ing of our forebears, ought to be lived according tothe circumstances of time, place, and culture andin harmony with our charism” (OSA Constitu-tions n. 16).

Putting into practice what is written inthe Constitutions, the Order offered such anopportunity to provide an instruction on ap-propriate responses in Augustinian spirituali-ty for the social context of our religious lives.In fact, the design of the course was based ontwo components which were complementa-ry:

– The spiritual area included activitiessuch as a Spiritual Retreat and visitsto historical places significant for thespiritual and cultural value they holdfor the Augustinian Order.

– The academic area was composed ofdifferent lectures such as Lectio Au-gustini, Augustinian Spiritual Theolo-gy and its context, History and Tradi-tion and the Present Day Reality ofthe Order, Augustinian School ofTheology etc.

English speaking lecturers enhancedthe Augustinian Spirituality Course withtheir professional teaching. Almost all thelectures were followed by sharing of experi-ences, discussions and workshops on topicswithin the field of presentation. By all meansit was the richest part offered by the Courseon Augustinian Spirituality. The friars weremost appreciative of the fraternal and gener-ous hospitality given by the community of St.Monica’s College.

The course was a very good opportunityto discern and assimilate the richness of theAugustinian Spirituality. Another opportuni-ty will be given next year in Italian languagefor those who would like to have this experi-ence.

FR. PETER PAUL CACHIA

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The participants in pilgrimage to Ostia Antica with the guide, Fr. Brian Lowery, O.S.A.

A group picture after a Eucharistic celebration

Lunch-break during the pilgrimage to Ostia Antica

MYSTERY AS AN ANTIDOTE TO SPECTACLEAn excerpt from the address of the Prior General, Fr. Robert F. Prevost, O.S.A.,

on the Synod of Bishops held in Rome last October 7-28, 2012

At least in the contemporary western world, ifnot throughout the entire world, the human imagi-nation concerning both religious faith and ethics islargely shaped by mass media, especially by televisionand cinema. Western mass media is extraordinarilyeffective in fostering within the general public enor-mous sympathy for beliefs and practices that are atodds with the Gospel. Religion is at best tolerated bymass media as “tame” and “quaint” when it does notactively oppose positions on ethical issues that themedia have embraced as their own. However, whenreligious voices are raised in opposition to these posi-tions, mass media can target religion, labeling it asideological and insensitive in regard to the so-calledvital needs of people in the contemporary world.

Moreover, overt opposition to Christianity bymass media is only part of the problem. The sympa-thy for anti-Christian lifestyle choices that mass me-dia fosters is so brilliantly and artfully engrained inthe viewing public, that when people hear the Chris-tian message it often inevitably seems ideological andemotionally cruel by contrast to the ostensible hu-maneness of the anti-Christian perspective.

If the “new evangelization” is going to counterthese mass media-produced distortions of religiousand ethical reality successfully, pastors, preachers,teachers and catechists are going to have to becomefar more informed about the context of evangelizing

in a world dominated by mass media. MagisterialChurch teaching can be helpful in this regard, yetthere is a great need for further development in thisarea. Noteworthy for its perception of the mass me-dia context for evangelization is the post-conciliardocument Aetatis novae (1992). This document ob-served that modern media not only distorts reality bytelling us what to think, it tells us what to think about.

The Fathers of the Church can provide eminentguidance for the Church in this aspect of the newevangelization, precisely because they were mastersof the art of rhetoric. With their rhetorical formation,which, for many of them, constituted the best train-ing available in the late ancient world, the Church Fa-

thers offered a formidable response to thosenon-Christian and anti-Christian literary andrhetorical forces at work throughout the Ro-man Empire in shaping the religious and ethi-cal imaginations of the day. They understoodwith enormous precision the techniquesthrough which popular religious and ethicalimaginations of their day were manipulated bythe centers of secular power in that world.

It is not sufficient for the Church to ownits own television media or to sponsor religiousfilms. The secular media will always be strongerin this field, and while it is vital that the Churchbe actively engaged in and with the media, wecannot successfully compete with the secularmedia. In his City of God, Augustine teaches thatmystery focuses the imagination on the dark-ness surrounding death, specifically on thedarkness of Christ’s crucifixion which St. Augus-tine saw echoed in the deaths of the Christianmartyrs. Spectacle, on the other hand, with itscompanion features - celebrity and heroism - of-fers people a false comfort by distracting the

mind from its instinctive fear of death. Augustine sawthis false comfort present in Roman theatre, sportsevents, secular festivals, and military honors.

Augustine’s argument has relevance for modernculture, where these same ancient features of specta-cle are amplified by modern media into false formsof celebrity and heroism. Secularism as an anti-Chris-tian force depends upon the grasp that the mediahave upon contemporary culture and, consequently,upon religious and ethical imagination. As a conse-quence, evangelization in the modern world mustfind the appropriate means for redirecting public at-tention away from spectacle and into mystery.

Three Augustinian members of the Synod: Fr. Robert Prevost (Prior General),Most Rev. José Ulloa Mendieta (Archbishop of Panama City), Most Rev. Michael Campbell (Bishop of Lancaster, England)

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Vocation Promoters of the OrderMeet in Rome

The International College of Saint Monicaand the Augustinian Patristic Institute, Rome,were the meeting point for 40 friars this summerwho gathered to study and discuss the theme ofVocations and Vocation Promotion. The friars,who represented 23 circumscriptions of the Or-der, are responsible in their local areas for thisparticular ministry, so vital for the Church and forthe Order. During welcoming remarks on Mon-day, July 2 at the opening of the workshop, PriorGeneral Robert Prevost recalled the words ofPope Benedict addressed to a group of NorthAmerican Bishops during their ad limina visit lastyear: “The urgent need in our own time for cred-ible and attractive witnesses to the redemptiveand transformative power of the Gospel makesit essential to recapture a sense of the sublimedignity and beauty of the consecrated life, topray for religious vocations and to promotethem actively, while strengthening existingchannels for communication and coopera-tion…” (May 18, 2012).

The workshop which covered five days ofconferences, group discussions, and the ex-change of pastoral experiences and best prac-tices among participants, focused on the pro-

motion of a more evident and dynamic voca-tion culture in every circumscription, indeed inevery local community. The five days of the pro-gram unfolded in a fraternal atmosphere of hos-pitality and open dialogue, confirming the im-portance of renewing Augustinian life in ourvarious communities and circumscriptions as afundamental component of vocation ministry.The need and desire to make Augustinian lifemore visible, to share the good news of brotherscommitted to live and minister together in unity,became the invitation and the challenge whichthe friars placed before themselves.

