News: Lorica 2006

Lorica is the Latin word for "breastplate" as in the chest armour worn by soldiers, as in the prayer "The Breastplate of Saint Patrick". It has become the word used by the Patricians to refer to a time of Patrician renewal when a small group of Patricians from around the world (Ireland, Kenya, India, Australia, Papua New Guinea, and the United States) gather together for a time - usually around three months - of prayer and reflection and study on Patrician religious life. This renewal programme began in the early 1980s and many of the brothers have been able to participate in it. (Photo: Patrician leaders, Patricians participating in the Lorica programme (Loricans), and local priests and religious, join together for one of the early sessions at Kamagut.)

The Lorica programme is currently being run in Kamagut, Kenya. Present are ten "young" Patricians from Kenya, India, and Papua New Guinea. The Australian and Papua New Guinean province has one brother attending: Br Norbert Yeku from Aitape in PNG. Br Norbert is not all that young - he has been a Patrician for over fiftten years - but this is his first opportunity to attend this programme. (Photo: Br Norbert - fourth from right - in a discussion group.)

Experts in religious life, theology, spirituality, prayer, and psychology, from around Kenya and other parts of the world spend anything from several days to several weeks with the brothers. Some of these experts are from our own Patrician ranks including our Superior General Br Jerome Ellens, Vicar General Br Peter Ryan, and Australian Provincial Br Aengus Kavanagh.