Ordained to minor orders

The Rev. David M Austin, of the Order of Saint Augustine, was ordained to the subdeaconate and the deaconate in the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, Washington, D.C., U.S.A., in ceremonies on February 6 and 7.

Aged 23, he is the son of Mr. Arthur Austin, of Holland Park, and the late Mrs. Jean Austin.

He was taught by the Sisters of St. Joseph at St Joachim's School, Holland Park, until he went to Villanova College, Coorparoo, in 1955.  He completed his Senior examination there in 1962.

After joining the Augustinians, he spent 12 months at the Augustinian Novitiate in Rochester, Victoria, before leaving for the United States in 1964.

He studied Philosophy at Villanova University, Villanova, Pennsylvania, an is presently completing his third year of theology in the Washington Theological Coalition, a federation of six major religious seminaries in the Washington area.

He will be ordained a priest in September of this year at St. Denis Chapel, Havertown, Pennsylvania, and will return to Australia upon conclusion of his studies late in 1970.

His father intends to travel to the United States later this year to be present at his ordination.

As a deacon, he will join his four classmates in preaching, baptising and distributing Holy Communion in neighboring parishes on Sundays.

This is in accord with the policy of the Second Vatican Council, which encourages clerics to gain pastoral experience before being ordained.

Many of the students spent part of this past summer in Augustinian parishes working with youth, teaching at summer religion schools and assisting in anti-poverty programs.

Peter Wieneke, also a member of the 1962 Senior class from Villanova, is currently completing his second year of theology at Augustinian College in Washington, and will receive major orders a year from now.

The photo is copied from the paper's report.