Fiesta Señor Sto. Niño

Province of Cebu - Philippines FIESTA SEÑOR STO. NIÑO

Nº 1 – 2011 At the heArt of filiPino life e r a t t i v o e r a c t i v e e r a c t i v o e r a k t i e f e r a c t i f e r a k t i v Orden de San Agustín de San Orden Ordine di Sant’Agostino Order of Saint Augustine of Saint Order di Sant’Agostino Ordine Province of Cebu - Philippines FIESTA SEÑOR STO. NIÑO

Nº 1 – 2011 AT THE HEART OF FILIPINO LIFE n í f e o t o s e v v v f u v i i g i i i i A t t

t t t t n t c c k c k a S

In this issue a a a a a a e r r r r r r d

n e e e e e e e d r O e n i t s u g u A

t n i a S

f o

front page: r e d r O

3. Editorial: A word from us

o n i t s o g A ’ t n

3. An Annual Cebu Fiesta with a worldwide influence a S

i d

e n i d r O augustinian family: OSA INTeractive 1-2011 6. Father Miguel Olaortua Laspra OSA, appointed new bishop of the Apostolic Vicariate of Iquitos (Peru) Editorial board: 7. Meeting of the OAE - Organization of the Augustinians of Europe Michael Di Gregorio, OSA Robert Guessetto, OSA 9. AFA 2011: Triennial Conference of the Augustinian Federation of Africa Melchor Mirador, OSA Kinshasa / Democratic Republic of Congo Translations coordinatore: 11 . Meeting of Secretaries of the Order of St. Augustine Robert Guessetto, OSA

11 . An Augustinian Nun at the foot of the cross Collaborators: Antonio Gaytán, OSA 12 2010 Assembly Of the Federation of Augustinian Contemplative Sisters. Giuseppe Cacciotti, OSA Federations of Our Lady of the Pillar and St. Thomas of Villanova Kolawole Chabi, OSA Miguel de la Lastra, OSA Paolo Del Bianco, OSA 13 Short news : Italy – Bishop Giovanni Scanavino, OSA Marco Di Benedetto, OSA Peru – Bishop Julian García Centeno, OSA Pasquale Di Lernia, OSA Jean Gray 14 Living in love Christian Iorio, OSA Matchado Jean, OSA Franz Klein, OSA 14 PuBLICATIONS : An Outline of New Testament Spirituality Claudia Kock Fr. Prospero Grech, OSA Edelmiro Mateos, OSA Brian O’Sullivan, OSA 16 A creative community for infirm friars Françoise Pernot José Fernando Rubio 17 . Ministry in the formation experience in Papua, Indonesia. Mauricio Saavedra, OSA Rafael Santana, OSA José Suoto, OSA 19. PuBLICATIONS : Encuentros de Fe. Horizontes de nueva evangelización Veronica Vandoni Vicente Domingo Canet Vayá PuBLICATIONS : Nueva Edición de las obras completas de Santo Tomás Graphic, layout and printing: de Villanueva Tipolitografia 2000 sas De Magistris R. & C. 20. Norang Narang, a Group Home for Boys. Via Trento 46, Grottaferrata (Rm)

21. PuBLICATIONS : Le soppressioni del secolo xIx e l’ordine agostiniano Edited by Luis Marín de San Martín, OSA

22. FLASH : New provincials-elect

23. Santo Niño Spirituality Center CURIA GENERALIZIA AGOSTINIANA Via Paolo VI, 25 – Roma (Italia) Tel. +39.06.680061 Fax +39.06.68006299 OSA Interactive and www.osanet.org - Information Network of the Order of Saint Augustine Email: [email protected] f

r o n t Editorial An Annual Cebu Fiesta p age A WORD FROM US with a worldwide influence

The current issue of OSA INT brings a change, not in the One of the best-attended annual Christian religious festivals in the presentation or focus of our magazine, but in the friars world, the Fiesta Señor Sto. Niño (“Festival of the Holy Child”), is responsible for its preparation conducted by the Augustinians in Cebu, Philippines, on the third Sunday and production. Since the third of each January. issue of 2007, Fr. Emanuel Borg Bonello, O.S.A., who was elected An estimated 2,200,000 persons witnessed the solemn procession of last year as Prior Provincial of the Sto. Niño image on 16th January 2011, a tally that increases annually. Malta, had been serving as The Prior Provincial of Augustinian Province of Cebu-Philippinas, Fr. “Director pro tempore” of the Eusebio Berdon O.S.A. explains: “Generally the Catholic Filipino people publication, generating a well- have a great love for the Holy Child, and have a strong faith in Him. A composed and neatly executed product. His four-year, temporary, great number are also religiously attached to the Sto. Niño, as He may labor of love, has come to an end have touched their lives in various ways. Most Filipino migrant workers now, and we offer him our sincere come home from abroad for Christmas and, as part of their promise and thanks and hearty congratulations devotion to the Holy Child, make sure to remain for the Sto. Niño feast.” for a work very well done! The origin of the devotion to the Sto. Niño goes back to the arrival Succeeding Father Emanuel in of the first Europeans in the central Philippines in March, 1521. Soon the work of composing and afterwards a small statue of the Sto. Niño was presented to the Queen of directing OSA INT is a new team Cebu by the Portuguese naval explorer and head of the expedition, consisting of friars Michael Di Gregorio, Robert Guessetto and Ferdinand Magellan. The baptism of the queen to the Catholic faith Melchor Mirador. Actually, Fr. along with the other members of the Royal Family had just been 3 Melchor is the newest addition to celebrated. the team, the others having served on the Editorial Board until now. The small statue of the Holy Child was rediscovered in Cebu in 1565 1 But even Fr. Melchor is no by members of the expedition led by Conquistador Miguel López de 1 0

stranger to long-time readers of Legaspi who had come from New Spain (Spanish-controlled Mexico) to 2

OSA INT .

make settlements in the Philippines. When the natives refused to allow –

the foreign visitors to land on their shores, the de Legaspi expedition A member of the Province of 1 Santo Niño of Cebu, he previously strafed the village of Cebu with canon fire. As the natives rushed to the collaborated in the production of mountains in fear, the Spaniards landed. the magazine from 1990 to 1992. Since that time he has worked in his province in various areas of responsibility, including as Prior Provincial. We welcome Father Melchor back to Rome and to OSA INT and we hope that together we will be able to continue the quality of writing and presentation we have become accustomed to in recent years.

This is also an appropriate moment to express gratitude to the many friars, friends and associates whose indispensable assistance as translators, editors, photographers, writers, and mailing staff, makes OSA INT a reality. This is a work of many people as you can see from the inside cover of the present issue.

FR. M ICHAEL DI GREGORIO , O.S.A. Coordinator of Communications The Santo Niño Pilgrim Center and the forecourt of the Basilica filled with the “Sinulog” dancers and the devotees E The Minor Basilica G of Santo Niño of Cebu a p

T n o r f

It was a Spanish soldier who found the statue of the Sto. Niño. The finding was considered miraculous 4 as the native dwelling hut that contained the image was the only structure that remained undamaged following the bombardment. On this exact location, Commodore de Legaspi ordered the construction of a chapel in which to enthrone the Sto. Niño. The five chaplains of the de Legaspi expedition were all Augustinians, led by Fray Andres Urdaneta O.S.A. These friars thus became the first missionaries in the Philippines and the custodians of the Sto. Niño.

De Legaspi’s rudimentary chapel has long since been replaced by the present Basilica shrine (officially, the Basilica Minore del Santo Niño de Cebu ). The original Sto. Niño statue of the sixteenth-century today has pride of place in a bullet-proof glassed chapel at a side altar of the Cebu Basilica, where an endless queue of devotees pays homage daily.

Although the annual celebration features a huge procession, the festival actually begins eleven days earlier with a nine-day novena of Masses, followed by another three days of more solemn Masses. Ten Masses are celebrated in the Basilica between 4.00 am and 8.00 pm on almost all of these days. The number of worshippers at the Masses increases as the feast day comes closer. And on the Feast Day itself, between 10,000 and 30,000 people attend each Mass, the crowds flowing over beyond the Basilica compound and into the neighbouring streets. As many as seventy priests concele - brate at some of the Masses.

