News: Br Jerome Farewell

It's the 25th April (ANZAC Day) and tonight our Superior General Br Jerome Ellens leaves Australia to return to Ireland via India. (Photo: Br Jerome outside Holy Cross College, Ryde.)

It was just a few days ago that the Brothers in Aitape and Wewak wished farewell to Jerome; the Sydney Brothers gathered yesterday at the Ryde monastery to make their good-byes.

Every Brother in Sydney was there except for our two Brothers preparing to enter (Gerard) and preparing to leave (Marcellus) hospital. And, of course, we have three Brothers overseas: Paul doing a rigorous Formators' course in Ireland; Domenic finishing a three-month and more getting-to-know-yourself-and-God course in the United States; and Joseph back home in Ireland beginning his Golden Jubilee celebrations.

Provincial, Br Aengus, took the opportunity of the gathering to discuss several matters with the Brothers, especially the initial plans for the 2008 bi-centenary of the Brothers' foundation. But the main feature was the time allocated to Br Jerome where he gave a summary report of his visit and also informed the gathering of the work of the Brothers in India. We were and are inspired by the great work being done by the Indian Province.


Aengus addressing the Brothers on the Constitution documents	Jerome presents Aengus with the Visitation Report

The common consensus of the Brothers was that Jerome's visit was a great success. Their only concern, and they stated this very clearly to him at the gathering, was that his stay was too short. "That short-coming will certainly be rectified next visit," was his promise. His next visit should be 2008 for the bi-centenary.

Br Jerome seemed pretty happy with us as well and presented each Brother personally with a summary of the much more in-depth visitation report he presented to our Provincial Brother Aengus Kavanagh.

Jerome will be remembered especially for the fraternal manner of his visitation: he just seemed to genuinely enjoy being with us. I guess that's why we enjoyed having him here with us. His visit will also be remembered for his willingness to get involved with the Brothers in community and personally; to get involved with the various ministries of the Brothers; and to spend time with all those who are a part of the Patrician story here in Sydney and in PNG.