close window

Newsletter | Summer 2004

Greetings from the President, Dr. John Patrick

After another successful year, Augustine College is continuing in its counter-cultural ways, doing what the modern secular university will not. Young minds are too fine a gift to be corroded in the educational environment of the average institution of higher learning, which labours under the delusion that intelligent people are tacitly atheistic. It does not prove this assertion, it assumes it, and with matching presumption detours the big existential questions, which it thinks have no place in a proper, public education. At Augustine College students are given an education that makes them excited about and confident to discuss the big questions of life. Here are nine of them: The 9 Questions that everyone must answer

1. Where did I come from, or in the beginning, what? This question is avoided by talking about evolutionary processes at a micro level and extrapolating backwards. The question of whether there might be a creator is never entertained; occasionally it is dismissed as unanswerable.

2. Why am I here? What is the purpose of being? Again only trivial, unsatisfying virtues like tolerance, cultural sensitivity, and freedom (understood only as freedom from interference) are allowed in public discussion, despite the immense hubris of that approach.

3. Where am I going? Our contemporaries suppress this question. They acknowledge the polls, which say that the overwhelming majority believes in God, but they live as though this God makes no demands and will not judge.

4. How do I come to terms with death? Death is an obsession in our culture but meaningful discussion - especially meaningful religious discussion - is postponed until the final phase of life. For wise men of old, living with the inevitability of death was central to wisdom.

5. Why is there suffering? This is the most difficult question for Christians but we do have answers, difficult answers admittedly.

6. Why is there injustice? Modern utilitarian politics refuses to allow that transcendent laws may have been given to us and substitutes the judgements of the unelected elite on the bench. Thus the legal decisions they make are informed not by transcendent truth but by their own desires, genes, and experience. Justice becomes raw judicial power, to quote one US supreme court judge.

7. What can I know? Ask students in general whether truth or certain knowledge are possible and the normal response is the internally incoherent answer of 'No' - but not at Augustine College!

8. What should I believe? The fundamental ideas that rule our lives cannot be proved in a scientific manner. But the question of whether there is or is not a God, what sort of God, whether sin is a real category, whether Jesus really died for our sins, whether the resurrection occurred, and whether Jesus will come again are, proved or otherwise, undeniably important. The answers to these questions will change our lives if we think at all.

9. What must I then do? Some things ought to be believed. Some things ought to be done and others refused. The ancient ideas about objective moral truth are still valid.

Summer at Augustine

Twenty physicians and their families, two research scientists, and five students were with us at Augustine College over one week in June for the CMDA-CMDS Conference. It was a great joy to have medical students and two of our own graduates with us this year. Some of the students were sponsored by the Canadian CMDS - we are most grateful for their support. Joined by faculty and families, we numbered fifty people for the final meal together on Friday evening prior to a day at the Patrick's farm. The Module offered this year was The Renaissance Period. The considerable contribution to college funds through course fees and donations is greatly appreciated by all members of the College. We thank everyone involved most sincerely for their efforts in providing challenging lectures, good discussion, excellent food, and congenial company. Next year (June 5th to 11th 2005) we intend to offer another historical module and possibly a study tour of Asia Minor or Italy. And for the young people accompanying their parents, we would like to offer an "Introduction to Augustine College" course followed by three days canoeing in Algonquin Park if there is sufficient support for the idea. Please let us know if you are interested in Asia Minor or canoeing!

Faculty News

Our faculty continues virtually unchanged. Richard Sembera, who studied philosophy under Graeme Hunter, will conduct the course in Philosophy and Literary classics. Ed Bloedow continues to teach Latin and Classics, Doug Hayman Theology, John Patrick the History of Science, Medicine, and Faith, David Stewart the History of Art (assisted this year by Edward Tingley, our new Registrar), Wesley Warren the History of Music and Culture, and Mark Whittall the History of Mathematics and Science. Our Book of the Semester discussion group continues to be led by Lorraine Links who studied with Dominic Manganiello at the University of Ottawa.