In addition to these festival Masses, there are two large pro -

His Eminence Ricardo Cardinal Vidal (Cardinal Emeritus of Cebu) with the image of Señor Santo Niño, and the present Rector of the Basilica: Fr. Rodolfo A. Bugna O.S.A. cessions on the Saturday im - mediately preceding the feast day. The first of these is called the “fluvial” procession, held in the morning; this was added to the celebrations in the early 1980s. From the nearest sea port to the Basilica, the land ing of the statue (involving a replica of the Sto. Niño image) is re-enacted. Then a walking procession moves to the Basilica grounds for the re-enac ment of the first baptisms in the Philippines - that of the then local chieftain and his queen, followed by their people.

In the afternoon of that The Pilgrim Center Santo Niño same Saturday, the great solemn procession is held. For this ceremony, the Sto. Niño image (formerly the original, but because of its fragile physical condition, now a replica blessed by the Pope) is taken from its urn and re-dressed with new expensive vestments donated by devotees. The Sto. Niño image is the much-awaited feature of the procession, in which innumerable devotees participate through prayer and songs of praise throughout the procession.

The original Sto. Niño image, believed to come from Flanders, Belgium and dated around the 5 beginning of the 16 th century, is made of wood and stands about one foot (30 centimetres) high. 1

In general, the Sto. Niño fiesta is a major public attraction in Cebu each January. Some foreign tourists 1 are attracted by the more cultural side of the celebrations called the “ Sinulog ” – street competitions that 0 pay homage to the Holy Child through prayer dancing. The dancers express different forms of prayer-dance 2

to the Sto. Niño, asking favours (healing of sickness, success in an endeavour), or giving praise and – thanksgiving. In essence, the “ Sinulog ” is a religious dance, presented by devotees as an offering to the Sto. 1 Niño. The dance, before an image or at least facing the Basilica, may be performed by the devotee personally or vicariously through the “women sinulog prayer-dancers” who frequent the Basilica vicinity.

And why this great popularity of the Sto. Niño? It is widely believed that the Sto. Niño played an important role in the introduction of the Catholic faith to the Philippine Islands. In practice, the devotion is passed down in families from one generation to the next. As presented by the testimonies of devotees, ordinary people from different walks of life attest to how the Sto. Niño has granted a million petitions and answered their prayers.

At present there are eight members of the Augustinian Community who live at the Basilica. Their main apostolate is to attend to the spiritual needs of all devotees who visit the Basilica (providing Masses, the Sacrament of Reconciliation and counselling, directing the different mandated organizations of the Basilica) and propagating devotion to the Sto. Niño. The present Rector of the Basilica is Devotees during the feast of the Santo Niño Fr. Rodolfo A. Bugna, O.S.A. y l i Father Miguel Olaortua Laspra OSA, m

a appointed new bishop of the Apostolic Vicariate of Iquitos (Peru) f Most Reverend Father Miguel Olaortua Augustinian Province of Santísimo Nombre de n Laspra was ordained bishop on April 16 of this Jésus de Filipinas in the city of Valladolid. The

a year at San José Church in Bilbao, Spain. The following year he takes his Temporary Vows in i Ordaining Bishop was His Excellency, the Most the Order of Saint Augustine and begins his

n ecclesiastic career in the Augustinian Theological i Centre of Valladolid, completing it in the Faculty

T of Theology of the University of Deusto, in

s Bilbao. In 1986 he takes his Solemn Vows and in 1987 is ordained priest by the then bishop of u Palencia, Mons. Nicolás Castellanos, likewise an

G Augustinian. Sent to Rome, he studies in the

u Salesian Pontifical University, where he graduates with a degree in Educational Sciences, and a specialization in Youth Ministry and Catechetics. In 1990 he was assigned to San Agustín secondary school of Zaragoza, where he has worked until the present time, on the teaching The Ordination of Bishop Olaortua staff, in the Pastoral Department and occupy ing various administrative posts. Meanwhile he has Reverend Ricardo Blázquez Pérez, who had served collaborated in the parish and diocesan pas - 6 as pastor of this diocese for 15 years. He was toral, being Parish Vicar in the Parish of Saint accompanied by the Apostolic Nuncio, Bishop Rita of Cascia, Council member of the Cascian Renzo Fratini. The new bishop will exercise his Augustinian group, teacher in the School of pastoral ministry in the Apostolic Vicariate of Catechists of the Diocese of Zaragoza and Iquitos, Perú, the mission entrusted more than a member of the Diocesan Catechesis Team of that century ago to the Augustinian friars of the same city. Province of the Philippines (Spain). He will begin Since 1998 he has been a Provincial Council his ministry there on May 22. member, taking over for twelve years the Area of Father Miguel Olaortua Laspra was born 48 pastoral work of the Augustinian Province of years ago in Bilbao (Spain). The first part of his Santísimo Nombre de Jésus de Filipinas and, as primary schooling was in the French College of from the middle of 2010 the Area of Education. Bilbao and the last part of primary schooling, At the time of his appointment, Father secondary schooling and leaving certificate was Miguel Olaortua Laspra, besides being a Provincial with the Augustinian Fathers, in the Andrés de Council member, was Prior of the Community of Urdaneta secondary school of Loiu (Bizkaia), Zaragoza, Head of the Secondary school and entering in 1981 into the Novitiate run by the Parochial Vicar.

The Apostolic Vicariate of Iquitos, situated in the north-east of Peruvian Amazonia was entrusted by the Holy See to the Augustinian Province of the Very Holy Name of Jesus of the Philippines in the year 1901. The Vicariate is located in the city of Iquitos, which comprises a large number of parishes, to which should be added a further two along the Marañón river and one beside the Tigre river. Together with the Augustinians, who with their 19 members represent the most numerous group, there are lay priests working in the Vicariate, both of the same Vicariate and from other parts of Peru and the world, men and women religious from various congregations, to whom should be added a convent of women religious of contemplative life and hundreds of lay pastoral agents, who both along the rivers and in the city of Iquitos carry forward the whole of the pastoral work set in hand in the Apostolic Vicariate of Iquitos by Bishop Julián García Centeno, bishop from whom his newly appointed colleague is now taking over. Bishop Miguel Olaortua, OSA Meeting of the OAE - Organization of the Augustinians of Europe 28 February to 4 March 2011 “We saw and felt the clarity of your Presence” Short history of a Presence

The word “CLARE” - the name of the town in England where we are meeting - is almost the beginning of another word “clarity”, which perfectly summarises the living in faith of our meeting: a life of transparent fraternity. The second part of the word, “ITY”, marks the carrying out of our Rule: “unanimes habitetis in domo”, the ideal we are attempting in these days, with simplicity, to make real together. All of our meetings begin by lighting the candle received as a gift in the course of the Pope’s visit to England and which symbolises the “light of Christ” which is – as we requested - always with us; the shared experience and dialogue that we want to achieve throughout Clare Priory (1248) these days make it possible to feel ourselves brothers. Europe and, as an orientation for the future The first of our meetings, following the Novitiate (interprovincial) of the “Blessed 7 welcome on 28 February, was held on 1 March, Esteban Bellesini” of the South of Europe, the

dealing with the first topic of our meeting: the Statutes and Plan of formation were presented, 1 promotion of vocations. After the first session of accompanied by an audiovisual projection on 1 0

