On the Feast Day of St Augustine, we reflect on the recent International Congress of Lay Augustinians, which saw members of the Diocese of Parramatta visit Rome last July to honour the legacy and mission of a great saint.
Eight attendees from Australia embarked on a five-day congress in the heart of Vatican City during its summer season.
Most of the group were parishioners from the Diocese of Parramatta’s Holy Spirit Parish, St Clair – Erskine Park: Rachael Kama and Members of Friends of St Augustine: Seaview Kama, Lorensz Herft, Sylvia Herft, Peter Moriarty and Margaret Moriarty.
From left: Margaret and Peter Moriarty, Judith Duncan, Seaview Kama, Prior General Most Rev Alejandro Moral OSA, Sylvia and Lorensz Herft, Rachael Kama, and Kate Garrone. Source: Supplied.
Judith Duncan (a national leader) represented Friends from South Yarra too, and Kate Garrone from Villanova College in Brisbane completed the group.
The congress was held in Vatican City, Rome, Italy. Source: Supplied.
Below is an article prepared by Judith Duncan on behalf of Friends of St Augustine, reflecting on the event:
Walking together in communion, participation and mission
The overarching feeling of being at the July International congress of Lay Augustinians was the sensation of homecoming, of being in the right place, of finding family in Augustine.
As Fr Edward Daleng OSA said in his welcoming plenary address:
“This Congress is a celebration of our fraternity and oneness in Christ and in the Order of Saint Augustine … In our diversity as baptised Catholics, we consider ourselves members of the same Augustinian family because the Holy Spirit has brought us together. We embrace one another and strive to grow in the unity of mind and heart intent upon God.”
This ‘message stick’ was presented to Fr Edward Daleng OSA by Lorensz and Sylvia Herft at the Congress in appreciation for all the organising and hospitality extended to us. It symbolises the Holy Spirit bringing us all together.
Our Augustinian network in Australia feels small, so it was an extraordinary experience to feel part of the massive Augustinian family that is found across our world.
In addition to the eight attendees from Australia, (Friends, diocesan facilitators and educators), there were over 100 delegates from Brazil, Colombia, Chile, Czech Republic, England, Honduras, Italy, Malta, Mexico, the Netherlands, Nigeria, Peru, Philippines, Puerto Rico, Spain, United States, Venezuela and more.
It was an extraordinary gift to be together with people from so many parts of the world, and to gain an understanding of how our Augustinian values are being lived out in their communities. We were certainly walking together!
Conference presentations and workshops
A full day of conference presentations and workshops was dedicated to each of the three main topics: Communion, Participation and Mission.
Wed 10 July: Welcome
The session commenced in the afternoon and consisted of vespers and a group supper.
Thursday 11 July: Communion
Unsurprisingly, there was an emphasis on synodality, with the conference on ‘The basis for a synodal experience of the Church, the total Christ’ by HE Luis Marin de San Martin OSA, followed by three workshops:
- Empathic listening- putting synodality into practice, led by Fr Alexander Lam Alania OSA
- The method of spiritual conversation in the exercise of ministries, led by Fr Juan Francisco Costanzo OSA
- Our role as lay Augustinians: walking forward together, active listening to the Holy Spirit and the Word of God in daily situations, led by lay regional representatives.
Friday 12 July: Participation
The day featured a conference led by Joe Kelly on Augustinian leadership, as well as an interactive presentation, panel discussion and workshop.
(L-R): Kate Garrone, Rachael Kama, Lorensz Herft, Cardinal Robert Prevost OSA. Sylvia Herft, Judith Duncan and Seaview Kama. Source: Supplied.
Special thanks to Joe Kelly, Fr Edward Daleng OSA, Fr Alexander Lam Alania OSA, Fr Joseph Farrell OSA, and lay representatives for leading the various sessions.
In addition to the working sessions on Participation, there was active liturgical participation by the Australian contingent.
This included Rachael Kama, whose anointed voice guided us in singing; and Lorensz Herft, who served at Mass in Tolentino, as well as daily Mass at St Monica’s Chapel; and the closing Mass with Cardinal Robert Prevost OSA.
