Ever Ancient, but Ever Renewed
Published: 23 June 2015
St Augustine’s expression, “Ever ancient, ever new” has at times been used to describe the Augustinian Order.
The Order began in its present officially-recognised form in Italy during the year 1256 AD. As part of its being “ever new” in context of contemporary global and ecclesiastical developments, the Order conducts renewal activities internationally, regionally and locally.
The renewal in the vast Asia-Pacific region embraces seven Augustinian jurisdictions: The Province of Cebu, the Province of Australia, the Vicariate of the Orient (based in the Philippines), the Vicariate of Japan, the Vicariate of Papua (Indonesia), the Delegation of India, and the Delegation of Korea.
This particular renewal program follows the format used successfully throughout Central and South America in recent years. As well as promote individual and community spiritual renewal in all Asian-Pacific Augustinian jurisdictions, the program supports official initiatives about greater liaison and co-operation regionally within the Order there.
Two of the renewal aspects under focus this year are Community and Evangelisation. The Apostolic Letter on Consecrated Life by Pope Francis has been incorporated in the program; the Pope proclaimed this Year of Consecrated Life to continue from 29 November 2014 until 2 February 2016.
For this particular activity the Augustinians in ministry and the twelve Augustinian seminarians in Australia were given the choice of participating in the program on set dates in September 2015 at either St Kieran’s Priory in the Sydney suburb of Manly Vale or St Thomas of Villanova Priory in the Brisbane suburb of Coorparoo.
Frs Dave Austin OSA and Paul Maloney OSA presented the sessions at both of these gatherings. Throughout the whole Asia-Pacific this renewal program is being led by Fr Masaki Imada OSA of Japan, who has an advisory and planning a committee comprising Augustinians from all seven Asian-Pacific jurisdictions. The program continues into 2016.
