Official Opening of the Edmund Rice Centre

By An Taoiseach Mr Bertie Ahern TD

Monday 20 February 2006

The official opening of the new Edmund Rice Centre took place in Dublin and Mr M Grogan along with Kevin Dyas where invited to talk about their experiences in Zambia. This was followed by a video presentation of the Abbey Zambian Immersion Project 2005.

Mr Bertie Ahern was the guest of honour at the Official Opening of the Edmund Rice Centre at North Richmond Street, Dublin. The two Irish Province Leaders of the Christian Brothers, Brother Michael Murray and Brother David Gibson were also in attendance as were members of the Edmund Rice Network.

A Centre of Creative and Developing Initiatives

The Centre serves as a hub for the Edmund Rice Network in its nationwide and international activities. The different services organised from the centre promote and develop the leadership qualities of students in schools and among young adults. In the spirit of Blessed Edmund Rice, young people engage with the justice and social issues that are of greatest concern in today’s world, both nationally and internationally. The work of the Centre is organised collaboratively with school principals and teachers both at home and abroad.

There is clear evidence from the work of the centre that young people show a deep concern for their fellow human beings and particularly for the most marginalised and deprived. The generosity and idealism of young people find expression in very practical ways as they seek to serve the needs of people who are less well off or who, because of circumstances, need the help and support of their fellow human beings in the community.

The new Centre is located in the house originally built by Edmund Rice in 1831 to accommodate the administration centre for his newly founded congregation and to provide a facility to form and train Christian Brothers. It was built adjacent to the O’Connell Schools which were inaugurated by Daniel O’Connell.

The various interests and activities of the centre are organised and directed in different ways as follows:

The Edmund Rice Awards

Over sixty schools in Ireland participate in the Edmund Rice Awards. Students from the schools engage with social justice issues and express their concern and interest in active service of people in need within their schools, in the local community or in a developing country. Students work with the elderly, with voluntary organisations such as Meals on Wheels and St. Vincent de Paul and by assisting people with special needs. There are currently sixty six schools (66), two thousand students (2,000) and seventy (70) teachers involved in the Awards Scheme.

The Edmund Rice Camps

Also housed at the Centre in North Richmond Street is the leadership and administration for the Edmund Rice Camps. The camps involve senior students and young adults in providing holiday experiences for children who otherwise would not have an opportunity for fun and games away from their usual environment. At present there are four centres for the camps in Ireland in Cork, Dublin, Omagh and Waterford. Young adults work under the supervision of experienced adults. One student commented on his camp experience by saying that “the Edmund Rice Camp has allowed me to question why a blind eye is being turned to those in need.”

Developing World Immersion Programmes

Established in 1999, the Developing World Immersion Programmes have engaged students and teachers in experience and service with peoples in India and Zambia. Soon Bolivia in South America and Kenya and Tanzania in East Africa will be added to the centres for the immersion experiences. Since 1999, four hundred and fifty (450) students and one hundred (100) teachers and school staff from thirty three (33) secondary schools have travelled to different parts of the world. The Immersion Programmes continue to expand. The programmes focus on developing relationships with other peoples and the experiences are most frequently referred to as “life changing.” The Abbey Grammar School has been involved in the programme twice. Most recently last year in which 8 students and 3 teachers spend two weeks in Livingstone, Zambia.

Voluntary Service Programme A new programme is being developed particularly to respond to young adults who have been involved with the Awards, the Camps and Overseas Immersion. This is the Voluntary Service Programme. It will engage young men and women in longer engagement with social justice experience and response. Crucially all of these programmes use reflection on the personal experience of the participants from which they deepen their personal understanding, priorities and values.

Director and Co-ordinators Mr. Donal O’Callaghan is the Director of the Centre. Ms Patricia Higgins co-ordinates both the Camps and the Voluntary Service Programmes. Ms Kate McQuillan co-ordinates the Edmund Rice Awards. Brother Tony Twomey co-ordinates the World Immersion Programme.

Vocations Office

The Centre also houses the Vocations Office which co-ordinates the responses to requests about future membership of the Christian Brothers. These requests are invited and usually come from young men who are reflecting on their faith, their sense of meaning and values in today’s world and church. The office responds to people who make enquiries and also offers resources to colleges and schools with information. It is hoped that it will become a place of welcome for young men and women who are reflecting on possible future directions for their lives. Brother John Hearne is the Director of Vocations.

The Christian Brothers have been carrying out a review of their life and mission. In all parts of the world and particularly in the so-called developed countries, they are learning to respond in new ways to the search for meaning and fuller expressions of the spiritual life within the congregation and among the people. The spiritual search for meaning together with services that respond to issues of justice and poverty in the world will concern future members of the Congregation.

Special Projects and Communications

The Centre also houses the office for special projects promoted by the Christian Brothers’ leadership in Ireland. Its Co-ordinator is Mr. Michael Foster. Brother Colm Griffey co-ordinates the production of publications and promotional material connected with the Edmund Rice Network in Ireland.

Further Information

Further information can be obtained on the Edmund Rice Centre’s website, www.er-in.com