Australian
News - August, 2005
Golden Jubilee Celebrations - 2
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Charles
with niece Mary-Rose, her husband Chris, and daughter Elenor
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Fr
Campion (standing) and Fr Boland concelebrating Mass |
individually but people who were and are closely linked
to the
Patrician
story and particularly to Charlie. The celebrants were Fr Les Campion,
Parish Priest of Granville, and Fr Arthur Boland ofm who was a special
friend of Charles in his time in Papua New Guinea.
After Mass, and after pre-formalities drinks in the chapel courtyard,
the gathering moved into the College staff room which had been set up
to accommodate the occasion.
Formalities were kept fairly short and simple, just the way Charles
likes things, especially formalities with himself at the focal point.
With Brother Nicholas Harsas, community leader of the Fairfield
community of Brothers, acting as master-of-ceremonies, two speakers
were invited to say just a few words about Charles. Firstly, Mr Michael
Vella, who had spent twelve years living in very close proximity with
Charles in Aitape and then Nuku as Br Michael Vella, co-founder with
Charles of St Francis High School, Nuku, where a deep and impenetrable
jungle gave way to one of the prettiest little high schools you will
see anywhere. Michael was followed by Provincial Aengus Kavanagh. Both
could only mention Charles’s achievements as fellow-Brother, teacher,
counsellor, principal, and community builder. But perhaps by the time
they were both finished, the gathering had an even deeper respect for
the man they had come to celebrate.
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Br
Aengus & Michael Vella
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Charles
in full flight
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Charles was then asked to say a few words, a few words
which, in the
fashion of the Irish, consisted of a few amazing stories, stories of
his adventures in Papua New Guinea. He could write a book, and it would
sell well.
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