The workshop had been requested by theGeneral Chapter of 2007 and was designed bythe International Vocation Commission of theOrder both to offer an opportunity for commonreflection on this important ministry and to cre-ate a strong link among the vocation promotersof the Order’s various circumscriptions in order toensure a fruitful exchange of information con-cerning programs and initiatives presently in use.

“We want people to see that we Augustini-ans are men of service, that we are brothers, fri-ars, who live in charity, that we are happy and

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OSA Vocation Promoters crossing St. Peter’s Square in Vatican City

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that we live in the love of God,” said one of theparticipants.

Among the friars who made presentationswere Fr. Luis Marín OSA, who offered a reflectionon the theology of vocation and on the specificcharacteristics of the Augustinian charism; Frs.Joseph Farrell OSA and Kevin DePrinzio OSAcovered several sessions dealing with the personof the Vocation Promoter and the role of ac-companiment of candidates exploring a reli-gious vocation. Using the biblical image of Peterand John encountering a beggar at the Beauti-ful Gate of the temple, they led the participantsin a meditative exploration and discussion ofvarious elements of vocational ministry. Fr. IsaacEstevez OSA examined the question of a Voca-tion Culture from within and from without, draw-ing implications and suggesting plans of actionin the concrete exeperience of living Augustin-ian life. In addition to the work content of theweek, participants themselves shared - in thevarious languages represented - the responsibili-ty for preparing morning and evening prayereach day as well as the celebration of Eucharist.Included was also the opportunity to visit the Sis-tine Chapel and, at the end of the week, to cel-ebrate Eucharist together at the tomb of SaintPeter. The community of Sant’Agostino wel-comed the participants for a meal on therooftop of their friary, a section of the Order’sformer Generalate.

As participants prepared to return to theirlocal communities there was a general feelingof optimism and enthusiasm to take up againthe task which the Order had entrusted to them.One friar, who had also participated in the twoprevious Vocation Conferences of previousyears, remarked, “What I like about this confer-ence as opposed to the two previous ones, isthat there was not an emphasis on methods ormaterials, but rather on the person of the voca-tion director and his relationship to inquirers andthe friars in the province.”

Vocation Promoters attending mass in the chapel of St. Monica International College

Some reading materials on religious vocations

Participants sharing meals togetherParticipants listening to lectures and reports

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CONGRESS OF AUGUSTINIAN EDUCATORS AND SCHOOLSColegio San Agustín, LIMA, PERU 30 July – 3 August

Under the compelling title: “THE AUGUSTINIAN

SCHOOL COMMUNITY : GATEWAY TO THE GOSPEL, PATH-WAY OF THE KINGDOM”, the Congress for Augustinianeducators and schools was held in the city of Lima,Peru from the 30th of July to the 3rd of August.Clearly, the background for the congress was theNew Evangelization which calls attention to the im-

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portance of the ministry of Augustinians who serveas teachers in our schools, universities and othereducational settings within contemporary culture.

These ministries entrusted to us by the Churchare within the settings of today’s ‘public squares’and have become more and more valued and im-portant. In fact, they have become more necessaryin a world where “cheap ideologies”, with their lackof existential commitment and values, abound.

The number of participants was remarkable,more than 200 people. The speakers and the topicsoffered new points of view on the Augustinian val-ues of interiority and community, the search fortruth and the Gospel. We had the fortune to havewith us the Prior General of the Order, Fr. RobertPrevost, who participated in all the events of thecongress. He opened the congress with an excel-lent presentation, much appreciated by all the par-ticipants, on the subject “The Gospel, the Kingdomand the Augustinian School”.

A Eucharistic celebration presided over by the Prior General, Fr. Robert F. Prevost, O.S.A.

The Prior General, Rev. Fr. Robert F. Prevost, O.S.A., addresses the participants of the Congress

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The Most Reverend Daniel Turley, ourdear Augustinian bishop of Chulucanasjoined us, as well. He had the kind generos-ity of spirit to find space in his schedule dur-ing spiritual exercises to come by and speakto us about interiority and the pedagogy ofthe Interior Teacher, a method always validfor our young people and making clearerfor them the presence of Jesus, the InteriorTeacher. Also with us was Fr. Francisco Gal-ende who gave a talk on “Community inSearch of Truth”.

Another presenter was Fr. John Sotakwho spoke on “Community as a Place ofGrowth and the Development of Hearts andSouls” which helped us to value the impor-tance of our lives. After this base was laid, itwas time to consider Justice and Peace. Twofriars, Frs. Emeka Obiezu, the Order’s rep-resentative of the NGO at the United Na-tions, and Alejandro Moral, Assistant Gener-al of the Order, mapped out what the Orderis doing as “A Community at the Service of aNew World-wide Fraternity”.

An important number of workshopsand activities for the participants filled outthe program. The congress concluded witha greeting from Fr. Rommel Par, presidentof the commission which organized the con-gress, an expression of gratitude from thePrior General to everyone, especially to theProvince of Peru, and a Eucharist presidedby the Prior Provincial, Fr. Alex Lam, him-self a vocation from Colegio San Agustínwhere the gathering was held.

As we close this article, we would like tothank all those who so actively participatedin the congress, the members of the Com-mission of Educators and Schools of the Or-der, the speakers and Fr. Elías Neira, princi-pal of Colegio San Agustín, along with histeam who during the five days saw thateverything moved forward perfectly.

Fr. Alejandro Moral, OSAMember of the Commission of the Order

for Educators and Schools.

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1. Participants listen to a lecture

2. Participants at work

3. Participants in session

4. Participants on the go, with the Prior General,Fr. Robert Prevost, O.S.A.

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some were elected during these meetings, and therest will be elected at regional gatherings.

The visit to Cascia as a day of penitential prayerand the Mass celebrated at the Church of Saint Agus-tine in Rome, at which the Prior General Fr. Robert

Prevost presided, were two important spiritualmoments for the whole group.

We express our gratitude to all the mem-bers responsible for the organization of the con-gress who over a long period of time dedicatedtheir efforts to making this important event pos-sible. We are most grateful, also, for the partici-pation of our youth. The presence and the wit-ness of our younger lay Augustinians provided avaluable occasion for reflection. They brought ajoyful and upbeat spirit to each day’s activities.

