In 1970-71, Father Austin took a sabbatical year during which he attended St. Paul’s Seminary in Ottawa where he worked on improving his skills in the field of pastoral theology and catechetics for youth and adults. He had traveled to Lourdes and Rome earlier and in 1996 he was able to travel with a group of priests to Greece. He found that the pilgrimage to Athens, Corinth and Ephesus and other cities was very helpful in the understanding of St. Paul and the early Church.

Father Austin says that most of his volunteer experiences has been in connection with parish ministry. He is interested in issues concerning social justice, poverty , low wages and the struggle of the Irish moss gatherers with having to survive. He found it easy to relate to the working class - farmers and fishers. He took up a new ministry in 1994 - ministering to the sick, the dying and their families.

He remembers that going to St. Dunstan’s at the age of 15 was quite an experience for a lad fresh from the farm but he found good friends there such as Charlie Gorman his first roommate who had entered St. Dunstan’s in Grade X in 1944. He remembers also, Charlie’s spur of the moment decision to run for President of the Student’s Council and the wonderful speech he made prior to winning the election.

Father Austin says: ”Little did we think in 1951, that in less than twenty years St. Dunstan’s would in effect cease to exist. One of the great lessons that I remember from SDU was the dedication of the staff and the great faith of many students. To see young men going to Mass daily and watching them preparing for their careers/vocations was pretty impressive. The Catholic community in P.E.I. has taken a long time to ‘find itself” with the loss of St. Dunstan’s. I believe that more needs to be done on our part to provide a forum for the presentation of the Church’s teachings. The Faith is still vibrant and prophetic - things may indeed come to pass.

I am ofien reminded of some of the quotes Mark McGuigan used in his valedictory - ‘All the world’s a stage

And all the men and women merely players; they have their exits and their entrances. And one man in his time plays many parts His acts being seven ages.’

(Shakespeare’s As you Like It)”