2004/05 Students

As the summer-that-never-was winds down, the new fall semester lies just around the corner. As in previous years, we'll enjoy a diverse group of new students from all over the U.S. and Canada. We have twelve students at Augustine College this year. Some have received their education in the public school system, others through home-schooling. At least one of the group has already been accepted into graduate school but has chosen to come to us instead. We have more than one musician, more than one artist, and more than one student who has already served abroad, one in the Ukraine, another in Sri Lanka. But whether they have extraordinary accomplishments to list or not, we are certain that each one is a distinctive individual with invaluable and unique gifts we hope to nurture. It is exciting to have them with us for a year of formation in which we confidently expect to see them sharpen their writing and debating skills whilst deepening their faith and understanding! Our 8th Augustine College class is:

Many of our prospective students come to Augustine through word of mouth and personal contact with someone from the College. We wish to encourage everyone - students, alumni, faculty, staff, and friends of the College - to talk about Augustine College wherever they may go, at every opportunity. New full-colour booklets describing the College are available for the asking.

2003/04 Students

This was a remarkable year for the progress and personal development of each of the eleven students who graduated this year. Joshua Loyd gave the Valedictorian address at the Graduation ceremony at All Saints' Anglican Church. Here's an update on the Class of 2004 and their plans for the coming year - at least those we could contact.

Graeme Appleyard counseled at Galilee Bible Camp in July, as well as working for a lawn-care company in June and getting in touch with his manly side by cutting and splitting wood for the most demanding boss of all, his father. He will enter an Honours Science program in biochemistry at the University of Ottawa.

Kirsten Appleyard spent the summer working in childcare in Germany and, on her rare days off, visited places like Freiburg, Heidelberg, Munich, Bayreuth (seeing two Wagner operas) as well as Stratford (England of course) and Crete. She is entering honours biology at McGill but next year wants to take a double major and add history … something about the Augustine College influence.

Madeleine Curry and her family have moved from Calgary to Vancouver. Madeleine has enrolled in the Arts Faculty at UBC and will be taking English, art history, religious studies, philosophy, and Hindi.

Jared Karpa plans to work this year.

Josh and Janiece Loyd (with baby Aidan Augustine) and Ryan Loyd have spent the last few months applying their medical skills in Thailand, working at a Baptist Medical Mission. They recently broadcasted an e-mail letter, and for anyone who did not receive it and would like to, contact huckle [at] renfrew.net for a forwarded copy. Janiece will complete her midwifery training and the "lads" will now finish their medical training before returning to missionary work.

Joel Morehouse spent the summer at Augustine College, working as a painter, enjoying the many music festivals, and practicing the organ. He has returned to Rochester and will be attending Roberts Wesleyan College to finish his BA in music. Following that, he plans to enroll in the excellent Great Books Program at Thomas Aquinas College in Santa Paula, California.

Janice Pringle worked for a landscaper in the Ottawa area and still found time to visit Toronto, read (probably the rest of the Augustine booklist that nobody could get to during the school year), and garden. She'll be attending Carleton University this year taking honours English with a minor in music.

Michael Rieger returns to Oregon to continue his engineering degree and with some relief goes back to multiple-choice exams.

Daniel Ragonesi is going into mechanical engineering at Grove City College in Pennsylvania. He is on the soccer team and will join the orchestra after the soccer season.

Elliot Rossiter will spend a year working and plans to go into science or medicine later.

Georgia Tabler sends us a report: "Next year, I will be in the Bachelor of Science pre-pharmacy program at Red Deer College, and will hopefully be moving onto the University of Alberta after that. This summer, I worked for about six weeks for Member of Parliament Stockwell Day in Ottawa. Since then I have been working full time in Red Deer at my father's pharmacy."

Alumni News

Congratulations to all our Augustine graduates in their life endeavours. We love to hear from you and we are very proud of the life-changing influences you have on our society.