welcome we celebrated the Eucharist with the the Monastery of Santa María de la Vid (in 2 people in the chapel of the “Good Counsel” Spain) where the said Novitiate is now taking – parish church located within the Augustinian place, with novices from Italy, Portugal and Monastery of Clare Priory itself (founded in Spain. In the aforesaid dialogue difficulties 1 1248) where the meeting took place. This is the arose but, above all, the hope of being able to best way to express the life of this “house of integrate in the Novitiate of Europe, which is spirituality” and of our meeting dealing with the intercultural and interlinguistic, the projects concerns and hopes of all the brothers and and achievements already existing in each of sisters of Europe. Continuing our meeting, all our countries. the Provincials made known their opinions and On 2 March the opportunity arose of actions in the 12 provinces. That afternoon the holding a preparatory course for all those in topic was the organization of the Novitiate in Europe preparing to take their solemn vows, as was decided in the Intermediate General Chapter of Manila (IGC ’10 P2). The difficulty was in deciding on how and where, as well as on the date. Various offers of places and approaches were forthcoming, so that the Secretariat of the OAE was asked to take responsibility for its organization. In addition, the topic of collaboration with ongoing formation was also put forward (’07 OGC P1). In the afternoon session we dealt with the present situation and the possibility of collaboration between the different Study Centres of the Order, with special attention Provincials at work paid to the Augustinianum of Rome, the Saint 8 auGusTinian family p i A i D F Y s M i f r a r M A c f f t o d o w h S S O g i o t o ( l i A w n o n t n n o i i o h p e a B o s h a p u a u f f f i o r o o i s s u r u a : n g g t l

a r e t p d t

v e m i o t s e u e

a o i s E t l s p n e y e h g g n

h r o i e i e t 1 o

e t o

t i s l n l k p n

c t s n t r i e c i u

i c u i A h

g t m i t ) e l U F a

a w n h r ( e n n n a e C n i

w b

r g h w i v f a d s

i s r t A e s l d W u i n a u n l d e e e u

e i V

g t

b a e

l n t l a n h

i a

h i

s a A i s e c i d u i t g 2

d g p n l f h

d w m t G s d o l S n s n e t Y d n , t a p

n i o o m

i y 0 , u u a

r g y

à a c g o

t c

i o

D i l i d I

o e o e

i e e r

l a ) e ; s u 1 s u a l h t

o g r s

n a t s v l t

e a n a S m n y r N

p c h l a s t t a ) a c 2 n h d u t e s n

, s

t n T r o i p s t t a

o i l e b

h L t p i t t ,

t o h u n n

n y a t s h o e o i

n i d h

i h l c d i r h f a

h o t a e o n i

w g a t

t o C

r o t e

i n d u w

e a i o n u

e h ( r n ,

w C a a c m e d a r i y W e n r r h e

n h

v o l

s t g N m

h g a e k t u

n e E e t n , o

e t

u a w a

e u O

i 2 s A i

i r

e f u a a h t h

, ü s e a

i h i a F v c l x v .

l e i d l n

i a p ) w n

p c d t e p h m o u t n

n e

i A f a o r t t e r i t t e o S

g t t e h p o l

o e h z p a h d e g i i w g s i

E r n i e c E t E a a E

p n t e l r t

a t b e a

r f

k h n e i e e

u e a e d u y b t d g y o o

A e s e f e . v c a u n

o t s r e

e i

s a r . w

e n c c o s o g e u l a a f

t r n t a e n

u e r o f r I l d c a

t r t t h

o i

l f o k i r c

l a t T

r l n o s l g u L i n h t g e i o

e i t t f o g u d t

i n a

e t r s t o n s t f o h

p a a e

h s r n

m o g f h e C p i u h r y t i

a s ( q

e V n i p t

d b n a

t k a n

h e e

n e a g G o

o i t s r

h s e p l u c t n a o l s i h e l y t s o i

u s d d t (

n P e i e h

d c f s , o f f

n u o ) b r e l

e e g a i

f i f

e i e s o s

l s s t r o s n e e

p o r n n o n p

G n r t a e l h n a t c a .

i l e .

o f i r e i e r

s e P r t i f m a n n d l i

s n r d f c o o a n

n t o

t n

I e t h a

e a v a

f e o r m p y a u e

h r t o

p r e f i d o v c n r n a

n r t e ( t e d

a i M r l n t E i

b w t p i f h i r m e l (

c n e o e n 2 f

a v

a t i m m l

s h L

i a t r c

o r b p c n

C s i o

e h . r o d l e 0 v i

t a h y t y a i M n a f

c T e a e n u m i t r B h d i a e n e m g )

1 d n r e . T M W n e o t h n d o t s u i d

h g

o t l s r

l 1 e M u g a r e i r

a o S

a a

n i m

)

o v i t A

t e

o e m i a e e l

) o f

M P s e A n h n n i r

l A i e d

t , l n v e t o r

t h i

n n a r o u n a n n a

l y i u h w e g n n d r l o d

a e ) l y e i n t s i L f

l l

, . -

- - 1 e a d o

a d b

d h n d l h

t M g e c s 1

u j n n s s

l i d

g e e e i W e a i a n

Y l c t d d c s a l f e

c t s A e b r O r h o e h g i i o o e d s

o l t l r l

n a e i t u i i o i i

o t t i i

r A r r w c e n o o f n e h h e e 1 t o o s l i e r e a s E n h n n n d d d d o 7 g e e e y s t f f l , f b w t f o a t d c a m p d p t A F w t t u t “ w c w E w s m m t r h r o o h h h h u u o d u

r e u r r n a o m i h u i a i a o e e e g

f t e e a e t e t e e a n c r f v y l t s a w t “ h s e a m h h e e n o t e

t y

c s r o s m

a t r

u r i e S

e n e O t t o e e t i

( r e e t 4 A O W S I d O c r e c t n

i t n h r e p r t e n a n

3 r h s n n t n

e l

i a w h w t “ i g

i n A h a

m m M

o d p n

e e u . r u i s

m t p

c d

i f

c F g t

e h r u a i l

d h i e t r

M E r U s

s f a h r y t o o

i t t r

e r c

y 4 p n , a a s i e a o : h o e

n t

e i e y

w n

n c o i u

c ” e o r t d P r n o c

m s l a R d . c d a s p m n

i r M s í

a h e o d c h h f i d v r n o

n t r f

n , a t t u r t r ,

r u u

e h e

h a f i t

o c

a i s

e a s m c i

o i d O

b n l t

r c w c n l o

l s

l s n

c 1 h A

r e a

l h t d C i r a l e a e l f l n 2 e h p l p y p u u t h i c h e e 2 u p b

d i u o c u

) i a s l e r

n h t

t 0 l v T e

e v o m i c d n n

4 h e

i a a e r a u l r p i “ n o

M r e w t t g e 1 h e t x a e a t r t m

e s 8 w r t g i

h m , r i e s e f d d y

u 1 l s a

l s t t k p t a m p e n d a

e a i g s h d t e ” a

h i u

m i t n s

g t d t e i - o y i p

h n r

i o f y i

l h e e n s o E t l e a a t a m e v y

u o e e t

k h e j e u l i

y g u h D t , a a o y

r i .

n c n e l w k g a a l t i

s f s n c e i h

n a r i y

i r e n n n O i e o

u n u e r c e i

O T t e t d n e t n c l

t t e c c , g o a 5

e l i d

n r e s ”

i u g A F r o a M , h S g t a r a y g , s d l i

d t 3 r

n d

s e o E

s y

c n m

a l e i n

r l s a e

o 8 h

o p o e t n

e e e s e t f g r

t t r j “

d t c n s

o b

a o r s d o P i

m a h f n o ” y e e y

v o j

e i o t a n t p

C x d

o e

s h

n i y i l :

t a i c o g d G h e f a x g ( l n C n

t n t e a o i n t p c a ” i

y l l l i k

i “ e r h R r n u c

o e n e e h t e a .

a o g y l e c n g c

i ” a e o

n s h u y t

t g e

r e d L o r u r

g e l o

i g o

C m

r S h g f

h A l t

t e r s m e a t

t n u

) i f l

n a a b y d h 1 o

a o o

s e l e e e p e

t r o u

E b o s

s a n

s i P h i c

e 9

b o

f e

e r n , r r o i f t o t G n i f C t g r o

f r x o e g , c ” r l i e 5

t h o o

, r

a P 1 c

i n

e i n e u

t i t , r f p 1 o a u

o a C d w “ 3 b w n r p e e , m o

v o

n n s s g r

t 2 u

e u e d r o g

A l

3 t e e r ( c r t

t e

w r a

u s a o

r s i n h s , e a y v b h E a o

) u

w , l P u n o h

c , e r o h i a . r

i i n f h n w , o .

i i e e m n n n o e g r g i

a k i r

o w p s f s e p a t d s a f o t e o l n v e

d u

t u c g e n r l r l

p h p w a r o p n i a

e P i l

. v a

i c y t e

l d n l a s s a l a s e f e a e a u n e

i r l c i a s f c r e

i t e a

h l n y y v y

t s d r r d

t o i l

i e n a s i a r c

s s t t i i l i i i e t o

o n ( i m c

s n

i n n

n n n h m n h h a e r d o u n o o t o o e e m r e y e s ’ l d d o g g g g g g e e e a ) y r s s s s s t t t f f f f l :

- AFA 2011 Triennial Conference of the Augustinian Federation of Africa Kinshasa / Democratic Republic of Congo

The Augustinian Federation of Africa (AFA) held its triennial conference of 2011 from the 9 th to the 14 th of January in Kinshasa, capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo. The theme of the Conference was: Justice, Peace and Reconciliation in Post-synodal Africa.