FR. ALEJANDRO MORAL ANTÓN, OSA

Under the banner “TO BE THE BODY OFCHRIST IN TODAY’S WORLD”, the third interna-tional congress of lay Augustinians was held inRome. Almost 150 participants reflected on what it isto be Augustinian: “How can we be, live and commu-

nicate in our world today that we are ‘the Bodyof Christ’? The keynote speakers at the confer-ence, Bishop Giovanni Scanavino (OSA) andDr. Joseph T. Kelley, oriented their talks on astrong scriptural base drawing richly from thetexts of our Father, Saint Augustine. Addition-ally, there were panel presentations on the ex-perience of lay Augustinians in a family setting,laity in today’s world, and Augustinian youth.All three helped us to come to know better thereality of lay Augustinians composed both ofAugustinian Lay Fraternities of the Order ofwhich they are a part, and other groups of laityintimately united and close to the Order butwithout a juridical commitment.

The experience of communion betweenboth realities superseded the differences andwe were able to experience a true sense of uni-ty among all participants. This is to be the roadto follow into the future. Surely, there are chal-lenges that we all must face, if we want to bethe Body of Christ in today’s world.

An important aspect of the gathering wasthe methodology proposed by the various re-gional groups for the election of the coordina-tors who will continue to work with the friars ofthe Order. Some have already been elected,

The offertory at the closing mass in the Basilica Sant’Agostinowith the Prior General, Fr. Robert F. Prevost, O.S.A., presider

Participants listen to a lecture in the Auditorium of the Augustinianum

Participants present the flag of their respective countries

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LAY AUGUSTINIAN CONGRESS IN ROME(11 – 17 July 2012)

the great singing by choir and congregation.On Monday, the 10th September, in Incheon

Catholic cathedral, Cardinal Grech ordained to thepriesthood, Matteo Cho Woo-Hyeong O.S.A. Thiswas also the cardinal’s first ordination. The bishopof Incheon, Boniface Choi, was also in attendanceand the cathedral was packed.

Cardinal Grech rightly considers himself a mis-sionary, at least indirectly, as so many of his studentsover the years came from missionary countries. Ko-rea was no exception and during his 10 day stay hewas met and feted by several of his former studentswho are now bishops, seminary rectors and profes-sors in their own right. One of these was Bishop Laz-zaro You, Bishop of Daejeon, who organized for Car-dinal Grech a visit to two martyr shrines in hisdiocese. The Catholic church in Korea is just 230years old but the first 100 years saw five major perse-cutions of Christians. Apart from the official 103canonized martyrs there were many unknown mar-tyrs who were summarily killed and buried in mass

graves. It was one of these sites that theCardinal visited. The other was the birthplace of the first Korean priest, Kim Dae-Gon, who was martyred at the age of 24years. The remaining time spent by theCardinal was in giving a spiritual talk atthe Incheon Catholic seminary to over100 seminarians, visiting the 2 other Au-gustinian houses and taking in the cultur-al sites of Seoul and its surroundings.Highlights were also visits to two famousBuddhist temples.

For the last 2 years the Delegation of Korea,numbering just 11 solemnly professed Koreans, hasbeen working on a building project for a retreatapostolate in the Diocese of Uijongbu, north ofSeoul. To celebrate the completion of the first stageof this project they invited Cardinal Prospero Grechto join them and he graciously accepted.

On Saturday, September 8, a new church andpriory were consecrated by the Bishop of Uijongbu,Bishop Peter Lee, with Cardinal Grech, the papalnuncio, Bishop Osvaldo Padilla, the Australianprovincial, Fr. Tony Banks and Fr. Armando Dayaorepresenting the Cebu province, in attendance. TheDelegation superior, Fr. Jacobo Seo, welcomed thevisitors and some 500 Augustinian supporters.

The church seats 120 people and the priory,which will now also serve as the novitiate house, has10 rooms for the friars, novices and private re-treatants. The foundations of the retreat houseproper have also been laid. It will have 14 twin bed-rooms and will be able to take up to 30 retreatants.The completion of this building will form stage 2 ofthe building project, the goal set for 2013.

Earlier on the same day Cardinal Grech hadbaptized Augustine Park Jong-Geun (78), a majorbenefactor of the Order in Korea. It was he who do-nated the land on which the new buildings stand andhe contributed in large part to the building of thechurch. This was Cardinal Grech’s first baptism ofan adult. In Korea the majority of baptisms are ofadults. Ten percent of Korea is now Catholic with alarger percentage still being Protestant. Buddhism isthe other main religion.

On Sunday morning Cardinal Grech took partin a typical Korean 11 am Sunday parish Mass andwas impressed by the dignity of the service and by

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Visit of Cardinal Prospero Grech O.S.A. to Korea

The new church consecrated on September 8, 2012

His Eminence Prospero Cardinal Grech, O.S.A., with the bishop of Incheon, Most Rev. Boniface Choi,the Prior Provincial of Australia, Rev. Fr. Tony Banks, O.S.A.,with some members of the Order and the Korean clergy

Under the MOTTO “Contem-plate your face in silence, cele-brate your love in communion”,the first days of the AugustinianNuns of Contemplative Life wereheld in Guadarrama (at the FrayLuis de León residence, of theProvince of Castile, in Madrid),from 30 September to 5 October.

The gathering was convoked bythe Prior General, Robert F. Pre-vost, and the three FederationPresidents, M. Rita Piccione fromthe Italian Federation, M. MariaInés Dias and M. Natividad Sal-vador, from the Federations ofSpain. In the first week of October a

hundred or so Augustinian Sistersof Contemplative Life met, com-ing from different countries:Spain, Italy, Philippines, Romania,Kenya, United States, Canada,Ecuador, Peru, Chile, Panama andBolivia, in representation of allthe Monasteries of the Order.

Prior to this, thecommunities had di-alogued and reflect-ed on certain points,as a preliminary taskfor the work of thesedays. The areas re-flected upon werethe inner voice,prayer, lectio divina,fraternal life, forma-tion, communionand ecclesiality in thecertainty that a re-turn to our rootswould be a source of renewal andauthenticity, rekindling joy in ourown identity.The principal aims of this meet-

ing were to become acquaintedwith the different paths for livingout the Augustinian contempla-tive vocation, and to share a livedexperience with a view to closerties of friendship and fraternityamong monasteries and federa-tions. The meeting provided an

opportunity for our mutual en-richment deriving from culturaldiversity and the universality ofthe Order. Indeed, this wouldserve to fortify communion be-tween the Augustinian Sisters andBrothers as a sign of unity at theservice of the Gospel.