Michelle Hoffman (1998) writes, "The website looks GREAT! I'm currently at University of Toronto doing my Master's in History and Philosophy of Science and Technology."

Rachel Johnson (1998) writes, "I have begun an MA/PhD program in art history at the University of Toronto. I never would have thought that David Jeffrey's History of Art and Theology in the Christian West would have set me on this path."

Matt Mann (1998) has been teaching at Redeemer Christian School in Ottawa. Matt and Natalie have two children, Lukas, 2, and Leila, born August 21st 2004. Congratulations, Matt and Natalie! This September Matt will start his own Christian Classical School in Ottawa. St Timothy's Academy is based at Bromley Road Baptist Church in Carlingwood. Augustine College is thrilled to see this endeavour go ahead. For more information, please go to http://www.st-timothys.ca/ .

Andre Nimigan (1998) writes, "It is great to hear that there could be 14 students for this coming year's class at Augustine College! This unique program continues to touch many young people in a life-changing way, and I am grateful for my opportunity to attend the College as a student in the past and participate now as an alumnus. I am currently in my third year of medicine at the University of Western Ontario with a most keen interest in plastic surgery and ophthalmology. I have been in Halifax for two months this summer doing some research and an elective. I look forward to meeting the students this year and taking part in any way that I can."

Leah (Hackett) Smith (1998) received her BA (Philosophy and Psychology) at the University of Ottawa 2002. Leah and James Smith were married on July 20, 2002.

Jessica (Haak) Terpstra (1998) writes, "I'm currently at Fanshawe College in London, starting into my second year of graphic design, after working for four years as a goldsmith in a jewellery store in Listowel, ON. I just got married this July and am now living in Strathroy."

Meghan Elkink (1999) continues in medical school at the University of Alberta.

Sarah Kidd (1999) now has a permanent job on the Hill. We hope she is not too busy running the country to be around the College as well this year.

Congratulations to Rebecca Walker (1999), top student this year in the English Department at the University of Ottawa and has been awarded an Ontario Graduate Scholarship! She will continue her studies with Dominic Manganiello.

On Wednesday May 19th 2004 Sonja Spaetzel (2000) helped Joel Geleynse (2000) launch his debut album, The Rebellion of Camouflage (featuring John Patrick's voice!) at the Laurentian Centre in Ottawa. Joel writes: "I had the opportunity to experience Tyndale College, Redeemer University, work in Christian radio and television, lead a youth group, skate to Christian music for the lunchtime crowd in the food-court of Cambridge mall, travel in my VW van around US and Canada doing Christian music concerts, and record my first album.... My aspirations/sense of calling clearly lies in evangelism through the arts, and especially in music that is artistically excellent and communicates God's Truth in a vulnerable, non-patronizing, honest way that is both relevant to listeners yet neither the product of a strategy or agenda but something Spirit-driven. It's a tall order and I'm terrified to actually TRY for fear of not measuring up."

Michelle Leigh (2000) continues her studies at Ottawa University. We will miss her help at the College this year and hope to see her at every possible occasion.

Travis Dumsday (2001) writes, "I'm currently entering my third year at Carleton University, doing a double major in philosophy and political science. If all goes well, I hope to go to grad school in philosophy in a couple of years, with the eventual goal of teaching. I'm also very involved with pro-life activism, working in both Ottawa Youth for Life and the National Campus Life Network. My year at Augustine was truly a blessing, and I continue to benefit from the intellectual, spiritual, and social formation fostered there."

David and Erica (Bassler) Kidd (2001) have completed their degrees at Baylor University and have both been awarded research scholarships. They are starting on PhDs in philosophy at Villanova University in Philadelphia.

Elisabeth Batchelder (2003) writes, "Since I left Augustine I'm doing much summer reading … Dostoevsky's The Idiot - I enjoyed it a great deal. I have spent my summer teaching remedial English classes for ninth graders at the high school where I taught from 2001-02. I have also become engaged to Matt Akers. We plan to get married in June 2004." They were married this year in Colorado. We send our congratulation and God's richest blessing to Elisabeth.

