On the weekend of the 17th & 18th November the brothers spread out across the state of NSW to every country town where a Patrician is buried. At these locations - Armidale, Maitland, Orange, Bathurst, Wagga Wagga, and Albury - the brothers spoke at the Sunday Masses to remind or to reveal to the parishioners their parish’s part in the Patrician story, that the brothers had lived, taught, and died there. Of course very few were reminded, for most it was a complete revelation. (Photo: Brs Gerard & Joseph at Bathurst cemetery.)

At each Mass, the brothers met the people and handed out information sheets on the brothers’ history in NSW as well as a prayer card with a calendar of BC events.    And most importantly, at each Mass the brothers proclaimed an open invitation to a prayer service to be held at the brothers’ graves in that town to start at Noon on Sunday.

At that time then the prayer service was held, not only in the NSW, but anywhere a brother is buried in Australia and Papua New Guinea. So, to the list of locations already mentioned can be added the Field of Mars, Ryde; Kemps Creek near Liverpool; and St Ignatius High School, Aitape. (Photo: Brs Aengus & Mark in Armidale.)

For the twenty minutes of the prayer, brothers and friends from Aitape to Albury, from Ryde to Orange, were united in a common prayer said for a common purpose: to pay tribute to those Patricians who gave their lives to spread the Good News and to thank God for gift of their lives. (Photo: PNG Brothers at Tony O'Connor's grave.)

The visits were originally planned for July of this year, but it was better thought of when a brother visited Goulburn in June and reminded the brothers of how cold it can be in country NSW in Winter. So November was agreed upon only having to cope then with heat and flies. But at least the sun was smiling down on us and one feels that the brothers we were honouring were also smiling. Why wouldn’t they? Some maybe thinking it was about time.

The whole experience was a great reconnecting with  our parishes of the past; with the diaspora Patrician family; with our history; with the Patricians who have gone before. From the reports handed in by the brothers - which were to constitute this report but are too many and too voluminous - it was indeed a success, and indeed a most appropriate way to lead into the bicentenary year. Again in 2008? Maybe just at Ryde and Liverpool.