On 30 September the PriorGeneral opened the assembly witha celebration of the Eucharist, in-

INTERNATIONAL ASSEMBLY OF AUGUSTINIANS OF CONTEMPLATIVE LIFE

(Guadarrama, 30 September - 5 October, 2012)

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sisting in his homily on UNIONand COMMUNION in the diversi-ty of cultures, communities andways of thinking and feeling.In the course of the week we

dedicated one day to practisingcontemplation together. We alsoreflected on the spirituality ofSaint Augustine and on some ofthe most important virtues, suchas humility and charity, so neces-sary for living life in common. Onother days we shared variouspoints of view on the theme ofapostolic and contemplative lifein the community. Another of thecentral themes of this assemblywas: What does it mean to belongto the Order of Saint Augustine?The Prior General stressed in hishomily for the mass of thanksgiv-ing on the last day, 5 October, that

there are elements in common inour lives (as women and men reli-gious) which unite us, over andabove differences and changes,and these constitute the gift ofUNITY. We receive this unity as agrace which we need to reinforceand cultivate, so that we ourselvesmay become a sign of communionin the single body of Christ, someaningful in the life of the firstChristian community, as describedin the Acts of the Apostles.

The last day is general assembly,with the conclusions and propos-als, went deeper into the title ofthe congress: “Contemplate yourface in silence, celebrate yourlove in communion”. Silence,prayer, the inner voice, togetherwith communion in charity (in

Deum), in community life repre-sent important goals opening usup to the future, with challengeswhich need to be renewed andloved by each community and byeach sister in a concrete way.

This assembly, the first ever inthe Order at this level, has throwninvaluable light on the presentsituation of our communitiesand monasteries, but this is notenough. Now let us start off on anew path, respecting and main-taining what is permanent, butopen to the light and guidance ofthe Spirit, which will help us toread the signs of the times and tolive out our charism with a re-newed commitment.

P. ALEJANDRO MORAL ANTÓN, OSA

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1. A Eucharistic celebration during the assembly

2. The participants of the first internationalassembly of OSA Contemplative Nunstogether with the Prior General, Rev. Fr. Robert F. Prevost, O.S.A.

3. Participants take some photographs for posterity

4. Participants in session

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Growing in Communion:Revitalizing Community Life

The 8th Ordinary Provincial Chapter of theProvince of Cebu was celebrated April 16-21, 2012 atthe Santo Niño Spirituality Center in Tolotolo, Conso-lacion, Cebu with the theme: Growing in Com m union:Revitalizing Com m unity Life. For twenty-eight years,since its solemn inauguration on January 15, 1984, theProvince has worked toward realizing its vision of be-ing “a community of brothers and friends, living har-moniously with one mind and heart intent upon Godand sharing goods in common for the service of thepeople of God” despite the many challenges it has en-countered. It has continued its commitment to incar-nate the Augustinian way of life in its various areas ofapostolate, growing in communion as it responds tothe needs of the Church and the Order. Anticipatingnew challenges ahead, it prepares itself with relevantprograms for the next four years (2012-2016).

Pre-Chapter Day of Recollection

A day of recollection was attended by all themembers of the Province present in the Philippines to-gether with the Prior General, Fr. Robert F. Prevost,OSA on April 16, in order to offer all members a prop-er disposition for the Chapter and for the new term.The day started with the enthronement of the imagesof Sto. Niño de Cebu, Our Mother of Good Counseland St. Augustine. Thus a fitting mood for prayer andreflection was established.

The morning session was facilitated by Fr. Corne-lio Alpuerto, SVD, former Provincial of the SVD Cen-

tral Province in the Philippines. He invited the friars toreflect on discipleship as a call and a challenge thatbrings about deeper relationship with the Lord. Hismessage was that any encounter with the Lord in reli-gious life in particular or life in general is an invigorat-ing, life-changing and life-giving experience. This ex-perience is necessary for any growth in communion tohappen. Thus, growing in communion is growing indiscipleship or vice-versa. Fr. Alpuerto also led the fri-ars in a reflection on the nature of the Holy Trinitywhich is a prototype of love, sharing, self-giving andself-emptying. It is also a model for solidarity, coopera-tion and fellowship which are essential values in revital-izing community life.

Fr. Prevost was the resource person in the after-noon session. He opened his talk by relating the themeof the Chapter to the specific verse from the Acts ofthe Apostles, “the community of brothers has onemind and heart”. He noted that the most powerful actof the Holy Spirit was the creation of the first Christiancommunity. This means that common life is funda-mental in Christian life. Quoting the former PriorGeneral, Fr. Theodore Tack, OSA, Fr. Prevost empha-sized that, based on our Augustinian tradition “com-munity is our primary apostolate”. He also encouragedthe brothers to reflect on the prophetic nature of com-munity life: that it should bear signs of fraternity, soli-darity, respect for others, and must be rooted in chari-ty. This means that to be prophetic, brothers must bemen of God, that is, rooted in Him and constantly

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formed by His word. This was the challenge he gave tothe brothers as the Chapter was about to officiallyopen.

Opening Mass

The opening mass was presided by Fr. Prevost atthe Minor Basilica of Sto. Niño. In his homily, hestressed that communion is where brothers under-stand their common identity as persons called to livetogether and to be rooted in God. He encouraged thefriars to continue believing in the importance of com-munion as they begin their journey for the next fouryears. The installation and confirmation of the newPrior Provincial and Counselors were done within thecelebration. Fr. Eusebio B. Berdon, OSA was re-electedPrior Provincial and the four counsellors are: Fr. An-drew P. Batayola, OSA, Fr. Jonas Mejares, OSA, Fr.Frederick C. Commendador, OSA and Fr. Victor Gon-zaga, OSA.

In its desire to continue sharing the Order’s spiri-tual benefits, seventeen lay collaborators from fourcommunities of the Province were affiliated to the Or-der on the same occasion. The Prior Provincial deliv-ered his inaugural address before the final blessing.He enjoined the brothers to look forward with hopeand to have a sense of optimism as the Province entersinto a new term; a period with many challenges but anopportunity to revitalize community life.