1. Participants

The AFA conference in Kinshasa was attended by 43 Augustinians friars and sisters from Africa and Europe. The Curia was represented by the Prior General, Very Rev. Fr. Robert Prevost and the assistant general for Africa, Fr. Franz Klein. His Excellency Bishop John Namaza Niyiring, OSA, bishop of the Diocese of Kano/Nigeria actively participated in the Conference. Fr. Michele Falcone (Province of Italy) represented the Commission for Vocations. Fr Paul De Wit, President of the Federation of the Congo was involved in the various gatherings as Major Superior of the Vicariate of the Congo. Participants at the 2011 AFA conference in Kinshasa The following congregations and circumscriptions took part in the AFA Conference Kinshasa: the Province of Nigeria, the Community of Annaba, the Delegation of Kenya, the Vicariate of Tanzania, the Community of South Africa, the Augustinian Sisters of Shuwa/Nigeria, the Augustinian Sisters of South Africa, the Augustinian Sisters of Notre Dame/Togo, the Sisters of Saint Augustine/Benin, the Augustinian Sisters of Lubumbashi/DR Congo, the Augustinian sisters of Dungu-Doru - ma/DR Congo as well as the Vicariate of the Congo.

2. The Conferences

There were four talks around the theme of Justice, Peace and Reconciliation in Post Synodal Africa , the theme of the 2011 Conference. These were: 1. The Second Special African Synod: The urgent task of Evangelization – our service to reconciliation, justice and peace. By Bishop John Niyiring. 2. Peace and Reconciliation in the New Testament. By Fr. Guillaume Migbisiegbe, OSA /Congo 3. Justice, Peace and Reconciliation in Africa according to St. Augustine. By Fr. Stephano Msomba, OSA /Tanzania 4. Augustinian Spirituality and the call of the second synod for Africa. By Sr. Justine Ameadam/Benin.

3. The Vocations Congress

Beside the conference, a Congress for Vocations was held over two days at the request of Fr. Joseph Odour, OSA /Kenya, in charge of voca - tions in Africa. For that very reason, vocation directors and formators were invited to attend the Conference. Fr. Michele came especially for this Congress and gave an excellent talk on the current problem of vocations. After the Conference, Fr. Bob Karanja, OSA /Kenya and various vocation The Prior General Fr. Robert F. Prevost, OSA directors shared their experiences with participants. with a young professed student y

l 4. The major issues that emerged in the various discussions i 1. Peaceful coexistence between Christianity and Islam. m a.Peaceful coexistence of these two religions is possible. There are positive signs on the side of Islam a in Algeria. Cf. Fr. Raphael Abdilla Annaba. f b. Peaceful coexistence and open dialogue between the two religions are illusory for the time being. Cf. OSA/Nigeria. n 2. The role which the Order of Saint Augustine with its charism of anima una cor unum can play in an

a Africa torn by conflict and in need of development, justice and peace. i 3. The financial difficulties of the circumscriptions and the costs of travel in Africa do not facilitate the

n achievement of inter-circumscription activities. i 4. The Augustinian union across the Continent with regards to formation, exchange of staff and other

T programs or projects will strengthen the Order of Saint Augustine and make it more effective. s

u 5. Other activities at the Conference G 1. The cultural evening at St. Rita Convent u On Thursday, there was a dinner and cultural evening at the Convent of St. Rita in Kinshasa. The a evening was animated by the Scholastics and the Bees Music Group of St. Rita; it was a real success. We thank the community of Santa Rita, Kinshasa for the pleasure it offered to the participants of the AFA. 2. The trip to the Botanical Garden The tour took participants to Kinsantu Botanical Garden, 130 km 10 away from Kinshasa. Apart from the unfortunate delay of the bus and flat tires, participants experienced the realities of Congo outside Kinshasa. They visited the beautiful greenery and some species of the botanical garden Kinsantu. On their way back, they visited the large Cathedral of Kinsantu which is undergoing renovation. Participants of the conference celebrate Vespers with the community of the formation house in Kinshasa

6. The major achievement of this Conference 2011/Kinshasa

Under the impulse of the Prior General, a charter was developed for the creation of the Union of African Augustinians for a closer cooperation in formation, the common use of available personnel and the initiation and implementation of common projects and programs.

7. New AFA Board and the Next Conference

New AFA board is presented as follows: 1. Chairman: Fr. Hyacinth KANGYEP, Provincial of Nigeria 2. Vice-President and Treasurer: Sr. Francisca ABORENG, Superior of the Augustinian Sisters of Shuwa/Nigeria. 3. Secretary: Fr. MIGBISIEGBE Guillaume, Prior of the community of Saint Rita’s, Congo. The next AFA Conference (2014) will be held (barring unforeseen contingencies) in Lome, TOGO. We thank all who contributed in any way to the organization of this Conference.

Fr. Michel Mivunguba, OSA Chairman Emeritus. Meeting of Secretaries of the Order of St. Augustine 10-14 January 2011, Rome

A meeting of Secretaries of Circumscriptions of the Order was held in Rome between the 10th and the 14th of January 2011. 25 secretaries took part. The third edition of the Order’s “Manual for Secretaries” was presented and handed to each participant. The Secretary General, Fr. Miguel A. Martín Juárez OSA and the Procurator General, Fr. Alejandro Moral OSA, were the main lecturers, presenting themes linked to the different aspects of the administrative tasks of the Secretary: structures of the Order and the circumscriptions, admissions, dispensations, practical aspects of difficult situations (expulsions from the Order, sexual abuse, irregular status of a number of Religious…), as well as information on current archives, and recommendations for the treatment and conservation of documents. Participants were led by the Archivist General of the Order, Fr. Luis Marín OSA, through a visit of the Archives General of the Order.

An Augustinian Nun at the foot of the cross The Augustinian Contemplative Nuns of Italy were in the news face of God which illumines even the deepest this Spring owing to Pope Benedict XVI’s selection shadows… This nocturnal bird, with its big bright eyes that search the night, called me again and of Mother Rita Piccione to prepare the meditations 11 for Good Friday’s Way of the Cross at the again to seek the face of God, because only with Colosseum in Rome. Mother Rita is the President God’s eyes can the night become light. And the Way of the Cross - isn’t it a touch of night?” 1 of the Italian Federation of Augustinian Con - 1 templative Monas teries and is presently stationed Mother Rita is not the first woman invited to 0 prepare the meditations for the Way of the Cross, 2 at the Monastery of Santi Quattro Coronati in the Eternal City. Once she accepted the invitation, nor is she the first nun, but she is the first –

