 Earlier this year it was
announced that Br Patrick Lovegrove, Prinicpal of Patrician Brothers
Blacktown, would retire from his position as Principal at the end of
June, corresponding to the end of the second school term.On Friday the 24th of June a Farewell Mass was held by the school to which they invited Bishop Kevin Manning, the Brothers, Catholic Education representatives, political leaders, and the many people who have been associated with Patrick over the years, especially his years at Blacktown. The school in Blacktown began in 1952 and Patrick became its fourth Principal in 1963. He was Principal until 1965. In 1968 he was elected Provincial of the Australian Province, a position he held for twelve years when he was elected Superior General - international leader - of the Congregation of the Patrician Brothers. He held that position until 1986. In 1989 he returned to Blacktown and became the sixth Principal of Patrician Brothers Blacktown, replacing long-time Principal Br Bernard Bulfin (1966 - 88); and now, after nearly fifteen years as Principal and at the age of seventy-two, Patrick has decided to declare his innings closed, the last Patrician to be Principal of the school. (While Patrick will be moving on, two other Brothers - Martin Harmata and Peter Higgins who have both given many years of ministry at the school - will remain very much involved in the school. And, of course, the Brothers' monastery at Blacktown is a part of the school plant.)
The Mass on the 24th June was a very fine tribute to Patrick's many years of service and to Patrick the man. Many inspiring words indeed were said of Patrick by Bishop Manning, Mrs Ann Benjamin (Director of the Parramatta Catholic Education Office), Br Aengus Kavanagh (Patrician Provincial),
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