Chapter Proper

The Chapter proper started with forty five officialmembers led by Fr. Prevost who was also Chapter pres-ident. Fr. Rommel Par, OSA, Assistant General, wasalso in attendance. In his opening address, Fr. Prevosthighlighted some important points for reflection: thecontemplative dimension of our Augustinian way oflife, the need for caring for each other’s vocation andthe Order’s expectation that the Province contributeto evangelization in Asia. After the election of the offi-cials of the Chapter and other preliminary procedures,the Prior Provincial delivered the Stateof the Province address. Thereafter,the election of the Provincial Secretaryand Provincial Treasurer followed. Fr.Dante O. Juloc. OSA was elected Secre-tary while Fr. Rodolfo Bugna was re-elected Treasurer. The Chapter contin-ued with the presentation of thereports of the fifteen communities andvarious institutions in the Province.

The Chapter members, with theirrenewed fervor for the Augustinian way

The members of the Provincial Council with the Prior General, Rev. Fr. Robert F. Prevost, O.S.A.

Left: The members of the Province with the Prior General after the opening mass of the ProvincialChapter in the Basilica del Santo Niño in Cebu

Right: The participants of the Ordinary Provincial Chapter held last April 2012 in Cebu

of life, actively involved themselves in the planning ofthe programs for the next four years. Each one ex-pressed his insights on the proposals being presentedwith conviction and good intention. One of the high-lights of the Chapter, which expresses the aim of theProvince to extend its ministries and affirms its mis-sionary zeal, is the creation of three new communitiesor areas of apostolate. These communities are: theUniversity of San Agustin-Sambag Extension Campusin Iloilo City, the Sta. Ana Sub-Parish in Burgos, Siar-gao Island, Surigao del Norte and a mission parish inthe Diocese of Bayombong in the town of Saguday,Quirino. Furthermore, the Province has reaffirmed itssupport of the needs of the Order by expressing itsdesire to help other provinces.

Looking Forward

The 8th Ordinary Provincial Chapter, with all itsplans and programs for the new term as well as the re-newed faith and conviction of the members, has giventhe Province direction that leads toward the realizationof its vision. This Chapter has also given the friarsmuch reason to look forward to a bright future and tocelebrate the Province’s unwavering commitment tocommon life and service to the people of God.

FR. DANTE O. JULOC, OSAProvincial Secretary - Prv. CAE

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ligious and the support of formators, and Augustin-ian vocations. Larger events have included a bi-annu-al gathering for novices for fourteen days (withnovices from as many as six male and female reli-gious congregations participating), and an all-nightannual Augustinian vocations jamboree in Cebu thathas sometimes attracted as many as 2,700 partici-pants. As well, an issue of the APAC Bulletin has beenproduced every six months for over a dozen years.

There has been an APAC Convention everythree years since 1980, and from this event over adecade ago grew the practice of the seven Asia Pacif-ic leaders of the Order of St Augustine also meetingby themselves for an additional period either imme-diately before or after the APAC Convention. This in-formal gathering led Fr. Patrick Fahey O.S.A. to for-malize this gathering successfully, while he was theAustralian Provincial, under the title of the Order ofSt. Augustine in the Asia Pacific (OSAAP). Hence-forth OSAAP usually met annually, rather than onlyevery three years.

OSAAP noted the renewal program adopted byOALA in Latin America, and had Fr. Art PurcaroO.S.A. (Peru) advise on a similar renewal program

Contact and co-ordination throughout the vastAsia Pacific is maintained both by the Order of St.Augustine in particular and by the broader Augustin-ian family of numerous religious orders and congre-gations in general. For the latter purpose, the Augus-tinian Asia Pacific Conference (APAC) was begun inRome on 13th September 1977 during an Augustin-ian General Chapter, and then other male and fe-male Augustinian congregations were progressivelydrawn into it, such that APAC now embraces overtwenty religious congregations that have an estimat-ed 2,500 professed members in Asia Pacific. Theseprofessed minister in the Philippines, India, Indone-sia, Australia, Japan, Korea, Thailand, Vietnam, Tai-wan, China and New Zealand.

Every year there are a number of APAC eventsorganised by some of the five APAC sub-committees(Commissions). These events are most frequentlyheld in the Philippines because of its convenient lo-cation within the Asia Pacific, but occasionally APACevents have also been held in India. Usually takingfive days, these events have each centred on one ofthe following topics: Augustinian spirituality, socialjustice and ecological awareness, the formation of re-

Conquering Vast Distances in Asia Pacific

Delegates of the 2012 APAC Convention, held on 27th – 29th February 2012 at Villa Consuelo Retreat House in the Del Rey Ville subdivision, Camarin Novaliches, Caloocan City, (not far from Manila), Philippines.

Back row (left to right): Fr. Tetsuya Hirano O.S.A. (Japan), Fr. Willy Arana O.S.A. (Vicariate of the Orient), Fr. Bernard Holzer a.a. (Philippines), Sr. Imelda Mora ASOLC (Philippines), Fr. Tony Banks O.S.A. (Australia), Fr. Dave Austin O.S.A. (Australia), Bro. Salesio Lee O.S.A. (Korea), Fr. Hiroyuki Shibata O.S.A. (Japan).Front row (left to right): Fr. Victor Gonzaga O.S.A. (Cebu), Sr. Ma. Luz Mijares ASOLC (Philippines),

Fr. Anson Joseph O.S.A. (India), Fr. Conrad Ngadur O.S.A. (Papua, Indonesia), Fr. Andrew Batayola O.S.A. (Cebu),Fr. Bernard Baru O.S.A. (Papua, Indonesia), Fr. Eusebio Berdon O.S.A. (Cebu), Sr. Ignatia Tuti from Augustinian Sisters

of Divine Mercy (Indonesia), Fr. Suh In-Seok Jacobo O.S.A. (Korea), Sr. Felisitas Noli from Augustinian Sisters of Divine Mercy (Indonesia), Ms. Bernadina Abuan (APAC Secretary Emeritus), and Sr. Jocy Widwid ASOLC (Philippines).