presented to her in the Pope’s name by the Augustinian, and so part of the interview also 1 Cardinal Secretary of State, Mother Rita invited raised the question of Saint Augustine’s influence another of her sisters, Sister Elena Manganelli, of on her text. “…the presence of Augustine, this good the Monastery of Lecetto, to prepare the drawings companion for the journey, as the Pope referred to which would accompany the meditations. him in his audience of last August 25th, is felt in the In an interview published in the Italian language glance directed at our Savior’s humanity, at his edition of L’Osservatore Romano on April 6th, humility; it’s felt in the call of truth, which is more or Mother Rita spoke of an unusual less continuous, and is found in source of inspiration which she some brief expressions of the found in the preparation of her text: bishop of Hippo which are woven a wooden owl which was the gift of here and there into the text. The the nuns of one of the Federation’s theme of truth is also a point of monasteries in the Philippines, “It contact, of harmony, between the might seem strange, but it was his Pope and Augustine: the honest eyes, accustomed to peering into search for truth brought Augustine the surrounding darkness, that to God, the service of truth has directed my inspiration. It was always been the soul of the min- while looking at that owl, thinking istry of Joseph Ratzinger.” of its ability to see in the dark, that Coincidentally, or maybe not, the I found the key - and I hope it was Great Easter Feast falls this year a correct one - for the meditations. on April 24th, the anniversary of If darkness represents the night, the baptism of the convert Au- then it’s necessary to seek the gustine by Bishop Ambrose in 387. y l

i 2010 ASSEMBLY OF THE FEDERATION OF m AUGUSTINIAN CONTEMPLATIVE SISTERS a f

Federations of Our Lady of the Pillar and St. Thomas of Villanova n The Holy Year of 1950 was a year of grace for the a

i contemplative life. In that very year, in fact, Pope Pius XII promulgated the Apostolic Constitution Sponsa n Christi , with the purpose of adapting the life of the i enclosed sisters to the new contemporary realities. T The practical measures indicated in Sponsa s Christi go in three directions: to remind the religious

u that their vocation is an entirely apostolic one (SCh 38), highlight the place of work as a way of sustaining G the monastery, and to overcome the isolation of the u individual monasteries, giving rise to federations,

a which according to the indications of the Consti- tution Sponsa Christi , and also the Instruction Inter Praeclara which followed it, should bring together monasteries of the same Order and observance. The Federations “Our Lady of the Pillar and St. Thomas of Villanova” (within whose federation attended, in the presence of the religious assistant, Fr. council is the service of secretariat) and that of “Our Alejandro Moral, OSA. The Chapter began with the Lady of Good Counsel and St. Alonso de Orozco”, in celebration of the Eucharist, during which the 12 Spain, together with the Italian Federation, bring guidance of the Holy Spirit was invoked, so that we together the majority of the monasteries of would succeed in carrying out the tasks given to us, contemplative life of our Order. Our Federation is with a generous and open attitude, searching for the composed of 19 monasteries, of which fifteen are in greater good in the service of the Kingdom of God. Spain, two in Ecuador, one in Chile and one in Peru. The President of the Federation, Sr. Maria Gracia The 166 sister (including those still in initial Flor outlined the present state of the Federation and formation) who live in the monasteries situated in the the most significant happenings in the six year term regions of the North and the East of Spain, live a from 2004-2010. After the financial report and withdrawn life, dedicated to silence, to prayer, to questions regarding the reports from the different interiority, to study and to common life, following the communities, the work continued with the election of steps traced out by our Holy Father Augustine. the new President of the Federation. Fr. Alejandro From the 18th to the 22nd of October, the 10 th made a brief address to the Assembly, thanking Sr. Ordinary Federal Assembly of the Federation of “Our Maria Gracia Flor for her service, always carried out Lady of the Pillar and St. Thomas of Villanova” was with a spirit of simplicity and generosity. held at Zaragoza. Twenty five sisters, prioresses and In the election, Sister Natividad Salvador was delegates, from the different contemplative monas - elected to the office as President of the Federation teries of the Federation of the North East of Spain, with an absolute majority. The formal confirmation in office was carried out in the chapel, with the intonation of the Te Deum, and an exchange of embrace by all the members as a sign of their communion. Once the voting concluded, the Assembly moved on to the themes proposed in the Letter of Convocation: the Ratio Formationis, initial and ongoing formation, the future of the communities, vocations, the bulletin “Anima Una”, economic help to the communities, the proposal of the Intermediate General Chapter of the Order regarding our Contemplative Life

Participants at the assembly Communities, and the juridical status of the Fede - ration. During the celebration of the Eucharist on the 21 st October, we remembered the sisters who had died during the last six years with a special remembrance of Fr. Mariano Martín, who was our Assistant from 1999 to 2002. At the end of the day, after the signing of the Acts, we had a festive gathering. The Assembly ended on the 22 nd with the celebration of the Eucharist, thanking God for all that we achieved during these past days, the fraternal exchange and the encouragement received to live with hope and on openness to others.

Sr. Cecilia Torres, OSA Secretary Fr. Alejandro Moral, OSA with the Council of the Federation

Short news

Italy – Bishop Giovanni Scanavino, OSA

On March 5, 2011 Pope Benedict named Bishop Giovanni 13 Scanavino, O.S.A., bishop emeritus of Orvieto-Todi, Italy. He was

subsequently named President of the Italian Federation for 1

Retreats by the Episcopal Conference of Italy. “With this 1 0

appointment we affirm our esteem and respect for our brother 2

bishop,” declared Monsignor Mariano Crociata, Secretary –

General of the Conference. 1 When he was nominated bishop in 2003, Bishop Scanavino had been serving as Prior Provincial of the Italian Province since 2000. Previously he had also been prior of several communities in Italy, Assistant General of the Order and Master of Professed.

Perù – Bishop Julian García Centeno, OSA

On February 2, 2011 it was announced that the Holy Father accepted the resignation of Bishop Julian Garcia Centeno O.S.A., from the pastoral care of the Apostolic Vicariate of Iquitos, upon having reached the age limit.

Bishop Centeno was professed for the Province of the Most Holy Name of Jesus of the Philippines in 1954, ordained priest in 1958 and bishop in 1989.

He, too, had served the Order as Assistant General and previously as Prior Provincial of his province. He was succeeded in Iquitos by Bp. Miguel Olaortua Laspra O.S.A., whose nomination is recorded elsewhere in this issue of OSA INT. y l i m a f

n Living in love Every other year a group from the Lindenholt St. Augustine’s Rule for the Community was a

i Parish in The Netherlands goes to San Gimignano. the central theme for our moments of reflec - In 2010 they made their fifth trip. They prepared a tion during this year’s stay at the friary of San n

i reflection on the Rule of St Augustine, saying: This is Gimignano. After a general introduction to the a Rule for living in community. Since our group is Rule, we studied in particular what we could T also a community, let us see what we can learn from s learn from the Rule, what we could pick up this Rule of St Augustine. Back home, they wrote a from it for daily life in our own country, The u reflection about their experience and their reflections. Netherlands. G Ian Wilson, a friar-member of the Augustinian com -

u mu nity of San Gimignano took part in this reflection. San Gimignano offers us the opportunity

a of a life lived in simplicity: working together, having meals together, spending some free time and praying together. The daily structure in the friary takes hold of us and puts us at rest. In all our activities there arises the opportunity to reflect about life, and in particular one’s personal life. Back in The 14 Netherlands, we dwelt on the insights which had occured to us during this year’s stay at San Gimignano.

Some parishioners from Lindenholt, the Netherlands with Fr. Brian Lowery, OSA and Loretta (cook)

PUBLICATIONS

An Outline of New Testament Spirituality Fr. Prospero Grech, OSA Eerdmans Pub. Co.

In this compact book Grech considers a wealth of biblical texts, including Genesis, the Psalms, the Synoptic Gospels, Paul’s epistles, the letter to the Hebrews, and John’s Gospel, Letters, and Apocalypse. He uncovers the New Testament church’s spiritual response to God’s gifts in each of these texts; its inherited response to God’s Old Testament Covenant with Israel; its response to Jesus’ preaching, to the Paschal Mystery of his death and resurrection, and to Christ the Light of the World; its response to its own place in history displayed in Acts and Revelation. Weaving these various theological strands together, Grech traces the contours of a dynamic yet contemplative Christian spirituality – one that not only saturated the New Testament church but also continues to animate Christian life today. would be any arguments, but it does mean that everyone is accepted as she or he is. For God dwells in each one of us.

