To this conference came Brothers from all Religious Congregations in Australia as well as some of our nearest neighbours: New Zealand and Papua New Guinea. Here is what Brother Paul O'Keeffe the Australian Patrician Provincial had to say in "The Breastplate" about the gathering.

Keynote speaker was American Holy Cross Brother Joel Giallanza a member of the editorial board of Human Development and a contributor to Review for Religious.

Joel said that (we) Brothers 'must cultivate our life together. We must separate ourselves from whatever patterns of life have compromised or constricted our desire and ability to love our religious commitment with intensity and integrity.'

Of all the elements within contemporary religious life, Joel said that 'community may be one with the most diverse understandings and the widest range of expectations among the members.' Joel said that the Brothers must caution themselves against discouragement or bitterness in their relationship with the institutional Church. 'The Challenge is to examine how we can remain faithful to the church and hopeful about the church, given, sometimes, our experiences within the church.
 

The gathering concluded with the adoption of a statement which in part says: We acknowledge some realities we face as Brothers:

We are challenged by these realities to be: Prophetic men who are true Brothers in relationships and in action, creating life-giving communities, confidently inviting others to join us.

In our communities of faith and hospitality, we show ourselves to be positive and hopeful and with others, share Jesus' mission to the world.

It was a time also of great pride in the contribution of the Patrician Brothers to the gathering.