St. Brigid's priest Father Augustine is not only a spiritual minister; he is the parish's very own artist in residence.

In recent weeks, Father Augustine has received an outpouring of support from parishioners for his watercolor paintings, which he creates as a form of prayer. His artwork is so popular among local folk that a recent auction of his paintings yielded $3,265, which will fund the treatment and rehabilitation of a poor man in India named Bhaskar who lost his left leg. Father Augustine has expressed much gratitude to the parishioners and friends who made the fund raiser a success by purchasing the paintings.

The enthusiasm for Father Augustine's watercolor paintings has continued, and by popular demand, he has held free watercolor workshops in the parish center on Fridays throughout the summer.

Much excitement also surrounds the opening of an art exhibition by Father Augustine at the Westbury Memorial Public Library tomorrow. The Inauguration of the Art Exhibition, themed "American Lighthouses": Paintings by Father Augustine, will take place Friday, Aug. 3, at 7 p.m. at the library. Westbury's own artist priest is hoping that parishioners and residents from throughout the local community will attend the opening event. Selected paintings by Fr. Augustine will be displayed at the library from Aug. 3 during regular library hours, 9:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. on weekdays and 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturdays. "These magnificent watercolor paintings capture the extraordinary milestones in American cultural and social history," described an announcement of the exhibit.

The exhibition is also one of the last major events for Father Augustine at St. Brigid's, as he will be leaving for his home country of India in December. Father Augustine is finishing up a six-year appointment as a visiting priest from India at St. Brigid's. During the six-year-stint, he successfully received his Ph.D. in Communications at Rutgers University, New Brunswick, New Jersey. Local residents are invited to come to the Aug. 2 art exhibition inauguration and reception to meet this colorful community member and extend best wishes for all of his endeavors.