By living according to these insights, everyone of us receives her or his own place. One does not have to fight for it, it is being consigned to you by God. It is the place where one can develop her/his abilities, faculties, talents, and where you can be the person you really are. This will make you grateful and opens a Youth from the Netherlands with members of the community space for love. This love is creative, love makes us one First of all, we became aware of the heart and one soul on our way to God. importance of equality. The Rule says that we all have our own needs, and that we do not all The simple life in San Gimignano offered enjoy the same health. Not all have equal us the space for spiritual growth. Because, while physical strength. Within our group, therefore, the above mentioned principles maybe rather 15 there was a distinction between some light jobs complicated in themselves, at San Gimignano to be done, and jobs requiring more strength. they came to us naturally and helped us to 1

These latter jobs, such as carrying heavy experience greater spiritual richness. It is up to 1 materials, plowing the garden, were assigned to us, now, to live out this richness outside the 0 2 the physically stronger ones in the group. Then, walls of the friary. –

at meals, it was noticed that they also needed more food. The world is full of love, gratefulness and 1 forgiveness. By living them in our personal The important thing, however, was that lives, we will be able, as a group, to grow there was no such thing as envy in the group. further –living out of love. Those working hard, did it with love, knowing that they were able to do it, and knowing also that the rest of the group was doing a useful job also. The distribution of work did not result in Three young women from Lindenholt, the Netherlands some kind of hierarchy, but was assigned to everyone.

In his Rule, St Augustine asks us to act out of love for man and a hatred of sin. This is the second insight we gained during our stay at San Gimignano. Every group and every community consists of different members. They are not the same, but within the group all are equal.

Everyone brings her or his own talent, strength and wisdom, as a service to the group or to the community. However, this can only be realized when the members do not judge one another. This does not mean that there never y l i A CREATIVE COMMUNITY FOR INFIRM FRIARS m a In 2010, the Augustinian Midwest Province (Chicago) f

embarked on what may be a unique venture, establishing a new Augustinian community within a non-Augustinian health n care facility in Lemont, Illinois. The facility is named a Franciscan Village, and the Augustinian community that now i has its home there was founded under the patronage of n Blessed Stephen Bellesini, chosen for his noted and i The Provincial of Chicago, Fr. Bernard Scianna, OSA courageous ministry among the sick of his parish at T during the dedication of the new community Genazzano, Italy. s u The decision to embark on this venture was made after

G much research and discussion and in consultation with the

u National Religious Retirement Office. This organization, under the auspices of the United States Conference of a Catholic Bishops, coordinates the annual national appeal for the Retirement Fund for Religious and distributes financial assistance for retirement needs to eligible religious institutes. It Bishop John McNabb, OSA with other friars supplied an expert facilitator and funded the process of during the dedication ceremony consultation for the Province, which included commentary solicited from every Province member, and development of a “Covenant of Senior Care” which preceded and informed the decision to start Bellesini Friary. The goal was 16 to provide a place where sick and infirm friars in need of health care would be provided with the best possible attention without forfeiting the familiar and valued experience of Augustinian community life. Previously, those in need of special care lived at Tolentine Monastery in Olympia Fields, a very large building originally designed as the Province’s student house of philosophy. Recently, the Province made the decision to sell the monastery as it had become exceedingly expensive to maintain, and the quality of care able to be given to infirm friars was judged inadequate, sometimes requiring those who needed special care to be placed in nursing homes. Franciscan Village is a facility which makes available all levels of health services, from independent living to hospice care. This new arrangement allows the members Bellesini Friary to pray, take meals, and socialize together each day. Additionally, it has become a venue for ministry for several of the friars among the other residents of the Village.

The National Religious Retirement Office in the United States Fr. Scianna greets some young students has recognized this initiative of the Province and plans to feature the Augustinian community in its annual report and campaign literature. Provincial, Father Bernie Scianna, sees this as a great affirmation of the Augustinian commitment of quality care in a community setting for its friars.

At the dedication of the new community on August 27th last year, friars of the Province gathered with some 100 benefactors and friends in the Village’s chapel for evening prayer and a tour of the community’s quarters, followed by a reception. At its opening, Blessed Stephen Friary was composed of five friars who previously had been receiving care elsewhere, as well as three friars who have been assigned as members of the community and serve as the on- Participants at the dedication of the new site, support team of care-givers. community in the chapel at Franciscan Village d D b e D s l a v a c f t m b e t h v f a t n i T J i t a m o t g w i o w s a n t s h o h h h o h a e i o o a n n n n r r g o f r u a i o g a i s h o u n e p n i u t

e c r e e a o t r

n r o w w

a d d d d r y d n h s r w E I T A h a l l e t m f t a e f t n

s a r i . w n t d t l a e n o c

u s A s s

e i

o i i t e e o h

y x t

a h e i n c I s l

f h . ,

t s h g . t b f i i d d

o a e f l

r a

t t

t u c e d

a n e r e , W l f 1 s t e a i

y y

e - T t s u

e n s n

- i g e f g n d e n o b i r t f t a

. t

f i e

9 n - a ( t t r o s c K t

r c i s o i h a d s e p i

u c i O i t t o d t

c t M

n h s 1 r l v 5 m v i i , c l i e o r a e h t a h s o t l n

a s t l s l s x r e b i 4 e 3 h e o a a

u i d t l

r s

o n i i n

t d a n r e a s e r e ) v

n o

n i y

n i d t i e f a n o i e d

s e f n n t r a

e , n a t ,

t n o i n

i r P

e d

c f n h h a - e h s A t m w i n d

n c r t t i

o s s e c

p e

t s r s h a n

h a , h t

I e e o e i t t e h s s

s w A h e l

o d P

p w s a p I i i n a r u p

e i i

e u e

e s v t n n

e t n a s o N i l o m

a i a O u e o t f a 2 e w D h e

a h d r r

u e n i s

e m r s i o f D i v i o C f - d p

c n t s n t 0 s i s

v l s r

m P

i r t e y

f a a s p r

i u e c i r l t b t t e t l o t e i u o u 1 f t t e e b t t o o d i

S r r

l a , i u h m a l d r

a a l t o a y y n s s e n n

c n o l 1 m a e e e a I n t P c n e t c e y n n l l , , T - - - - - l

r e s u n

g l a e h t

c I i r r h

t i o d

h n f A o n r t

a f

s a a y c

i s i t t i e a i

e a

l c f . l l P c H u l d o o o o u

a a n o e

i n b

o p f r p g ,

n o f n c d

t a n h w

s r u o e a o

t o n e h u p I n

I r o e e e h g c t a f r h v y E o n r r l t s d

i i s g p

e o e

t y N n i e o i i

n t a p f i d n h o

t n i

s t t i

m a

f a d n t o e a h i i n h e a i

i o c i d e

n u n n r a a t s i s s n s d n e e e e e F r r

s s s s , , , , , - - - - - d P O

c t o P t s a t t a t t s C o l l C o C d t n e A a i i w h h o h h t i a n n d f e f l o n a o u a e b e n

r i e o e e l s d u d t

i t r l i s R l O J l d l a t d

n h e a h

. t P f e e

i a w

h l n

l p e y o n a s s n b s u

b d a e

f o p d h

m e e , s o t l

l r M g e e p M

m s e l

s d U H t u a m o p

e t r i a

o s s p u x J , o s h c f t P

t d c r

e , o

a e

r W p

h h r d i

e v e e m a e h t p o e f n o a r o

e I e h A x

y A a S

s i e n i p a m p i o a f d r s

a s p l m J e l t e N t e

d r w i r ) l . t

i f a l w k

o r b

p e

e t

a e

T e s s , y t

a i e a

t e a t y s e , ’ o r

e n l p m t

i h

p o h t

e l s y o

i h s n n

I i n e h t i c p e I

b t d e d

n I i u n h

i e t v h e

n o r e r S a n

a e

e N y g n a a e e

I U E O t

b i y e v c n t a - t

s n y s e n

w g s t

r t i

q o w e f i T o t l w

. - e t c h e s d t o r t r e

t i

i i u r e t e u D i

i n p v h e l i e a e o p T s c o t N n h t c l l a x e e t t y t d

o c i

R u r n l r f h h

T t

o e

a n n

e e t

e h e

e s o s o e o O

o m e e a

o t ( m e

i e s d e a r h f s i b o f v l

r u Y

e r d A “ n

i a

i n

E p y N n e J i M f e f a v i g s n a s , n s u

a a u t n

y d a d e t l

t N h e o t o p A e

m l u e i a d h g t

. e

” X i a v s t t t

h m r

n a

v f d

u e n o t n h e e h w l b i I o t o e r a r l a l i y s n n n s h E i d i e e a t t y y y y r r s s f t P , - - - - h o

