AUGUSTINIAN Father Francis Belcina might not have a monk’s tonsure, but his hair is still turning heads.
The parish priest of St James’ Church, Coorparoo, and member of the Australian province of the Order of St Augustine, is growing his hair to raise money for his religious congregation’s newly established Vietnamese mission.
Fr Belcina said he had not had a proper trim or haircut in two years, and the last time he cut it short was before his ordination in 2017.
“So after that it’s either long or then just a little trim and then longer,” Fr Belcina said.
The long locks are literally close to his heart.
“I was thinking about August being the month of the Augustinian appeal, then I thought what would be a good thing to already give up make it a cause for the mission,” he said.
“That’s what I thought I would do, think of something that’s really close to heart and give it up.”
Fr Belicna is aiming to raise $3500 for the Vietnamese mission by August 30, a couple of days after the feast day of St Augustine on August 28.
He will cut his hair following the August 30 Mass, which will be quite the surprise for his parishioners.
“So the parish has only seen that long hair only just recently, they always see me turn it into a bun,” Fr Belcina said.
The Augustinians mission house in Vietnam officially opened in August last year with three Augustinian brothers.
Six local candidates have already reached the “come and see” or aspirancy stage.
For more information or to donate visit Fr Francis Belcina’s official fundraising page https://www.mycause.com.au/page/232306/not-a-bad-hair-day-an-augustinian-vietnam-mission-fundraiser.
