Eventually it was decided that there should be a more formal mode of training which would entail removing the trainees to an area conducive to reflection and meditation and to have a house which was more specifically dedicated to formation. And so in 1914 the congregation bought a house and property in Orange, named it Croagh Patrick , and for the next fourteen years trained young men there for entry in the spiritual and apostolic life of the Brothers.

By the end of 1927 the Brothers had withdrawn from all their country schools and were consolidating their efforts in Sydney alone, and so it was considered only practical that the formation house be moved to Sydney as well. In 1929 the Wahroonga property was purchased by the Brothers and named Mt St Joseph.  A fine two-storey residence which had been built in 1914 already existed on the property - the building still exists today and very little of the original structure has been changed. 

A large two-storey building was erected in 1935 adjacent to the original house to accommodate the growing numbers of young boys who were considering entering the Brothers while completing their final years at school.. These boys were called Juniors. This new addition included a spacious chapel, dining room, science room, study, library, and large dormitory. The next large scale upgrading of facilities came in 1968 when the monastery was enlarged and new cooking facilities installed. A recreation hall was also added. Very significant landscaping also took place. There already existed a tennis court, and under the direction of Brother Vianney Foyle a playing field was constructed.

As attitudes to Religious Formation developed, the use of Wahroonga took on a different shape. It was first used to accommodate boys still at school considering entering the Brothers as well as those young men who had entered the Novitiate. By 1963 the Brothers had purchased a property in Narellan and to here were sent the Novices. By the 1970's boys were encouraged to complete their school education at their own schools and when they had completed their final exams they could then make an application to begin their training with the Brothers.

So by the 1970's Wahroonga was used to accommmodate a professed community of Brothers; postulants, who were young men in their first years of training, usually attending teachers' college; and scholastics, who were young professed Brothers who had completed their novitiate and were continuing their professional as well as spiritual training.

By the late 1980's with the severe decrease in vocations to the religious life, formation strategies changed again and went back to the way things were: aspirants to the Brothers lived in an active school community with a designated Brother looking after their training. Wahroonga ceased being used as a house of formation.

Wahroonga continued to be used for spirtual nourishment: for the congregation, its schools, and for many other Catholic schools and people of the Sydney diocese. Under the expert direction and care of Brother Leonard Blahut and Sister Liz Skehan (Dominican) Mt St Joseph was used for several years for school retreats. The chapel and prayer room facilities were also used by the congregation for Prayer Nights with students and young adult groups. The hall was found to be most useful by local adult education groups. The local schools were grateful for the use of the playing field.

The last Patrician community to live at Wahroonga was Brothers Gerard Bulfin (S), Joseph Guidera, and Paul O'Keeffe, and Mr Alan Pollock in 1989. Since then the property has been occupied by caretakers. It is hoped that by 2000 the ownership of the property will finally change hands.