Back (L-R): Br Stephen Sweetman - Mr Tim Logue - Mr Kevin Jones  Mr Michael Krawec - Br Philip Mulhall - Br Mark Ryan Br Bernard Bulfin - Br Patrick Lovegrove    Front:  Br Aengus Kavanagh - Mr Allan McManus Mr Garry Williams - Br Charles Barry

In 1995 we had six Brothers as school Principals, as well as a reasonably healthy presence of other Brothers on the different staffs. Today we have two Brothers as Principals and just a few Brothers still specifically active in schools. However, the Province is doing its best to work with the current principals and their staffs to maintain a Patrician spirit in the schools which were once “ours”.  The iniative for this was mutual between the Brothers and the schools. Over the years there have been several gatherings of  Principals with the Brothers to further develop strategies to keep the Patrician charism something perceived within the school communities. This year’s gathering took place on the 10th and 11th of March at The Entrance. School Principals Allan McManus (Narellan), Tim Logue (Liverpool), Michael Krawec (Fairfield), Kevin Jones (Granville), Br Patrick Lovegrove (Blacktown), and Garry Williams (Ryde),  gathered around the table with Provincial Brother Aengus and Brothers Philip Mulhall, Charles Barry, Mark Ryan, Matthew Mahoney, Bernard Bulfin, and Stephen Sweetman, to discuss such matters as a common Mission Statement for the schools and to look ahead at the bi-centenary celebrations  (2008) to see how the schools can be involved in the celebrations.

It is was indeed a most productive time together. Principals went away with many suggestions on the content of a Mission Statement based on the Patrician charism. The Principals will take these back to their respective schools to work on possible statements.

Also, some very concrete suggestions were made in relation to the bi-centenary, some of which are already being looked into.

The short time together was for all uplifting and encouraging. Not just because of the meetings, but also because of the prayer time and social time. As a component of the second day prayer, the gathering was inspired by a PowerPoint presentatiop of “The Deer’s Cry” put together by the REC at Holy Cross, Mr Mathew Peck.