Saturday 13 July: Pilgimage to the shrine of St Nicholas
Saturday brought a change of pace, with a pilgrimage to Tolentino in the Abruzzi Mountains to visit the shrine of St Nicholas of Tolentino, a priest of the Order of St Augustine: a site of significant devotion over the centuries in the Province of Macerata.
Sunday 14 July: Angelus with Pope Francis
A highlight on Sunday was an opportunity to participate in the noontime Angelus with the Holy Father.
Security was tight, the Piazza was crowded and all were most enthusiastic when Pope Francis appeared and gave his address, based on the day’s Gospel with the theme of Mission.
In his acknowledgement of those attending he mentioned specifically the Augustinian Laity Congress attendees, so we felt truly welcomed.
Monday 15 July: Mission
The final day of the Congress brought the opportunity for in-depth consideration of Mission.
Much of our exploration was around active listening and realising the depth good listening can bring about and how desperately it is needed in our world.
We did not just talk about listening, we practised it with one another. The insights were profound for understanding both the joys and struggles that we share in common.
As the Congress drew to a close and we returned home, we brought with us a commitment to continue to “appreciate the beautiful gift of our belonging to the Augustinian family, which we love, and seek to grow in it, develop it, and spread its value as part of our witness to the gospel,” echoing the words of Fr Edward Daleng OSA.
We also visited the Church of Our Lady of Good Counsel, a title given to the Blessed Virgin Mary, often referring to the Gospels, “do whatever He tells you”, the most excellent of counsels.
The Virgin Mary painting said to be miraculous found in the 13th century in an Augustinian Church of Genazzano, about 30 miles southeast of Rome. The church holds a painting that is said to be miraculous, with pilgrimages to the church since the 15th century, as the painting came off a fresco from a church in Shkoder, Albania, during the siege of the Ottoman Turks.
Reflections from congress participants
To conclude, some homecoming reflections from attendees:
“We only need to watch one episode of the news to realise how much value there is being together, listening to the experience of others with openness, and having the opportunity to share honestly our own perspective. Our world needs this, our families need this, and it is a key skill that we need to be developing in our young people.”
Kate Garrone, Villanova College, Coorparoo
“The one aspect I’d like to reflect upon is the talk given by Joe Kelly [Augustinian leadership in a synodal Church] … He spoke on the importance of listening during the synodal process … Listening is difficult. Listening, however, is essential for Communion, Participation and Mission to take place. To whom do we listen? Joe’s address was both knowledgeable and relatable to our daily lives.”
Peter Moriarty, Friends of St Augustine, Holy Spirit Parish, St Clair.
“One of the many highlights of this Congress was participating in the Eucharistic celebrations through praise and prayers at St Monica’s Chapel. The acoustics were amazing. We were serving God in spirit-filled ways and experienced moments of grace among all the participants during the Congress. It was a humbling experience serving in all the Eucharistic celebrations at the Chapel of St Monica and the Church of St Nicholas of Tolentino.”
Lorensz and Sylvia Herft, Friends of St Augustine, Holy Spirit Parish, St Clair.
Judith Duncan, national leader of Friends of St. Augustine, St. Joseph’s, South Yarra with additional contributions from: Fr Edward Daleng OSA, Kate Garrone, Lorensz and Sylvia Herft and Peter Moriarty.
More photos from the Congress below:
A group of participants at the Congress during a multicultural evening celebration. Source: Supplied.
Rachel Kama led the worship for the English-speaking liturgies. Source: Supplied.
Fr Joseph Farrell OSA (second left) with Congress participants.
About St Augustine
Stained glass showing St Augustine of Hippo, Holy Rosary Catholic Church in Indiana. Source: Wikimedia Commons.
Son of St Monica, St Augustine of Hippo was a great ascetic and philosopher.
He converted from a former life of loose living, partying and sin; serving as an inspiration to many who struggle with vices.
Augustine became a priest, a bishop, and a famous Catholic writer He founded an order of religious priests, and remains one of the greatest saints that ever lived.
Augustine died on August 28, 430 at almost 76 years of age. Today, his remains are preserved in the Basilica of San Pietro in Ciel d’Oro.
