(The first section is copied from the Sunday Bulletin of an Australian Augustinian parish.)
Friends of Saint Augustine
Friends of Saint Augustine is an association for people in Australia who seek participation in spirituality and in particular Augustinian spirituality with a desire to formalise their connection with the Augustinian world family.
In our busy world many people feel disconnected from their community and from each other. St Augustine of Hippo promoted personal and communal spirituality. He asks us to be attentive to our hearts where God dwells and to our community; by being of service to each other so as to contribute to the creation of a better society. Augustine's spirituality has been a great medicine for people since the fourth c entury and we believe it is still relevant to the needs of today. It is because of his spirituality and in response to our modern needs that Augustinian Friends was formed.
Who Was St Augustine?
Augustinian spirituality reflects the life story of Augustine and his experience of conversion. As a young man Augustine was restless and without direction. He pursued a long and painful search for truth that he hoped would provide him with rest. In his conversion at the age of thirty-three he felt his innermost heart lovingly spoken to by the Word of God. It was then he wrote 'our hearts are restless until they rest in you'.
What do Friends do?
In our busy world many people feel disconnected from their community and from each other. Saint Augustine of Hippo promoted personal and communal spirituality. He asks us to be attentive to our hearts where God dwells and to our community; by being of service to each other so as to contribute to the creation of a better society.
The spiritual tradition of Augustine has been a great medicine for people since the fourth century and we believe it is still relevant to the needs of today. It is because of his spirituality and in response to our modern needs that Augustinian Friends was formed.
Friends of St Augustine - Seeking God Together receive Amici a quarterly Newsletter and a Prayer Resource Guide.
Gatherings, as a community, are based on friendship, hospitality and prayer with discussions of Saint Augustine's writings and celebrations of Augustinian Feast Days.
Other opportunities include adult faith formation, local, national and international gatherings and community/charity work.
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About Friends of St Augustine (Australia)
Augustinian Friends - "Seeking God Together" - receive Amici, which is a quarterly newsletter and a prayer resource guide.
Amici The quarterly Prayer Resource Guide of the Friends of St Augustine (Australia) is available on the Internet at the web site of the Australian Augustinians. Go to http://www.osa.org.au/en/organisations/friends-of-st-augustine/friends-prayer-resource-guide
Gatherings, as a community, are based on friendship, hospitality and prayer with discussions of the writings of St Augustine, and celebration of Augustinian feast days. Other opportunities include adult faith formation, local, national and international gatherings and community/charity work. National membership is Aus$20.00. If you are interested and would like to find out more about us, write to:
National Leader,Friends of St Augustine, St Kieran's Priory,2 King Street, Manly Vale, New South Wales 2093 Australia Parish email: parishoffce@northharbourcatholic.org.au
An invitationLay groups and associations that promote and share the Augustinian ideals of Christian life are invited to send material for uploading here. Augnet welcomes these associations to announce themselves here. Contact the Australian Augustinian Provincial Office at osaadmin@bigpond.com for membership and the quarterly Members' Newsletter.
Augustinian Friends is an association for people in Australia who seek participation in spirituality and in particular Augustinian spirituality with a desire to formalise their connection with the Augustinian world fam reaches out to lay people, as well as religious, within the Order of Saint Augustine.* * * * * *Friends: England
Background
As the year 2000 approached, two things were becoming clear: First, if religious life were to survive, then it would have to change. Second, lay Christians were busy exploring new models of community, which were relevant and accessible to men and women engaged in the secular world. So during 16th to 21st July 1999, in Rome, the Augustinian Order hosted an international meeting of lay Augustinians. From this, a vision emerged of an international communion of groups and individuals who are trying to live a spiritual tradition that is both Augustinian and also relevant to the concerns of Christians in the 21st century.
The beginnings
In 1999, those who attended the Rome meeting joined a retreat in Clare, and agreed on a Mission Statement. Groups were then formed in Carlisle, Birmingham and London. Under the leadership of Deacon Nigel Bavidge, Hinsley Hall, Leeds, national meetings have taken place every other year and valuable notes of presentation papers have circulated. Friends of Augustine is the English and Scottish group which grew out of the Rome experience.
Open and non-hierarchical, Friends of Augustine includes friars and religious, but is led by the concerns of lay people and their need for community within their own lives. Friends of Augustine is engaged in developing an Augustinian spiritual tradition for today. Among the local groups are those committed to study, prayer and meditation, music, friendship, the encouragement of a more youthful, people centred liturgy, and a concern for justice. The idea is that these groups will resource each other, and the network at large, by the exchange of news and ideas. This will help the members to expand their experience and understanding of Augustinian community, learning and spiritual tradition.
Shared websiteFriends of Augustine (England). Until Spring 2015 Friends of Augustine ran their own website “friendsofaugustine.org” and have now incorporated the main aspects of that site into the website of Clare Priory. Among other helpful features, the Friends offers reflection/discussion pages on Augustine-related topics. http://www.clarepriory.org.uk/friends-of-augustine.htmlFriends: USAFriends of Augustine (USA) maintain a website, not only with Augustine and his spiritualy covered, but with a calendar of Augustinian liturgical feast days throughout the year.http://www.augustinianfriends.org
Friends: Spain
Friends of St Augustine (Spain): Website written in Spanish, and contains very creative artwork and video clips, for which an understanding of the Spanish language is unnecessary. http://www.amigosdesanagustin.com
An invitationLay groups and associations that promote and share the Augustinian ideals of Christian life are invited to send material for uploading here. There are associations similar to Friends of St Augustine (Australia) in various other nations. Augnet welcomes these associations to announce themselves here. Contact the Australian Augustinian Provincial office at osaadmin@bigpond.com
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