In 1974 a Community of De La Salle brothers
was established and has engaged in a great
variety of pastoral activities in keeping
with the Institute’s aims and history.
These activities have included Social
Works, Youth initiatives and Missions
for Secondary Schools, Vocations Promotion,
Adult Education, Retreats and Prayer Groups,
Justice and Peace Groups, Special Needs
education.
In1997 the Convent of Our Lady of the
Missions was established within the confines
of the parish in keeping with relatively
recent pastoral initiatives to allow the
diocese to draw on the experience of religious
orders in a whole range of pastoral initiatives.
These have proved particularly effective
in catechetical and liturgical preparation
of children for the sacraments, RCIA Programmes,
and the pastoral care of the sick.
The Rev. Frank Scally, himself a parishioner
of St. Augustine’s, was ordained
Deacon on 4 November 1999 and served in
this capacity for a period of three years.
His death on 16 August 2002 after a relatively
short ministry deprived the parish of
a dedicated and gifted member of the Pastoral
Team.
The present Pastoral Team consists of
Canon James Foley, Father Kenneth O’Brien,
Sister Eileen Hobbins. Father O’Brien
combines his parish duties with the Chaplaincies
to two Secondary Schools in the district,
St. Margaret’s Airdrie and St. Andrew’s
Coatbridge.
In keeping with the spirit of Vatican
II they enjoy the support and share the
administration of the parish with many
parishioners and societies to be found
in most Catholic Parishes today. The annals
of the Parish demonstrate a good relationship
with neighbouring churches and faiths
of all denominations.
Canon Gerald Maher lives with us in retirement
after many years teaching in the Junior
Seminary and as parish priest in various
parishes in the Diocese of Motherwell.
