The Friends of St Augustine and the Australasian Augustinian Province have invited all laity to the 2026 National Lay Congress in Melbourne next month.
Held every three years, the national congress brings together members of local groups from across Australia, as well as anyone from the wider community who is curious about exploring faith through an Augustinian lens.
To be held at the Augustinian parish of St Joseph’s, South Yarra, from October 9-11, this year’s gathering holds special significance with the 2025 election of Pope Leo XIV —the first Augustinian Pope.
With the theme “Re-imagining Hope”, the congress will explore the core Augustinian charisms of restlessness, interiority, fraternity, and service within the context of our modern world.
Journalist and author Stan Grant and Augustinian Prior Provincial Fr Tony Banks OSA will give keynote addresses.
The weekend features keynote addresses, community reflection sessions, an evening Eucharist, and a panel discussion exploring Pope Leo XIV’s encyclical, Magnifica Humanitas.
In an article on the Augustinians website, National Leaders of Friends of St Augustine, Australia, Mary McCormick and Judith Duncan discussed the history of the congress.
“You might well ask, what does a congress do? What is a congress about? The dictionary says that a congress is a coming together. For the last 25 years, every three years, there have been significant ‘coming togethers’ for Augustinian laity,” they wrote.
“With so much spirituality for us to explore from Augustine and Pope Leo XIV, this congress promises to be both challenging and nourishing.”
Details: https://www.osa.org.au.
FULL STORY
Re-Imagining Hope (Augustinians)
Congress Time (A Coming Together)… The Augustinian Way! (Augustinians)