Rachel Sisson (2003) writes, "I am preparing to embark, once again, on a journey of post-secondary studies. I have been accepted at Trinity Western University, where I will study for a BA in Applied Linguistics. I am very excited to (hopefully) study New Testament Greek!"

2003/04 Highlights

This year's Visiting Artist and Annual Weston Lecturer 2004 was Dr. Jeremy Begbie of Cambridge and St. Andrews universities. Dr. Begbie visited us March 19-22 for two major lecture-recitals in a programme called The Sound of Hope, drawing participants from as far away as Vancouver and Idaho. This event, in which Dr. Begbie was assisted by musicians Rob Des Cotes (Vancouver), Carl Merenick (Toronto), and David Longenecker (Toronto), is now available as a handsome set of two complete archival video recordings.

In his first lecture-recital, "Sounding Hopeful," Dr. Begbie explored the terrain of classical and contemporary culture for themes and insights that resonate both with the deep hunger of mankind for reality and with the great proclamations of the Christian Gospel. The result is a brilliant and moving mixture of lecture and performance at the piano. It also amounts to a quick refresher course in basic Christian theology, vibrant with a sense of God's transforming work for all of life and culture.

The second lecture-recital, "So Much from So Little: Bach's Chaconne," reveals how the hunger of the human heart for form and meaning is both expressed and 'met' in this remarkable work for solo violin. Dr. Begbie uses the Chaconne to help us see, hear, and understand anew how the arts can teach us about God, the whole range of human experience, and the mystery of the 'improvising' work of the Holy Spirit.

Each video is 90-110 minutes' duration, with notes for further study. A DVD version will be available shortly. We are convinced that The Sound of Hope has the potential for a major teaching ministry wherever Christians are seeking to understand and fulfill God's mandate to us in the world of culture and the sharing of the Gospel.

PLEASE NOTE: Augustine College is offering this material on a 'not-for-sale' basis. Any contribution toward the ongoing work of the College, in light of the considerable cost of producing this unique video (plus mailing costs of $ 7.50) is entirely voluntary. For more information please contact Dr. David Stewart via Augustine College at (613) 237-9870 or directly at (613) 726-7794 or ddstewart [at] sympatico.ca

The 2003/04 Evening Lectures, "An Introduction to Augustine College," continued throughout the year.

The Annual Hymn Sing, the Corn Roast, and the Restless Hearts' Café were enjoyed by students, faculty, and friends as were many other social events through the year.

2004/05 Future Events

You are welcome to join us at Augustine College for any of the college events. Details are available online and from the College. The fall term began with Commencement on September 5th and an address by Rev. Doug Hayman: "Be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind." Soon our Evening Lectures series begins again, this year in conjunction with the Laurentian Leadership Centre of Trinity Western University and in a new format of (for now) one lecture per month. "Literature: Representations of Life" is the theme of this year's series.

Classics scholar Ed Bloedow opens the series with a lecture on the Iliad by Homer on Tuesday September 28th at 7 pm. All lectures are at the Laurentian Leadership Centre at 252 Metcalfe Street, Ottawa. The cost is $10 per person.

The Annual Hymn Sing has been a past source of great blessing and encouragement. Please join us for our Eighth Annual Hymn Sing. Over the years this has been a wonderful evening of congregational singing and biblical reflections by the faculty and Members of Augustine College. Our theme this year is "Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah" - a reflection on the journey of the children of Israel as an extended metaphor of the Christian life. Join us for a time of music and devotion in the beautiful setting of St. Barnabas' Church, at Kent and James Streets, on Saturday October 2nd at 7:30 pm.

Encouragement

We raised $88,000 this year through the Summer Programme and through generous gifts from individuals and the Weston and Spaenaur Foundations. Please remember that we need to continue to raise $50-100,000 each year. Come to the AGM this year on November 4th to find out more about College finances and participatory needs.

Would you like to share in this exciting ministry?


Close Window