Earlier this month, the graduation ceremony for the academic year 2018-2019, presided by Mgr Alessandro d’Errico, Apostolic Nuncio for Malta took place at the Augustinian Institute in Pietà
At the beginning of the thanksgiving Mass, Mgr d’Errico highlighted the importance of studying St Augustine and spreading his teaching to today’s Church and world. This was also the message of Fr Leslie Gatt OSA, the Provincial Minister of the Maltese Augustinian Friars. Fr Gatt emphasised the fact that the more one studies St Augustine the more one can live an authentic Christian life as well as discuss one’s faith with the society we live in.
Just before the certificates were handed out, Fr Prof. Salvino Caruana OSA, the Director of the Augustinian Institute, delivered his speech for the occasion. Fr Salvino expressed his immense gratitude and pleasure that the Apostolic Nuncio for Malta had honoured them with his presence. Fr Salvino welcomed the fact that the number of participants attending this year’s courses was highly encouraging.
He reiterated that the lecturing staff of the ‘Augustine For All’ series of 10 lectures which centred on Augustine of Hippo and some Fathers of the Church on Ecumenism clearly showed that it had been a happy choice. One just needed to look at the faces of the participants at the conclusion of each lecture to observe the satisfaction, appreciation and great sense of gratitude at the impressive effort the lecturers made to make the topic simple, clear and very engaging for everyone.
Undoubtedly, the 16 hours of the Lectio Augustini sessions, during which an interesting topic was developed, namely, Friends and friendship for Augustine, was also very welcomed. The study unit was completed by the projection of the well-known film on Monica and Augustine, Son of Her Tears.
Fr Salvino thanked the work of the newly elected Administrative Board composed by the President, Minister Provincial Fr Leslie Gatt OSA, Fr Pierre Desira OSA, Ms Antoinette Borg, secretary to the Board and administrative secretary, Mr Justice Silvio Meli, Fr Professor Hector Scerri, Dr Ritienne Debono MD, Mr Andrè Debattista and myself. Fr Salvino also thanked heartily the outgoing members – notary Dr Joe Debono and Dr Max Cassar. Other people who greatly helped in the successful organization and running of the academic year 2018-2019 are the Caruana family, Vincent, Rita and their daughter Diane. Heartfelt thanks also went to Fr Dr Jimmy Bonnici, Director of the Institute For Pastoral Formation for inserting the Institute yearly academic programme of studies in the folder of the Institute and to Mr France Zammit, especially for the printing of certificates. Personally, I appreciate Fr Salvino’s acknowledgement of my humble support in promoting the sterling academic efforts of the Augustinian Institute in the social media.
Fr Salvino said that 2019-2020 will be completely dedicated to a deep study of the 13 books of Augustine’s The Confessions. However, this will be done with a difference! During each Friday session, 15 in all, a book will be focused on through a hands-on method, with study texts, handouts, questionnaires, and so on. Moreover, a three-day Live-In will help to enhance the background of some more intensive aspects and texts of this great masterpiece of Our Holy Father Augustine. Finally, on 3rd January 2020, we will also share the joy of launching a Festschrift in honour of Fr Salvino’s 70th birthday, which falls on 28th December. The enterprise has been kindly endorsed by the Augustinian Province, and the kind editorial efforts of Fr Professor Hector Scerri as well as the full support of Fr Salvino’s dear friend and colleague of KU Leuven, Professor Dr Anthony Dupont.
This extraordinary occasion brought to my heart and mind what the great Augustine wrote in his seventh homily on the First Epistle of John: “Once for all, then, a short precept is given you. Love, and do what you will: whether you hold your peace, through love hold your peace; whether you cry out, through love cry out; whether you correct, through love correct; whether you spare, through love do you spare: let the root of love be within, of this root can nothing spring but what is good” (no. 8).
Love, and do what you will, indeed!
Fr Mario Attard OFM Cap