This issue of The Breastplate is dedicated with great respect and gratitude to Bishop David Cremin the Brothers’ very good friend here in Sydney for many, many years. Bishop David recently retired from his Episcopal duties. A Bishop of the people, he is much loved by all who know him. Always available to the Brothers, he attended everything from 60th anniversaries of profession to backyard barbecues. We pray that he is especially blessed over the years to come. He is always welcomed at any time at any Patrician house to put his feet up and enjoy some Irish nectar.

Greetings to our Breastplate readers

I am happy to continue this means of communication with the Brothers and friends as was practised by Paul O’Keeffe, with considerable help from Val Hood and Domenic Xuereb.

The new Province Leadership Team assumed responsibility from 1 January this Year. It was the wish of the Brothers, in recommending that four Councillors continue to assist the Provincial,  that all members of the Team actively share in the leadership and management of the Province.

Whereas the Provincial retains overall responsibility, portfolios have been accepted as follows:

Bro Matthew Mahoney    Assistant Provincial; Finance & Property
   Bro Charles Barry        Professional Standards & Integrity in Ministry; Social Justice
        Bro Stephen Sweetman  Provincial Secretariat, Archives, Records & Publications
            Bro Nicholas Harsas   Renewal & Ongoing Development; Vocations; Aged Care

We live at a time when Religious Life and Religious Brotherhood are not attracting new members, at least in Western cultures. A pity, as it seems that society and Church as they are now, could be enriched by the witness and service of dedicated Religious.

Anyhow, the Patrician Brothers, though small in number, are resolved to live life to the full seeking to elevate the human condition thereby honouring God. That is what Daniel Delany did almost 200 years ago and the need remains great.

As this edition of Breastplate goes to press, we are happy to have two Brothers in the Province enjoying a mini-sabbatical experience after spells of high profile leadership in the Congregation.  Phil Mulhall is back after 12 years of exile in Ireland serving as Vicar General and as Superior General.  Welcome home, Phil.  Paul O’Keeffe is catching his breath after six busy years as local Provincial. Phil and Paul, enjoy your short ‘out-of-role’ experience.

It is  March, the month of St Patrick.   May the blessings of the sainted man be with all our readers and their friends.
Aengus Kavanagh, fsp - Provincial   

On 22 February Bishop David Cremin retired from his role as a Senior Vicar General and Auxiliary Bishop in the Archdiocese of Sydney.

His great love of his Irish heritage was always to the fore and in this disposition he had many fellow-travellers on the numerous occasions when he graced gatherings of Patrician Brothers and friends.

The Brothers and Friends treasure the memories of the celebrations enlivened by the presence of Bishop David and look forward to having him with us again in the future, as he enjoys life relieved of the burden of  responsibility of an active bishop.

Bishop David celebrates with the Brothers at a Golden Jubilee of Religious Profession	With other good friends of the Brothers: Val Hood & Sr Elenor

Australian & PNG Patrician Communities

Most of these photos of the Australian communities were taken at the February gathering at Ryde. The Fairfield photo was taken at Casula. You have the full Aitape contingent in their photo: five professed Brothers and seven Novices. In all, thirty-five of the thirty-six presently in our Province.

Bradbury	Casula	Blacktown
Fairfield	Ryde	Thursday Island
	Aitape, Papua New Guinea

International Leader Visits Australia

Newly elected Superior General of the Patrician Brothers, Bro Jerome Ellens, is on a flying visit to the Australian Province in the month of March. As well as participating in a course in Melbourne Bro Jerome will visit the Brothers’ Communities socially before heading off to Los Angeles at the end of the  month for an April meeting of the Congregation’s  Extended Council, Provincials and Regional Superiors.

Bro Jerome’s election as SG in 2004 was an historic occasion for the Patrician Brothers as he is the first Indian-born Brother to hold the  General Leadership role.

He was born in Chenai (Madras) forty-six years ago, he went to school at the  Patrician Brothers, St Patrick’s. His mother and members of his immediate family live in Chenai.

Bro Jerome holds post-graduate qualifications in theology. He has been Principal at Patrician Brothers schools in Delhi, Conoor and Rewa.

From 1998 to 2004 he was based in Ireland where he was Vicar General and Assistant to Bro Philip Mulhall. During these years especially, he spent stints in Patrician novitiates in Kenya and India working with young men in training for the vocation of Brotherhood.

Immediately before coming to Sydney he was working in the Novitiate in Bangalore where there are 16 Patrician novices.

We congratulate Bro Jerome on his election as Superior General and we welcome him among us.

At the Casula gathering mentioned latter in this newsletter we had present with us not only Brother Jerome, but also three other Brothers who once were Superiors General (right to left): Patrick Lovegrove (1980-86), Aengus Kavanagh (1986-92), Philip Mulhall (1998-2004), and Jerome (2004-). Quite a historic event.

120 Not Out!

If we were speaking of a cricket partnership this would be quite a good score and spectators would be fairly hopeful of there being more runs to follow. In this instance however we are not speaking of such a partnership but rather one of a different kind.

