Across the Parramatta Diocese, Catholics are rejoicing that the conclave has elected a new Pope – Cardinal Prevost OSA to be the 267th Successor to Peter, as Pope Leo XIV.
But none more so than our local Augustinian community. Fr David Austin OSA, Assistant Priest of St Clair, former Provincial of the Australian Augustinians and current Chaplain to the lay Augustinian movement “Friends of St Augustine”, considers the new pope “a personal friend” having worked with him over many years.
“I’m absolutely thrilled” said Fr David when asked about the appointment. “He’s truly a remarkable man. He’s a humble man, understated in many respects, but very astute.”
“He has very broad experience as a Prior General [of the Augustinians], a missionary, a bishop, and the head of the dicastery [of bishops]” he said.
Throughout all his promotions and new roles, he still remained connected and humble. “As Prior General, he knew everyone in the order, he knows us by name,” said Fr David of the approximately 2,500 Augustinian priests around the world.
Fr David has met Pope Leo XIV “many, many times” and worked closely with him at various times at the Intermediate General Chapter in Spain in 2004 and at the Augustinian International Lay Congress in Rome in 2012.
The Augustinians have a great history in Australia and the Parramatta Diocese. The first Augustinian was Fr James Goold, who came to Australia in 1838 and was made Parish Priest in Campbelltown, Sydney. He later became the founding Archbishop of Melbourne. The Augustinians came to the Parramatta Diocese in 1995 to the parish of St Clair and in 1997 opened a Spirituality Centre in Greystanes, where they broadened their outreach and later created a lay movement, “The Friends of St Augustine”. They all get together, study and share the spirituality of St Augustine, and every six years there’s an International Congress in Rome.
Rachael Kama, a member of the Mission Enhancement Team in the Diocese and OSA Asia Pacific Lay Representative, attended the last OSA International Lay congress in Rome in 2024 as one of the members of the Friends of Augustine, and has met Cardinal Prevost many times.
“I’m still shocked,” she said.
“This morning I’ve been on the phone for hours speaking with friends from our local church, people from Mexico and England.”
“He is a very humble man. When I was at the OSA International Lay Congress last year, he was driving people to and from the airport!”
(L) Rachael Kama, a member of the Mission Enhancement Team in the Diocese and OSA Asia Pacific Lay Representative, at the last OSA International Lay congress in Rome in 2024. Image: supplied
“I was part of the leadership team for the International Augustinian Youth Encounter in 2008, and he was the Provincial. We called him “Fr Bob”. That’s his name to us. I’ve had confession with him…he’s a really great guy.”
The Augustinian youth from around the world stayed for another week for their own “mini–World Youth Day” and “Fr Bob” stayed with them and helped them do all the big and small things that needed doing.
At last year’s Augustinian International Congress, he presided over the Final Mass. Rachael was leading the music, and other parishioners from St Clair were serving as well. After the Mass, Rachael went up to him, wondering if he remembered her from almost 20 years ago.
“I didn’t think he’d remember me, but I said ‘hi Cardinal Robert, Fr Bob, I don’t think you remember me but I met you back in Australia and he said ‘I didn’t remember you until you started singing and I remembered your voice.’”
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“He’s very sweet and has a heart of mission.”
Fr David knows that Pope Leo XIV will be a special pope for many reasons, one being his “remarkable knowledge from around the globe.” As Prior General, which is Head of the Augustinian Order that works in 40 different countries, he has “thorough knowledge of different cultures, customs and local churches.” This makes him “a universal man”.
Although qualified for the role, Fr David is still surprised at the election. “I think he has all the qualities, but the drawback that many people commented on is that he’s American and they’ve never elected an American.”
Rachael Kama (second left), a member of the Mission Enhancement Team in the Diocese and OSA Asia Pacific Lay Representative, at the last OSA International Lay congress in Rome in 2024. Image: supplied
Although they’re not Augustinians, Bishop Vincent Long OFM Conv, Bishop of Parramatta and Br Mark O’Connor FMS, Vicar for Communications, are also delighted with the new Pope.
Bishop Vincent doesn’t claim to have a very close relationship but has met him several times and had many good conversations with him.
“I have met him on several occasions, as have many of the Augustinians in our Diocese who know him well. He is a humble, prayerful man, dedicated to Christ and steeped in the mystical charism of the Augustinian tradition and I pray that he will guide our church with renewed hope and joy during this challenging time,” said Bishop Vincent.
“This is a joyful moment for the universal Church and a deeply meaningful one for our local community in Western Sydney and the Blue Mountains.”
“Pope Leo XIV brings a missionary heart, shaped by decades serving among the poor in Peru. As an Augustinian, he will gift the Church and the world with a deeply contemplative spirit,” Bishop Vincent said.
Br Mark O’Connor, currently in Rome covering the death of Pope Francis and the conclave had “picked” Prevost to be the next pope after he’d gotten to know him over the last three years and met with him as recently as April in Rome discussing a potential visit to Australia.
“Last year in Rome, I had another meeting with him and invited him to come to Australia. We had a great chat. I brought him a present from Australia and his first comment was ‘I hope that’s not Vegemite!’, and I reassured him it’s Tim Tam’s which he likes.”
“He’s a gentle, quiet, humble man. He’s not a man of grand gestures.”
“He’s earned the trust of a lot of people in Rome and as a member of a religious order, a contemplative and a listener, he embodies the best of the spirit of the Second Vatican Council,” he said.
“He has lived and worked with the poor, with Indigenous people and his contemplative, peaceful attitude will complement the prophetic gestures of Pope Francis.”
“I think it’s an inspired choice. I’m ecstatic,” said Br Mark.
