Provincial Chapter Meeting, 2018
Published: 10 July 2018
The Australasian Province of the Order of St Augustine held its quadrennial Provincial Chapter in Sydney during the first week of July 2018. In all, over forty Augustinians attended.
(Left) Chapter in session. (Right) The Augustinian international leader at the Chapter
The Chapter brought together members of the Australasian Province from Victoria, New South Wales, Queensland and overseas, representatives from the Delegation of Korea (who are within the jurisdiction of the Australasian Province), Augustinians on loan to Australia from India and the Philippines, and young men in initial Augustinian formation who are resident in Sydney.
As directed by the Augustinian Constitutions, a Provincial Chapter occurs every four years, and begins with the official installation of the person who has been elected to the office of Prior Provincial of the Australasian Province. This official act was conducted by Fr Alejandro Moral O.S.A., who is the world leader of the Augustinians and based in Rome. He confirmed Fr Peter Jones O.S.A., who most recently has served at Brookvale in Sydney.
Fr Moral also confirmed in office personnel nominated by Fr Jones for positions on his official Council, i.e., counsellors, a Provincial Bursar and a Provincial Secretary.
The Chapter performed its constitutional role of reviewing the present ministries of the Province in Australia and Korea, and additional desired initiatives based on the Gospel values of discipleship, evangelisation and community.
The Chapter processes were essentially similar to those that the Order of St Augustine has adopted since the middle of the thirteenth century. A document called the Acts of the Chapter, signed by all voting members present, then becomes a guide to the administration of the Province for the next four years, and progress towards these goals is officially reviewed at a Provincial Mid-Chapter two years hence in 2020.
