- Albin Hennequin
- Athanase Gonelli
- Bernard Cunningham
- Denis Ward
- Edward Harrop
- Gerard O'Brien
- Henry Paul
- James Cronly
- John Cooper
- John Spiteri
- Julian Messina
- Lam Vu
- Leonard Busuttil
- Luciano Rocchi
- Paul Hanbridge
- Paul Winter
- Peter Hand
- Robert Stewart
- Romano Franchini
- Stanislaus Dawidowicz
- Tung Nguyen

GERARD O'BRIEN, OFM Cap

During my 40 years, living in the Hunter Valley (NSW), I was almost half-way between the Redemptorists and the Marist Brothers. I had High school at Maitland and various Retreats, etc. at Mayfield. So, it was a very pleasant occurrence to meet Fr Ferdy Farer OFM at a St Vincent de Paul Meeting around 1965. He was most impressive. I guess, in a way, he was after funds for his Brisbane apostolate. My next Franciscan encounter was in the Holy Land in '76. An American Conventual, Pr Godfrey, showed our Australian Pilgrimage around so well. I did not see any Australian friar till '84.

Since school, I had been 10 years or so in a Textile Factory Chemical Lab. and in State High School Teaching Music and assorted subjects, both full-time and part time. But, in '84, something very unusual happened.

Easter Vigil evening.

I normally would have been at the Vigil, but I was tired after lawn-mowing and sat in front of the TV news. It showed the Via Crucis in Jerusalem and , of course, Franciscan friars in the procession. My immediate reaction was to think that I really should find out more about them. Eventually, on May 25th, after Seeing 2 advertisements in the "Catholic Weekly" I wrote off for information. Within the week, I had a reply with suitable enquirer material. I boldly saw myself as a Capuchin - or rather, in training within the year. Strangely, I was with the Irish Capuchins in Auckland within 9 months and had a wonderful Postulancy - to me - not that I had a real idea of what Postulancy really is. Then, to Wynnum in '86 and to Plumpton in '87 where I still am, by the grace of God, no doubt. Five years in Western Australia (Balcatta, Perth) was a great training ground for community and parish living.

Mine is just one instance. Surely, it could have been the administrative life – or some form of hermitage – or some other apostolate that kept me occupied. It really is one thing that is important – the charism and unique appeal of the man Francis. Surely, his spiritually, in its simple but all-embracing wonder, is what either 'got-me-in' or kept me in and continues to do the same to others.