On December 19th, 2004, a good number of Brothers, affiliates and personal friends gathered to celebrate the Diamond Jubilees of Brothers Cronan O’Meara and Basil Downey. In his talk, the then Provincial Brother Paul O’Keeffe highlighted the contribution both had made to the life of our Province over the period. These two men (along with Gerald Egan, RIP) arrived in Sydney on October, 1949.

Throughout the years that followed they were together in community for a significant time in Liverpool where Basil himself spent some thirty years. Cronan ventured further afield to Aitape and Nuku in Papua New Guinea and to Thursday Island in the far north of Queensland where he currently resides. Basil is presently a member of the Blacktown community.

Although they spent years teaching and living in similar environments each is very different. Basil is one who likes things to run to schedule, enjoys his meals of ‘rashers and chops’, and who rides his bicycle daily at a sedate pace. Cronan is the one who is content to sit and let things happen as they will, is vegetarian and who also rides his bicycle daily but at a faster pace.

A toast is made	A cake is cut

Transfer of Leadership

On the 12th February the Brothers of the Australian and Papua New Guinea Province gathered at Holy Cross, Ryde, to formally mark several transfers of leadership within the province. This involved the provincial, provincial councillors, and community leaders.

Brothers gathered in Holy Cross chapel for pray service accompanying this event

The provincial and each of the community leaders was issued with a medallion to symbolise their position and responsibilities within the province. This is an innovation and it is the intention that the medallions will be passed on. Brother Norbert was not present and so Brother Christie was commissioned to formally present the medallion to him when he arrives in Aitape.

During the prayerful ceremony, Aengus offered some inspirational words to the new leaders and to the whole gathering as to what “leadership” is all about in religious life today, and thanked those who had taken on roles of leadership over the past few years.

Afterwards, the Brothers shared a delicious and enjoyable lunch of cold meats, salads, and drinks.
Another transfer of leadership ceremony will take place in late March. This again will formalise an event which took place several months ago when Brothers Jerome Ellens (Superior General) and Peter Ryan (Vicar General) took over their new Congregational leadership roles. Jerome will be joining us from India and Peter from PNG, and Brother Philip Mulhall, Superior General from 1988 to 2004 (and Vicar General from 1982 to 1988), who has returned to Australia and family and friends, will symbolically hand over the leadership of the Brother worldwide to them.

Religious Education Co-ordinators from Patrician-linked School Meet

Towards the end of 2004 the REC’s from schools with Patrician linkages met at Holy Cross College, Ryde with HCC principal, Garry Williams, acting as host.  Brothers Paul O’Keeffe, Mark Ryan and Aengus Kavanagh were also in attendance. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss, and to reflect on, aspects of the Patrician charism and policies and practices in the schools to honour what is best in the Patrician tradition.

All the REC’s could readily name a variety of symbols, rituals and ceremonies which ensure that the Patrician dimension remains an integral part of each school’s culture.

The hope is that there will be a sharing of ‘Patrician’ resources among this important network so that each school’s story informs and guides its present. REC’s in attendance: Peter Vaughan-Reid (Magdalene College, Narellan); Michael Kelleher (Patrician Brothers’ College, Fairfield); Warren Johnson (Delany College, Granville); Matt Grove (Patrician Brothers Primary, Fairfield); Matthew Peck (Holy Cross College, Ryde); Christopher Neaves (All Saints Catholic Boys’, Liverpool); Jim Prendergast (Patrician Brothers College, Blacktown): Theresa Brungs ( Youth Minister, Holy Cross College, Ryde)

Patrician Reflections

Over the next few editions of “The Breastplate” we hope to bring you a few thoughts on the Patricians from those who have been close to the Brothers for many years. Here is our first.

Name: Michael Krawec
Current Relationship: Principal of Patrician Brothers’ College, Fairfield.
Association: Close on twenty-eight years.

Michael, what has been your association with the Brothers?

Well, I was educated at Fairfield Patrician Brothers from Year 5 to Year 12.  I then taught at Fairfield from 1977 to 1989, and was Assistant Principal for the last three of those years. I was Principal at the Brothers school at Granville (Delany College) for three years, and in 2001 I returned to Fairfield as the first Lay Principal of the College. (Photo: Michael beside the statue of Bishop Delany which the Fairfield College had installed to commemorate its Golden Jubilee (2003).)

In your experience of the Brothers then, what would you say are the main characteristics of the Congregation?

In education, the Brothers are committed to the faith development of the students in their care. They are interested in the total development of the student. They are men of prayer, always striving to be aware of Christ in their lives and they have a strong devotion to Mary. Pats are community men, working to build up the communities they are a part of, and warmly welcoming others into those communities. Hospitality is very Patrician.

Any Brothers play a special part in your life, Michael?

There is not one in particular, but a number. They were all different, however they contributed significantly to my formation as I developed through my adolescent years, as a young man, and into an adult.

As you did at Granville you are working to maintain the Patrician charism within the school. Could you share some of your strategies with us?

