Mass of the Holy Spirit

The students are to be congratulated on their respectful participation in the College commencement Mass of the Holy Spirit.  For the first time the College held an open air Mass at Brookvale Oval.  We thank Fr Senan Ward OSA for presiding and the College musicians for adding to their special reverence to the event.

World Youth Day – Panama 2019  

From Simon Hyland

“I am the servant of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word.” This is Mary’s response to the news that she would conceive and give birth to the baby Jesus.  These words were chosen by Pope Francis to be the theme of this year’s World Youth Day in Panama.  

Over 700,000 young people from around the world gathered together in Panama for a week of celebrations. Staff members Madeleine Boyle, Simon Hyland and Augustinian priest Fr Francis Belcina OSA together with students Benjamin Copping, Joseph Jenkins and Christopher Caruso travelled with a group of 70 young people from the Diocese of Broken Bay. It was an uplifting and moving experience.  

Pope Francis invited us to pray together in silence at the World Youth Day vigil gathering. There were 700,000 young people on their knees praying together in complete silence. We were under a blanket of stars in the night sky and moment was powerful and very special. This was only one of the amazing experiences we had on this trip.  

The Pope asked us all to be servants of the Lord in making a positive difference in our world. 

From Madeleine Boyle 

I was fortunate enough to be asked to accompany three of our Augustine's students to World Youth Day in Panama this January with the Broken Bay Diocese. I have never truly understood the meaning of 'joy' until participating in this life-changing pilgrimage. We were lucky enough to visit the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico City, climb the ancient pyramids at Teotihuacan, visit a Sloth Sanctuary at Gamboa Rainforest in Panama (a personal highlight of mine), see Pope Francis in the flesh on his Popemobile (only 10m in front of us), and help run three catechesis sessions for a large group of young Catholics from all over the world in Panama City (under the guidance of the extremely talented Simon Hyland).  

Additionally, we experienced Adoration with one million young people from around the world at the final Vigil, which for me, was a moment where the Holy Spirit was felt most strongly. I was extremely proud of our students, who embraced each opportunity given to them with open hearts, and were able to discuss topics of faith, worship and love with a tremendous amount of maturity and wisdom beyond their years. I witnessed many strong friendships form between them and other members of the diocese, as well as young people from around the globe, connected by their shared faith. For me this pilgrimage has deepened my connection with God, the Augustine's community and my faith in general, and I feel truly blessed to have been given this joy-filled opportunity.

Term 1 Community Mass Schedule

Wednesday, 13 February – Tutor Groups Crane 4 Crane 5 Crane 6
Wednesday, 20 February – Tutor Groups Goold 1 Goold 2 Goold 3
Wednesday, 27 February – Tutor Groups Goold 4, Goold 5 Goold 6  

Simon Hyland
Leader of Liturgy and Retreats