s n S o E m

T t a 2 t p u H t l l p d f s w P W m a T o o n e I o i h h h o

t n r 0 t n s a e a v a n e R r i i u o w t o A h a r r e y e t n o 0 e l u r p s n n e J W d h e m

d s

e n d

e e y m 6 d a g

u t t c e e e m

p n l 2 I i d r t e y

e a . n h g

i e S e a

i h

r n p t a 0 e r v l

a p r n i o r p i s E e i , . d t t

b n s i i n

a e

0 e

. a

n i e n l , O

y F r S a n h a l a

H k t i s i

B g

a n s o r n i t h n g , o

e h t h . A i t l t h s a

b e i h S S n r e s t h r i e d r i e

i a t t o u a v E a t H h t k t T t j g O i g a a

h o y e a l

o s a a o y . n g h o a e

h h

a i

r c C i f t

n w i u A n o f g l

n e

e m r h r l o n a

o t i i i n r t f e

a e c a a e e s l A o o o n g

s u

e a d

o o i g a t g d S

e . e d a n C s f n

o r t t o a

o h e f n h r l n f t r

m o u p l

w w r E e r l T g e B c

a u . d t m

v J

a w K n t f m e A k g T

h t r s . o g e a c r e h

i i r - i t t i F r t i

o h o o h e S

t a d f e . n , n a

h t e d b n e e p n e y f u h

a t o e

i B o T T h r f m l v

c e d

e s a o a h h p t

a e

a e F a e n t a o s t o o

r W

d f r A e i i h o r h e u t r

m , t t n ’ o

l p a t

n w o e e s

g p W

p f . e l e

s d s e i o e

o n u 2 i i a n A e i r

u r a t

d r u n

r a

y A a

l s a o s c i d

a ( g s w o s 0

g s

i o m y

i t i

n t c u

r s n r i o a n

S s

u t

i e S e i u l 0 a o

t y w a a T a t f

o h t ) g n d a

u o

d u B s a o

e o a v a

g h t e o P n 6 u t s y

. , m J a F

t a i n u f u

i m

, o g

a r k n t

a v u d e u n u y r - i a o s

g l s 2 e s i

c a

2 s s s W u h e d f y a o e i

a e n

p a , s

r a w i d 0 i b t o

a t

o s t

n n r t a

g t

e t e f i l o t m i s i s a u s i h 0 e r n i i o i

r n h e a n

a o o h a 0 t r o

i h n v s t c t i t e t n i n a u a e 5 e a s s i r s n n n h n h d o o o l i i l i k 9 i g e e a . y r s s t t t t t t , . ------1 1 – 2011 7 y l His first full-time pastoral that Jaap led or assisted includ - i experience, for a period of ed opportunities for religious m occupied twelve months from instruction, liturgy prepara -

a August 2009 to July 2010, was tion, visiting the sick, and work

f to assist the Augustinian pastor with youth and a women’s at the remote inland parish group. Jaap said, “I enjoyed the n of Yuruf, not far from West hiking in the tropical rain-for -

a Papua’s mountainous border est. But sometimes I had to i with the neighboring nation of hide my disappointment when

n Papua New Guinea. the parishioners that I met i there were not very responsive

T The Parish of Yuruf covers to attending prayer services.” s approximately 2,000 square

u kilometers. It is sparsely popu - He said that his experience lated, with 500 persons in the at Yuruf was quite challenging, G town of Yuruf itself and the “I felt accepted and valued by u others in a series of isolated these indigenous people, my a villages. The total population fellow-men who are living in Jaap of the parish is only about poverty. These ‘simple’ people, 1,500 people, which averages living in a very remote and iso - less than one person per lated area, have to be accompa - profession of solemn vows, Jaap square kilometre. nied, and their life has to be went straight to Villanova Sen - shared so as to exchange with ior High School at Susweni in The villages are linked by them faith and feelings of late August 2010. There he be - 18 rough trails through the dense brotherhood. We can learn gan teaching Indonesian and tropical jungle. Outside of the from these kind people the es - English language classes for town of Yuruf, most of the peo - sentials of life, the core items, sixteen hours a week. ple are subsistence farmers, the fundamentals.” and in the entire parish there Reflecting more broadly, are only thirty kilometers of After finishing his fieldwork Jaap said, “Everybody talks roads, which are passable only report to the STFT seminary beautifully about what is ex - by four-wheel-drive vehicles. about his year of pastoral prac - pected from him/her, but does Pastoral opportunities in Yuruf tice at Yuruf and then making not always fulfill what is planned. By living among the people and sharing their daily lives, I can try to become more sincere, and by sharing peo - ple’s lives help to build up community from below.”

In conclusion, Jaap com - mented, “By August 2011 I will be back at STFT in Abepura for my final period of full-time study, and then six months ministering as a deacon before seeking priesthood . I am very much enjoying my time here at Villanova. If the Order later Paulus Willem ulipi O.S.A. (“Jaap”) asked me to return here when I am a priest, I would be de - lighted. For me, that would be Jaap in the classroom an exciting possibility.” PUBLICATIONS

ENCUENTROS DE FE. Horizontes de nueva evangelización (Encounters with Faith. Horizons of a new evangelisation) Vicente Domingo Canet Vayá, OSA, publisher - 439 pages San Agustín Theological Centre, Madrid 2011

The volume comprises the various documents presented in the course of the XIV edition of the Augustinian Days, held in the Colegio San Agustín, Madrid, on 12 and 13 March 2011. “The reports focus on three main topics: encounters with faith, environments which promote faith, places of faith. On the basis of their reflections and their own experiences, the different speakers analyse the various precincts highlighted, thus facilitating access to the study of a religion in movement and the understanding of its concrete meaning for present-day society… With the publication of this work, the San Agustín Theological Centre wishes to add one more grain of sand to the collective commitment of proclaiming the Good News of the Gospel”. http://www.agustinosctsa.com

PUBLICATIONS 19 1 1

NUEVA EDICIÓN DE LAS OPERAS COMPLETAS DE SANTO TOMÁS DE VILLANUEVA 0 2

(New Edition of the Complete Works of Saint Thomas of Villanova) –

For the first time in over four centuries, here we are presented with a critical bilingual edition of the 1 literary work of Saint Thomas of Villanova (1482-1555), an Augustinian religious and Archbishop of Valencia, thanks to a team of Spanish Augustinian researchers: with preliminary study, critical edition and indexes by Laureano Manrique, OSA; biography by Javier Campos, OSA; translation by Isidro Álvarez, OSA; and critical appreciation by José Manuel Guirau, OSA. Various motivations led the authors to undertake this arduous task: the difficulties in finding the works of the saint, the last edition of which is that of Manila (1881-1883; 1897); the need for a version in Spanish, since almost all his prayers and his sermons had been published exclusively in Latin (only 32 discourses were published in Spanish in 1952, out of a total of 454 all of which are included in the present edition); the desire to bring to the knowledge of everyone, whether religious or lay, the particular language used, throughout his preaching, by a wise and far-sighted man of God; the propriety of a word which formed the most brilliant minds of our Golden Century of literature, with its measured eloquence always in accordance with the sincerest faith of the Church; and, above all, the need to meet a desire, widely felt within the Order to which the saint belonged, and by the archdiocese of Valencia which he served during his lifetime, to make his teaching clear and accessible so that without undue delay he may be honoured with the well deserved title of Doctor of the universal Church. Without any doubt Saint Thomas of Villanueva speaks to us today still in a new language and, by his exemplary behaviour, illuminates our disoriented and ageing Europe of the twenty-first century. Information provided by the Catholic publishing house (BAC) in the first of the 10 volumes of the bilingual and critical edition of the hymns and other works of Saint Thomas. y l i m NORANG NARANG, a f

