A Tradition of Education
The history of the Congregation of Christian Brothers is the story of Blessed Edmund Ignatius Rice (1762-1844), its founder. Irish born and bred, successful businessman, husband and father, beatified by the Church, Edmund Rice took seriously the call of Christ to "sell what thou hast, give it to the poor and come follow me." So seriously, in fact, that upon his young wife's death, after arranging to care for their only child, he began what was to be a lifelong commitment to Christ by ministering to His poor.
Tirelessly working to help alleviate the poverty among Catholics, forbidden by the penal laws of the late-18th Century Ireland, to hold jobs or attend school or church, Edmund's interest was soon directed to the young boys of the city. in 1802, he rented a disused stable in the fashionable New Street in Waterford, Ireland and began his first school to provide a Catholic education for poor boys. Poorly dressed, dirty, hungry and uneducated, these forgotten waifs of Ireland became his mission. He and his followers fearlessly challenged the rulers of the day on their behalf, opening schools and looking after their temporal, spiritual and educational well-being. Under their protective care, the children, once unruly, unkempt and unloved, thrived.
The schools that were founded in 1803 and 1804 were not called Christian Brothers' schools, since Rice and his friends were only laymen, although they were all religious people. It was not until 1808, after the founding of the school at Mount Sion, that Edmond Rice and his friends decided to take religious vows and to wear habits. Each of them took a new name, and Edmund became Edmund Ignatius Rice, the leader of a dedicated band of men who were to change the picture of education in Ireland and in the world.
In 1820, Pope Pius VII sanctioned the establishment of the Order under the name of Religious Brothers of the Christian Brothers of Ireland, and in 1822, Br. Rice was elected as the first Superior General, a title he held until 1838.
Word of Brother Rice's success in training poor young men in Catholic tradition spread, bringing invitations to open schools in various parts of the world. Before his death in 1844, 43 schools, including 6 in England, serving 7,510 boys, were following the educational tenets started by Brother Rice.
Today the legacy of this humble Irish Religious/educator, servant of the poor continues. Schools conducted by the Congregation of Christian Brothers span the global network and students trained in the order's tradition exceed 200,000. Two thousand Christian Brothers work in 13 different Provinces in 25 countries throughout the world. The Congregation's Eastern American Province has communities located in Florida, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Peru (a mission community) and Rhode Island.
The presence of a strong, cohesive community surrounds us at Bishop Hendricken. The school has physically grown and is now home to more than 1,000 people every day. Christian Brothers at the school include President, Bro. Thomas Leto, Bro. John Kiernan, Bro. J. Michael Binkley, and Bro. Stephen Casey. Each upholds the image of Brother Edmund Rice in his teachings and daily living.
A most extraordinary event occurred on October 6, 1996, when Brother Rice was beatified by Pope John Paul II. Of Blessed Rice, he said, "Here we have an outstanding model of a true lay apostle and a deeply committed Religious . . .". In both the United States and Europe, special events and liturgies praised the name of Brother Rice.
Brother Rice's invincible spirit lives on in classrooms throughout the world, where Brothers faithful to the heritage given to them by this modest and holy man daily carry out his work of love. And it lives among all those who through nearly two centuries have reaped the benefits of such an education. Echoing on the lips of Christian Brothers everywhere, we hear Blessed Edmund's own words repeated through the ages:
Live, Jesus, in our hearts. Forever!
To learn more about the Edmund Rice Christian Brothers of North Amercia, log on to www.ercbna.org.