PROVINCE OF NIGERIA : (2012-2016)

Prior Provincial: - Fr. John ABUBAKAR

Counsellors: - Fr. Raymond HICKEY - Fr. Modestus ONUOHA- Fr. Augustine GARBA - Fr. Joel OKOJIE

Econome: - Fr. Peter MEDUGU

Secretary: - Fr. Anthony Ikechukwu KANU 2

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adapted for the Order of St. Augustine throughoutthe Asia Pacific region; this program then com-menced two years ago. The renewal program facesgreat external challenges: the seven participating Au-gustinian jurisdictions are located over a third of theworld, based on two different continents and scat-tered around two different oceans; travel betweenthese nations requires expensive international air-line journeys of up to ten hours in duration and iscomplicated by visa regulations, and these jurisdic-tions involve a total of six different native languages– English, Tagalog, Malayalam (in Kerala, India), In-donesian, Japanese and Korean. Guest speakers fromoverseas usually have to communicate to their audi-ence via a translator.

OSAAP involves the Augustinian Provinces ofAustralia and Cebu, the Vicariate of the AugustinianMartyrs of Japan, the Vicariate of the Orient, and theDelegations of Korea, India and Papua (Indonesia).As of late February 2012 the newly-elected presidentof OSAAP is Fr. Tony Banks O.S.A. (Australia), whosucceeded Fr. Eusebio Berdon O.S.A. (Cebu) in thatoffice. In that same week, Fr. Banks was succeeded as

APAC President by Fr. Bernard Holzer A.A., whothereby became the first Assumptionist to leadAPAC, and only the fourth person not a member ofthe Order of St. Augustine to become one of thefourteen successive presidents in the thirty-five yearhistory of APAC.

MICHAEL ENDICOTT O.S.A.

Fr. Tony Banks O.S.A.(Provincial, Australia), thenewly-elected President ofOSAAP and the President

Emeritus of APAC

PROVINCE OF ITALY : (2012-2016)

Prior Provincial: - Fr. Luciano DE MICHIELI

Counsellors: - Fr. Bernardino PINCIAROLI - Fr. Giuseppe PAGANO- Fr. Gabriele PEDICINO - Fr. Pasquale CORMIO

Econome: - Fr. Domenico GIACOMOBELLO

Secretary: - Fr. Francesco GIULIANI

PROVINCE OF POLAND : (2012-2016)

Provincial Superior - Fr. Wieslaw DAWIDOWSKI

Counsellors: - Fr. Piotr Szymon JANKOWSKI - Fr. Przemyslaw PLATA

Econome: - Br. Jan Michal LEGOCKI

Secretary: - Fr. Lukasz Beniamin KUCZALA

A New Beginning of Augustinian Presencein Havana, Cuba

Institute of Ecclesiastical Studies at the Felix Varela Center

During the recent visit of Our Holy Father,Benedict XVI, the cameras of the world were focusedon Cuba. From the 26th to the 28th of last March, fora brief moment, people of all continents were wit-nesses of what goes on in this island country andcould see what the Catholic Church of Cuba is doingconcretely in its mission of evangelization. After along period of persecution and of life in the cata-combs, the memorable event of Blessed John PaulII’s historic visit on 1998 represented a rebirth of theChurch of Cuba to a new life. From that moment on,she has been recovering her rightful place in Cubansociety which she held for a number of centuries andwhich was then denied her by the communist revolu-tion of 1959.

John Paul II made that pastoral visit so thatCuba “might open itself to the world and the worldto Cuba”. Thirteen years have now passed since thenand Benedict XVI came to strengthen the Catholicsof Cuba and all those who live in Cuba in their faithand to proclaim that: “truth is a yearning in the hu-man heart and the search for its fulfillment alwayspresupposes an exercise of authentic freedom …Faith and reason are necessary and complementaryin the search for truth … It is certainly not irrational-ity, but rather a desire for truth that promotes Chris-tian faith …” (Homily of our Holy Father in the Plaza JoséMarti of the Revolution, Havana, 28 March 2012). Co-herent with his thinking and expressed in an un-equivocal manner in his most recent book, Jesus ofNazareth, from the Entrance into Jerusalem to the Resurrec-tion, the pope, in a loud and clear voice without fearasserted: “The right to religious liberty, as much in itsindividual expression as in its communitarian dimen-sion, manifests the unity of the human person who iscitizen and believer at the same time”. Speaking ofthe mission that the Church of Cuba must accom-plish, Benedict XVI at the end of his homily, with hislegendary serenity and with a voice that while notreaching far, penetrates deeply the mind and theheart, exclaimed: “It is hoped that the momentmight soon arrive here, also, in which the Churchmight bring to the field of knowledge the benefits ofthe mission which the Lord has entrusted to it andwhich can never be overlooked.”

As I tell you about the Institute of EcclesiasticalStudies at the Felix Varela Cultural Center and thecommitment of our Augustinian community of Ha-

vana, I have chosen not to give a historical overviewof the Institute’s beginnings, nor of our Augustiniancollaboration with the Cardinal Archbishop of Ha-vana, Jaime Lucas Ortega Alamino. Rather, I preferto focus on this current historical moment and thegreat adventure which our Holy Father, BenedictXVI, by his presence among us and through hishomily on the 28th of March 2012, has chosen notonly to bless but has also proposed as one of themost urgent and important tasks of the CubanChurch.

It’s clear that the Institute and our collabora-tion did not begin as a spontaneous creation ex nihi-lo, but rather as the mature fruit of a long process ofgrowth. The Archdiocese of Havana and its San Car-los and San Ambrosio seminary are intimately tied tothe formation of the Cuban nation. The seminarywas first a school established by the Jesuits at thatseminary in the 18th century at which a number ofCuban priests also studied. It was there that the fa-mous Felix Varela taught. He was declared Venerablelast March and was known for teaching Cubans tothink as Cubans. The seminary building, however,was no longer in proper condition to function as aschool of formation of seminarians. Consequently,some years ago, Cardinal Jaime decided to constructa new seminary building outside the city of Havanawhere seminarians could be formed in an environ-ment appropriate for our times. Immediately after-ward, a question was raised: What will we do with theold seminary (today known as the first San Carlosand San Ambrosio seminary)?

