In 1950 a Dutch Augustinian community was established at Bagneux (in Paris, France), and in 1952 a second community began in Paris (and has since been withdrawn). In the year 1960 the Province comprised 400 members, 250 of whom were priests. In January 1960 the new monastery of the cloistered sisters was opened in Werkhoven.
In the 1960s and afterwards, the effects of the change in cultural values and tensions in the Church following the Second Vatican Council led to a drastic decline in vocations, such that, as of 1st June 2006, the Province had reduced numerically to 128 members, including those in the Dutch Augustinian missions in Bolivia (18 – but only a minority of them Dutch-born) and Papua (38 – who overwhelmingly were Papuans).
In Europe, the Dutch Province presently has five communities, including that of Bagneux in Paris, France. These are the remaining apostolate of the Province: 1.Pastoral works in Utrecht and Nijmegen. 2.The Augustijns Instituut in Eindhoven, a center for Augustinian studies and spirituality. 3.The missions in Bolivia and Papua, Indonesia.
Among the members of the Province who have become reknowned for living a holy life are Fr Thomas van der Vloodt (died in 1936, founder of the mission of Bolivia) and Fr Ansfried Hulsbosch (died 1973).
Photos (at right)
Picture 1: Original building of Augustinianum, a former Augustinian school, Eindhoven.
Picture 2: Augustinianum, a former Augustinian school still operating in Eindhoven.
Acknowledgement
The above material has been adapted from the website of the Organization of the Augustinians of Europe. Go to http://www.osa-oae.org
For seven Augnet pages on the history of the Augustinians in Papua, Indonesia, click here.
For the four Augnet regional photo galleries on Augustinian ministry in Indonesia, select "Papua Aimas," "Papua Ayawasi," "Papua Senopi" and "Papua Sorong" after you click here.
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