Augustinian Formation Centre

Since 2006 Augustinian Volunteers Australia (AVA) has presented its annual preparatory courses six times for intending Volunteers and other interested persons. This course has grown into an intensive full-time program of up to three weeks duration, for which through extra work involving written assignments the participants can obtain academic credi... t with the University of Newcastle via the Broken Bay Institute. The principal presenters of the course each year have been Fr Paul Maloney O.S.A., the director of the Augustinian Spirituality Centre at Greystanes (Sydney) and Mr Paul Wilson, who is employed full-time as the Justice and Peace Officer of the Australian Province. The former instructs in Augustinian spirituality and tradition, and the latter in social work and immediate matters in relation to volunteering in a supervised context. The underpinning thread is the Gospel principles of social justice, especially as evident in the words and deeds of St Augustine. Seven women and one man participated in the course during February 2013, coming from Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne. A greater proportion of them are aged in their early twenties and are university students, while two of them are teachers. For the number of hours that they will serve as Augustinian Volunteers for the next twelve months, they will be placed in an area of social disadvantage in their home town, and receive supervision and support from AVA. The 2013 preparation course concluded on Thursday evening, 21 February when Fr Tony Banks O.S.A. (Provincial) formally presented the new Volunteers with their certificates at Brookvale. Mr Paul Wilson spoke in commendation of the eight participants: Our 2013 Volunteers have commenced their year with a shared study of major theological concerns in Justice and Peace. We congratulate our new AVA members on their commitment and focus over these weeks and look forward to the important work they will do as they now commence ministry on behalf of the Augustinians." AVA volunteers are serving in Sydney and ...Read More