Little by little an idea emerged to transform thebuilding and this historical ecclesiastical institutioninto the Felix Varela Cultural Center. In a recent in-terview by the online magazine Progreso Semanal, enti-tled: Towards a dialectic of dialogue and reconciliation(Por una dialéctica del diálogo y la reconciliación), therector of this center and of the Institute of Ecclesias-tical Studies, Fr. Yosvany Carvajal Sureda, comment-ed on the purpose of both initiatives in these terms:“In this new Cultural Center we want to continue topromote dialogue, which has been fruitful up untilnow, with the world of culture and its various mani-festations. … Another role of vital importance thatthe center will have is the formation of Catholic laity,through an Institute of Ecclesiastical Studies whichwill function within the same Center and which is

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work inspired by the Augustinian charism which ourbrothers from the Province of St. Thomas of Villano-va (USA) had carried forth from 1953 – 1960 at theUniversity of St. Thomas of Villanova of Havana. Thecircumstances have changed, but it is this same spiritthat we are now called to instill in the Institute of Ec-clesiastical Studies and the Felix Varela Cultural Cen-ter through our presence and our collaboration. To-gether with St. Augustine and our charism we searchfor the truth which will make Cuban men andwomen free, true citizens and reformers of their owncountry; and for those who are Christian, the truththat will allow them to be authentic and committeddisciples of the Lord. This is the mission which Car-dinal Jaime, our Archbishop, entrusts to us Augus-tinians. May this trust be translated now into a firmcommitment on our part!

FR. LUCIAN BORG, OSA

tied inseparably to the Center’s pastoral mission.Through this institute, we want to form a committedlaity within society who from an eminently Christian-Catholic way of thinking can serve as bridges to theintellectual sectors of society within the country. I be-lieve that all of this is possible thanks to the remark-able capacity this building has to attract many peoplebecause of its historical and cultural significance.”(in Espacial Laical, online edition, June, n° 183).

This affirmation of the mission of the Instituteof Ecclesiastical Studies which forms part of thewider purpose of the Félix Varela Cultural Center isclear and expresses without ambiguity the cultural,pastoral and evangelizing mission to which our Au-gustinian Order now wants to commit itself. In onesense, the members of our Augustinian communityin Havana, in a new religious and political – culturalsituation, will be able to continue the evangelizing

The groundbreaking ceremony for a new ColegioSan Agustin (CSA) campus in Baranggay TungkongMangga, San Jose del Monte, Bulacan took place onAugust 27, 2012. The traditional ceremony of the lay-ing of the cornerstone symbolizes the formal construc-tion of the school’s construction.

Monsignor Andres S. Valera, H.P., Vicar Generalof Malolos, blessed the grounds and the timecapsule set to be opened in 25 years. TheAugustinians were led by Fr. PeterCasino OSA, of the Vicariate of theOrient, CSA-Makati Rector Fr. Ho-racio R. Rodriguez, OSA, Vice-Rector Fr. Julian C. Mazana, OSAand Sister Cecilia Ibana, OSA ofthe Augustinian Sisters of Our Ladyof Conso lation. Congressman Ar-turo Robes and his wife FloridaPerez-Robes, representatives ofMayor Reynald San Pedro, joinedin the ceremonies.

The 20-hectare Colegio SanAgustin-San Jose del Monte (CSA-SJDM) will offer world-class edu-cation, catering to different learn-ers, regardless of race, color andcreed. Maintaining CSA-Makati’sculture of excellence, the new cam-

pus will have the following offerings: regular curricu-lum (K to 12 program), Home Study Program, specialeducation, multicultural education, and specializedsports and arts program.

CSA-SJDM will open in June 2014.

The Augustinian legacy lives on!

Groundbreaking for a Premier School

Left to right: Vice-Rector Fr. Julian C. Mazana, OSA, Pro-Vicar of the Vicariate of the Orient Fr. Peter Casino, OSA, Mrs. Irene Marcos Araneta, Mr. Gregorio Araneta III,

Rector Fr. Horacio R. Rodriguez, OSA, Board of Trustees Chairperson Ms. Margarita Cojuangco,members of the Board Antonio Cumagun and Eduardo Lopez, Barangay Captain Bernardo

Medina, ASOLC Vicar General Sr. Cecilia Ibana, OSA and Architect Ireneo Jasareno.

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BLESSED SIMON

RETURNS TO FLORENCE

From the 14th to the 29th of April, 2012, the city of Florence, Italy,

was host to one of its celebrated adopted citizens, known in fact, as

“the Apostle of Florence,” Blessed Simon Fidati of Cascia. The occasion

was a two week series of conferences, liturgies, and celebrations, and

the setting was our Basilica of Santo Spirito. The relics of Blessed Simon

and of the Eucharistic Miracle which is associated with him, were

brought from Cascia where they are ordinarily venerated in the crypt of

the Basilica of Saint Rita, to the city where Simon was a frequent visitor

and popular preacher.

The relics and the Eucharistic Miracle arrived on the afternoon of

Saturday, April 14, as light rain fell, and were solemnly received in the

piazza outside the Basilica. Shortly thereafter, the Archbishop of Flo-

rence, Cardinal Giuseppe Betori, celebrated the Eucharist. In the course

of his homily, he noted, “We are happy - and are grateful to the Augus-

tinian community of this basilica - to welcome this evening amongst us

the body of a Blessed who has given great witness by his life and who

has made a strong appeal to the Gospel in our city, Blessed Simon of

Cascia. We know how the example of his life and the strength of his

preaching made a great appeal for the conversion of 13th Century Flo-

rence, a society filled with many vices, issuing a call to return to the

Gospel and showing how there could emerge from it a deep harmony

between personal life and the construction of an ordered civil life. May

his presence reawaken in us that missionary impulse which guided his

missionary work in Florence and which has its roots in the words which

we have heard Jesus direct to his disciples in the Gospel: ‘As the Father

has sent me, so I send you’ (Jn 20, 21). This is the mission of believers,

the proclamation of reconciliation and peace.”

Conferences were offered throughout the period of celebration by

several friars and experts. Fr. Willigis Eckermann OSA spoke on the

topic, “Blessed Simon as Promoter of Faith through the Proclamation of

the Gospel.” On a day especially devoted to priests and prayer for voca-

tions, Bishop Giovanni Scanavino OSA addressed the topic “Blessed

Simon: Priesthood and Eucharist.” Fr. Remo Piccolomini OSA, on the

day dedicated to consecrated life, used as his theme, “I have been cru-

cified with Christ, and it is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in

me” (Gal 2, 19b-20a). On the same day, Professor Francesco Santi

addressed the topic, “Cloister and Hermitage: Simon Fidati of Cascia

and the new forms of religious life at the beginning of the XIV Century.”

Several of these conferences can be found in Italian on the Basilica’s

web page:

http://www.basilicasantospirito.it/category/pubblicazioni-e-contributi/

Simon was born in Cascia toward the end of the 13th Century, a

member of the distinguished Fidati family. Initially, he dedicated his ener-

gies to the study of the natural sciences, but with a change of heart

decided to embrace religious life and to pursue the science of holiness.