We are fortunate to still have two Brothers involved in the school and their presence plays a vital role in keeping the Patrician spirit alive and real. Prayer is an intrinsic part of all college activities. Three times a week the College recites The Breastplate together as the Homeroom prayer. A Religious Education unit on the Patrician Brothers is run in Year 7. St Patrick’s Day is a special day with Mass and special activities. Celtic symbols are extensively used for liturgies. Patrician images will be found throughout the college, the statue, impressive as it is, is just one.

We continually strive to develop and strengthen our school community, and when we have visitors we welcome them warmly and genuinely. And, of course, we have a picture of each of the past Patrician Principals displayed in the College Hall and we take every opportunity to invite the Brothers to our major school functions. There are a few of the ways we work at keeping the Patrician spirit alive, well, and present at Patrician Brothers’ College, Fairfield.

Storm a Holy Cross

On the 2nd February, 2005, the day on which we celebrate the Presentation of the Lord in the Temple and the Foundation Day of the Patrician Brothers (2nd Feb., 1808), our monastery and school at Holy Cross College, Ryde, were hit by a most significant storm. Following is an eye-witness account of the storm given by long-term resident at Holy Cross, Brother Mark Ryan.

At about 4.15 on Wednesday 2nd as the Brothers were preparing a celebratory dinner to mark the Foundation of the Institute (in 1808) the storm, which we had noticed approaching, hit with terrifying ferocity.

Being in the relative safety of the old sandstone building gave a great feeling of security. The blackness of the clouds, the accompanying gloom and the combined noises of surging wind gusts, slamming doors and the loud explosive sounds of trees snapping and disintegrating  was unnerving. I recall frantic activity in closing windows against the horizontal rain that was sweeping across the rooms. Glimpses of leaves, branches and rubbish swirling in  odd circles towards the south were visible as the rain increased in intensity and the electricity failed.
As the storm subsided I joined brave teachers who ventured out to survey the scene.

The most notable feature were the tree branches that were strewn everywhere and the sight of so many trees that were either uprooted  or snapped off about 3-4 metres above ground. Quadrangles were a desperate sight, quite chaotic. It was a great feeling of relief to know that all students were safely off the premises before the storm.
The images are from photos that were taken just after the event. While they depict the damage to trees etc. they do not capture dramatically what happened to the buildings. There was extensive damage to some roofs and some structural damage.

The closure of the school the next day was not surprising since the presence of so much debris, broken glass and tiles was extensive.

Credit must be given to the executive staff of the College and to the Catholic Education Office for getting the school back on its feet within just a few days. While classrooms had to be closed off, temporary classrooms appeared as if by magic to enable lessons to go ahead as usual.

Missioning Ceremony

The Brothers gathered at Casula on the 27th March to mission Pat O’Neil and Christie Roshan Irudayanathan as they were about to embark on their new ministries in Thursday Island and Aitape (more on page 8). The occasion was made even more special with the presence of our Superior General Brother Jerome Ellens. We’ll let the photos tell the story.

Brothers on Loan

In recent months the Australian and Papua New Guinean Province has grown by two new Brothers: Pat and Christie. They will be ministering in Thursday Island and Aitape respectively. Here are their stories.

My name is Pat O’Neill. I’ve spent many years teaching in various primary schools in Ireland. I enjoyed those years.

In 1989 my life took on a new dimension when I volunteered to do ‘Lorica’ (the Patrician renewal programme) in Galway. I really enjoyed it and perhaps as a result of it I then volunteered to do a stint in Kenya. Initially it was for six months but it lasted until 1998 with a year’s break in Ireland during that period.
I returned to Ireland in December 1998 and did a renewal course in All Hallows College, Dublin, for six months. In January 1999 I obtained a position as a teacher of itinerants in Carlow town. I enjoyed that challenge immeasurably.

During Easter 1999 I obtained a temporary Resource teaching job in the parish of Monasterevin, county Kildare. I taught in several schools there and very much appreciated the kindness of all in the parish. I continued this work as a permanent teacher till June 2004 when I volunteered to be a member of the community at Thursday Island.
I leave for Thursday Island with a certain trepidation but I trust in the Lord’s goodness. I also believe: “What’s for you will not pass you by.”

My name is Christie Roshan Irudayanathan and I’m from Sr Lanka from the town of Jafna. Born in 1973 to my parents Philip and Shanthie. I am the eldest of three boys, Noel and Antony being their names. I come from a place of coconut trees and beaches, just one such place in Sri Lanka a land of twenty million people. The main religion is Buddhism, followed by Hinduism, Christianity, and Islam.

While the land was beautiful, the relationship between the Sinhala majority and the Tamal minority became ugly during my youth. The Tamils were suppressed and eventually there was a civil war. Thousands of Tamil were killed. Due to the hostile climate my family was forced to flee to India. India was very different to Sri Lanka: so big, so diversified, so multi-religious. Its affect on me was significant, one of which was my decision at 19 to join the Patrician Brothers. In 1994 I was professed. Life was very good but also very challenging. But there always seem to be some power behind me helping me to come out of it.

In 2004 I volunteered to work in Papua New Guinea. On my way I spent some time in Sydney with the Brothers. The Brothers are fortunate to live in such a prosperous country.  I hope I will be of some use to the people of Papua New Guinea. I hope I can bring about some changes for the good.