a Group Home for Boys. n The first solemnly professed Korean work - Norang Narang caters to boys mainly from a

i ing in the Delegation of Korea of the Order of broken homes. When a divorce occurs in Korea St. Augustine, Barnabas Kim, is a lay brother. it is common that neither parent wants the n

i When he was soon followed by three other children living with them. The father wants to vocations interested in the Augustinian lay start a new family and often the mother cannot T brotherhood the question naturally arose as to financially care for the children. Then there s possible future apostolates for them. All in fact also cases where a mother will run away from a u were studying Social Welfare, so in 2000 because violent relationship, leaving the children in a G of Bro. Barnabas’ special interest, a small group precarious situation. For example, one boy came

u home for boys was started in a house located to us who was living with his older brother and

a behind the present priory in Incheon. grandmother but because of the violence of his brother he was sent to us. Originally children Bro. Barnabas, having the top qualification were referred to Bro. Barnabas by other Catholic in Social Welfare, was able to take on such an welfare groups but, with recent changes in the initiative. From the start the idea was to keep the law, they are now referred to the home project small, a family rather than an institution, exclusively by the Government Department for a true ‘home’ in fact. Hence the name given to Child Welfare. the project, Norang Narang , which means ‘You 20 and I together’ . At first our project was a private enterprise funded fully by ourselves but as the Government Although Norang Narang was first designed came to oversee the many private projects as an apostolate for Bro. Barnabas to launch operative in Korea with the elderly and with into, it has never been conceived as exclusively a children we came under their regulations. So ‘brothers apostolate.’ Like the welfare projects now we are funded 49% by the local and city of other Orders with both clerical and lay departments and raise the other 51% from personnel, Norang Narang is a project for all approximately 250 members of Norang Narang’s Delegation members, such that all of our recent support group. This situation has its deacons have worked there for a while, and Fr. disadvantages, one of which is the necessity of Kim Jonah is presently assigned there. employing a part-time secretary to oversee the bureaucratic side of things.

In 2006 with the building of St Rita’s Hall on the site of the original Norang Narang home a new two- storey home was built adjacent to it. At present there are two friars living in Norang Narang with the boys, Bro. Kim Bok-Chon Johan and Fr. Kim Jonah. Bok-Chon Johan receives a wage which is paid into the Incheon Priory account.

Members of the Delegation of Korea with Fr. Brian Buckley O.S.A. (Province of Australia, 4th from right) From the beginning, we have employed a house mother who adds that needed feminine, motherly touch to the home. She is expected to fully interact with the boys, prepare the meals and supervise the laundry. The three initial house mothers were unmarried and lived in Norang Narang. The present housemother, however, is married, so while being with the boys each afternoon and evening she sleeps over only twice a week and has the week-ends off. Obviously the former situation is to be preferred. The boys themselves have always been expected to take part in the house-cleaning. The housemother is also paid a wage by the Department.

Bro. Bok-Chon Johan took over the care of Group photo of the Delegation of Korea together with Fr. Tony Banks O.S.A. (Provincial of Australia and Korea) Norang Narang after Bro. Barnabas became the Delegation Superior some six years ago. Bro. Bok-Chon Johan is a solemnly professed friar Since the year 2000 eight boys have passed who is also presently working on his doctoral through the home, and six are presently resident thesis on Child Welfare which involves his there. The policy had been for the boys to leave attendance at university once a week. He also after graduating from high school, but this year gives university lectures himself two days a week three have remained to begin university study as on general Social Welfare, the stipend for which they did not have family or financial support on also goes to the Incheon priory. In addition to which they could rely. Two others have also this he is on a team who give regular talks to gained entrance into universities but are living 21 seminarians, parents and high-school students elsewhere, one with a relative and the other we on teenage sexuality. Fr. Jonah, in addition to have set up in student accommodation. This is 1 1

his duties with the boys, is studying Social quite an achievement as all of these boys had a 0

Welfare by correspondence. poor early education. 2

–

1 PUBLICATIONS

LE SORPPRESSIONI DEL SECOLO XIX E L’ORDINE AGOSTINIANO (The Suppressions of the 19th Century and the Augustinian Order) Edited by Luis Marín de San Martín, OSA - 792 pages Institutum Historicum Augustinianum, Rome 2010

This work is a collection of twenty-nine presentations delivered during the Congress of the Augustinian Historical Institute which was held from October 19 to 23, 2009 at the Patristic Institute in Rome. As the title clearly indicates, the material considers the suppression of religious houses and its effects on the lives of the friars and its consequences for the whole Order.

Thus, even those parts of the Order not directly affected are treated. Each presentation is printed here in the language in which it was delivered: Spanish, Italian, English, German. y l has changed the atmosphere somewhat as they i are understandably away for long periods of the m day and expect greater freedom of movement. a With the extensive need to assist Korean f youth in difficult living situations, and with five

members of the Augustinian Delegation having n or currently obtaining qualifications in Social a Work, the future of the Norang Narang project i looks doubly assured. It has been a useful and n relevant service to contemporary Korean society, i has afforded invaluable experience in ministry

T and social justice to members of the Delegation, s and has witnessed to the laity familiar with the The Norang Narang building (viewed from the front): a basement garage, u Augustinians that all Augustinian ministry is not two levels of living space, a small unit for the house mother, necessarily priestly. G and a flat for recreational use Kim Bok-Chon Johan O.S.A. u Of the eight boys that have left the home, & John Sullivan O.S.A. a one has since been in jail twice for minor offences and is now doing his military training. In the dining room at Norang Narang with Two others ran away during their time in high Fr. Kim Jonah O.S.A. (head of table) school and our contact with them has been lost. As for the others they are usually connected with some member of their family and are employed.

22 When a boy comes to the home he is usually in primary school. If he is not baptized, he usually receives the sacrament during his time in Norang Narang. The boys all attend catechism classes at the local church. Having three university students at Norang Narang this year

Flash

New Provincial s- elect California – Fr. Gary Sanders (2° term) Germany – Fr. Alfons Tony Mexico – Fr. Mario Mendoza Rios

Solemn Profession of two members of the Province of Sto Niño de Cebu-Philippines students at St. Monica’s in Rome. Bro. Nestor Bravo Bandalan, Jr., OSA Bro. Patrick Paul Moraleda de Castro, OSA

Bro Patrick and Bro Nestor with the Prior General Saturday, 7 May 2011 Sto. Niño Spirituality Center (8) Brgy. Tolotolo, Consolacion, 6001 Cebu, Philippines Tel. +63 (032) 516 2508 – Reception; +63 (032) 513-0163 - Director

Facebook and YouTUBE Account (type): STO. NINO SPIRITUALITY CENTER

Sto. Niño Spirituality Center which was inaugurated in January 15, 2009 during the closing activities of the Silver Jubilee celebration of the Augustinian Province of Santo Nino de Cebu-Philippines is located in the hills of Tolotolo, Consolacion, Cebu, about a 45 minutes drive from the city of Cebu. Its idyllic charm is ideal for Retreats and Days of Recollection and its serene ambiance is conducive for reflection and meditation. Overlooking a valley, which provides a continuous flow of cool breezes, and offering an impressive view of the city skyline, it is truly a restful and relaxing center, away from the hustle and bustle of daily living. The peaceful and pleasant atmosphere at SNSC really makes it a comfortable and conducive place for retreat and other spiritual exercises. Seminars, Workshops, 23 1 1 0 2

Conventions and other functions can also be –

accommodated. 1

The Santo Nino Retreat House and Spirituality Center was built in response to a great need of the Cebu Province to have its own place for spiritual renewal and reflective solitude in order to serve the needs of the members of the Province and the people in their ministries.