He entered the Augustinian Order at about the age of 20, and following

his formation and studies, became an outstanding preacher and a mas-

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NEW POSTULATOR GENERAL

Fr. Josef SCIBERRAS (Prv. MEL)

NEW ECONOME GENERAL

Fr. Matthias HECHT (Prv. GER)

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ter of the spiritual life in Italy. His book, The Works of Our Savior, the

Lord Jesus Christ, gained a wide readership during the Middle Ages,

and his letters reveal his gift as an expert spiritual director. Combined

with his acute insights and persuasive style as a preacher, was his love

of simplicity and humility in religious life. He refused all honors and titles

offered to him, and preferred nothing more than to live a life of contem-

plation in solitude. Equally persuaded of the importance of obedience,

however, he continued to use his gifts in the direct service of others. He

founded two monasteries of nuns: that of Saint Elizabeth for former

women of ill repute who were converted in great numbers by Simon’s

preaching, and that of Saint Gaggio. Simon died in Florence on Febru-

ary 2, 1348, a victim of the pestilence which was devastating Europe at

the time. Gregory XVI confirmed his cult in 1833. His feast day is

observed on February 16.

The Eucharistic Miracle dates to an event that occurred during one

of Simon’s preaching assignments in Siena. There a priest who was

called to administer communion to an infirm person did not place the

sacrament in a pyx but hurriedly placed it between the pages of his breviary which mysteriously became

stained with blood. When the priest went to confess his lack of reverence to Simon, the latter asked for the

two stained pages and brought them, one to the friary of Perugia and the other to his own friary in Cascia.

The first disappeared during the time of the Napoleonic suppressions, the second has remained as an

object of devotion in Cascia and is carried each year in procession during the Feast of Corpus Christi.

NEW ASSISTANT GENERAL

Fr. Martín MICALLEF (Prv. MEL)

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The gathering of contemplative Augustinians

in the Philippines was held for the first time in the

Augustinian Monastery of our Mother of Good

Counsel, Bulacan, Philippines from January 31 to

February 4, 2012. It was a gathering attended by

all the Prioress/Delegate Superiors of the five Au-

gustinian Contemplative Monasteries in the Philip-

pines, plus a Delegate Superior of the Augustinian

Monastery of the Holy Trinity in

Puerto Bello, Merida, Leyte,

Philippines.

The theme was “WALK-

ING AND GROWING TOGETH-

ER, a Memory to Celebrate, a

Future to Build Together.” The

purpose of such a gathering is

“to start a series of annual

meetings in order to deepen re-

ciprocal knowledge, consoli-

date communion, and to focus

on the most important aspects

for an Augustinian Contempla-

tive presence, clear in its identi-

ty”. So, the nuns met to come

to know each other better, and

to deepen important aspects of

their charism in order to be and

to give a transparent witness of

what they live and believe as Augustinians.

The activity started with a Eucharistic celebra-

tion presided over by Fr. Eusebio Berdon, OSA,

Prior Provincial of the Province of Cebu. Then,

morning and afternoon conferences were held

each day with different topics and different invited

speakers:

First day: (morning) – Msgr. Bart Santos, a

biblical scholar and the Vicar of Religious of the

Diocese of Malolos, Bulacan, gave a short intro-

duction on the passage (Acts 4: 32ff.) about the

first Christian community in Jerusalem; (afternoon)

– Fr. Carlo Bittante, FDCC, gave a talk on Creative

Fidelity to one’s Charism and Permanent Forma-

tion.

Second day: (morning) – Fr. Lauro Larlar, OAR,

gave a talk on the Introduction to the Ratio Forma-

tionis; (afternoon) – Fr. Andrew Batayola, OSA,

gave a talk on the Spirituality of Love in St. Augus-

tine and St. John.

Third day: (morning) – Fr. Eusebio Berdon,

OSA, gave a talk on the Augustinian Contemplative

Nuns in the Documents of the Order; (afternoon) –

The afternoon of the last day was spent in sharing

and reporting on the nuns’ humble beginnings and

development of their respective foundations, and

the future prospective of each monastery. Also, the

nuns planned for the next gathering to be held

sometime in January 2013, the topics to consider,

expenses, and the venue of the next gathering.

Fraternal sharing of experiences throughout

this first gathering of Augustinian nuns ever held in

the Philippines was fully participated by all those

who were present. As the nuns returned home,

they brought with them, in their hearts, the good

tidings to be shared in their respective communi-

ties. Looking forward then for the next gathering in

January 2013 to be held in the Augustinian

Monastery of Santo Niño de Cebu, Mohon, Talisay

City.

SR. MA. ELIzABETH MONTuyA, OSA

Mother Prioress, Augustinian Monastery of Sto. Niño

THE FIRST GATHERING OF CONTEMPLATIVE AUGUSTINIANS IN THE PHILIPPINES

The participants of the first gathering of Contemplative Augustinians in the Philippines with the Prior Provincial of Cebu, Fr. Eusebio B. Berdon, O.S.A.

PUBLICATIONS: (in Italian)

The Heart of Fr. Marco Tells a Story: 26 years in Apurimac in the Peruvian Andeseditions Apurimac onlus, Rome 2011, 158 pp. with illustrations.

by Marco Morasca, OSA

The author of this volume, the Augustinian friar, Fr. Marco Morasca, was a missionary for 26 years. From1977 to 2003, he labored in Apurimac, a region in the Peruvian Andes to the south of Cuzco, one of the mostisolated corners of the American continent. Everything there seems to be ancestral, from the mountains to the an-imals to the population itself. Fr. Marco exerted all his energy, fulfilled his dreams and lived out the most creativeyears of his life among the people of that land. He would still be there, today, if he did not have to pay the costof living at the altitudes of the Apurimac region, a territory that rises from 2,800 to 5,500 meters above sea lev-el. Over the years it took its toll, confirming that he is not a native of that land. In 2003, his poor health forcedhim to return to Italy. However, his heart remained there, in the land of the condor and of the llama. What canwe say about his writings? Perhaps, that they are his ‘heart’s song’ to the land and to the people he had to leave;that they are at one time, a memoir, nostalgia, gratitude, a testimony, songs of hope … a flood of memories andemotions that come back, but perhaps outside of time and outside of space.

Extract from the Foreword by Pietro Bellini.

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