“If we walk in the light, as he is the light, we have fellowship with one another.” 1 John 1:7
To the family and friends of St Edmund’s College,
Today the College community celebrated the Feast Day of Blessed Edmund Rice. St Edmund’s College Canberra is but one of many schools in the family of Edmund Rice Education Australia (EREA) schools offering a Catholic education in the tradition of Blessed Edmund Rice. EREA schools strive to offer a liberating education, based on a gospel spirituality, within an inclusive community committed to justice and solidarity. We also join hundreds of other Edmund Rice schools across the world in celebrating Edmund Rice’s feast day today.
It was a pleasure to have the presence of Christian Brother Br. Bernie Gartland (a former student and teacher of St Edmund’s College) at such a significant occasion, reminding us of the wonderful legacy and heritage the Christian Brothers have provided for us. We were also joined by special guests, Mrs. Nichole Overall (Chair, College Advisory Council), Mr. Matt de Jongh (President, Old Boys and Friends association), Mr. John Owens (Member, College Advisory Council).
My thanks to our Assistant Principal, Mission and Identity Mr. Michael Monagle and the Mission and Identity Team (Mrs. Carmela Wilson, Ms. Bridget Cusack) for preparing a Eucharistic liturgy befitting the significance of the event. This was enhanced with the wonderful musical work of Ms. Margaret Thomas and our students in the band and choir.
Unfortunately, our afternoon of celebratory activities was thwarted by the poor weather, but we plan to have these at another time during the year (we still managed to squeeze in a barbeque lunch though!).
It is important at this time to reflect on Edmund Rice and his powerful story. The Edmund Rice story is one of faith and commitment. Edmund Rice was born at Westcourt, the family tenant farm in Callan, County Kilkenny, Ireland, on 1 June 1762. As a young man, he was lucky in that he was educated and then apprenticed to his uncle in Waterford City. When his uncle died he inherited a thriving business in provisioning ships that birthed in Waterford. Edmund married, but was left a widower with a daughter after his wife died in childbirth when he was twenty-five. In Edmund’s grief and the turmoil of these circumstances, his commitment to God developed to the stage where he considered entering religious life.
Having decided that education was the greatest gift he could provide for the great many of those who were under-privileged, Edmund sold his business and began instructing boys of the poor living on the streets of Waterford. In 1802, the project commenced in a stable in the town while a new school was built on the edge of the city closer to where many of the poor reside. He was determined that school will be conducted according to his improvements on the best standards of the day.
The free school, known as Mount Sion, opened in 1803. Edmund and his first couple of helpers were soon caring for two to three hundred students, providing food and clothing as well as an education that would help them in the work places of business and commerce and that would build their prayer life and knowledge of the Bible. Edmund was following the call of the Spirit into a religious life that would impact both Church and society. He and his helpers lived at Mount Sion and this was the beginning of the Christian Brothers.
The Congregation spread as other bishops sent men to join the work and begin schools in other towns. Edmund continued to be involved in Irish nationalism, helping new orders of sisters with finances and investments, works of charity involving orphans and children of alcoholic parents as well as helping slaves to escape and hide. His life was more and more about Liberation which begins with ‘welcoming strangers’.
By the time of Edmund’s death in 1844, his work had begun to spread through the English-speaking world. The message of Edmund for each of us is the reminder to use our gifts for those who are poor and without means, whether that is spiritually, emotionally or financially.
Pope John Paul II beatified Edmund Rice at a ceremony in St. Peter’s Square, Rome, on 6 October 1996. He became known as Blessed Edmund Ignatius Rice. (This brief biography of Blessed Edmund Rice is an adaptation of the original by Br Richard Walsh, http://www.ercrs.com.au/edmund_rice_story.php.)
Br Paul Oakley, former President of the EREA Council, reminds us that “Edmund maintained the belief in the love of God throughout his life in spite of the difficulties that he faced: the death of his wife, the disability of his daughter, the obstruction of authorities, and the opposition at times even of his own brothers. His hope was firmly founded on his profound experience of God’s infinite love. As we remember Edmund with thanks and pride, let us place our challenges and cares in the arms of Divine Providence, praying that our trust in the goodness and kindness of God will never waver”.
I feel quite a strong bond with the charism of Edmund Rice, having now worked in two Edmund Rice schools. In 2014 I was quite privileged to be part of a pilgrimage to Ireland and visited many sites important to the Edmund Rice story, especially his birthplace in Callan, the first school in Waterford and Edmund’s final resting place in the Chapel at Mount Sion School.
Inspired by the spirit of Edmund so alive in this College today, we as members of the wider Edmund Rice family dedicate ourselves to work together in our continuing mission, to tell the story of Edmund, to share his vision, and to nurture the response in those who are moved by his example.
Br Matt McKeon Faith and Service Awards
Br Matt McKeon a Christian Brother was an integral part of our St Edmund’s College community for 20 years. He was the spiritual heart and living touchstone of our Edmund Rice tradition. The Br Matt McKeon Faith and Service awards are named in his honour and are awarded to those staff, students and old boys who have made a significant contribution to St Edmund’s College and the wider community in service to others. These awards are an integral part of our Founder’s Day celebrations and provide an example for all of us to follow in living out the charism of Blessed Edmund Rice and being Edmund People in authentic service to others.
The awards are seen as a part of the celebration of the day and provide encouragement to the students in living out of the Edmund Rice charism through active participation in faith opportunities and service of others. Whilst Br Matt could not join us physically, it was lovely to view the video he made for us to congratulate the award recipients. My most sincere congratulations to the following members of our community who received the Br Matt McKeon Faith and Service Award at the Founder’s Day Mass in acknowledgement and celebration of their service to and beyond the College community.
Old Boy: Mr. Ricky Stuart
Staff: Mrs. Pam Knight, Mr. Denzil Fox
Students: Harry Raby (Year 6, Haydon), James Steele (Year 12, Mulrooney)
Length of Service Staff Acknowledgements
It gave me much pleasure today to present to the College community those members of staff who have had made a substantial commitment to serving the St Edmund’s College community. In acknowledging these members of staff, we are not awarding them for what they do, as what they do is not overly different to other members of staff, but we do acknowledge and celebrate their length of time with the College, for in that length of time they undoubtedly have had lasting influences on students and other staff and have shaped particular areas of the College.
Years of service to the College community:
10 years: Mr. Denzil Fox, Ms. Alice French, Mr. Adam Saunderson, Mr. Andrew Taylor
15 years: Mr. Jason Moore, Mr. Xiao Wang
25 years: Mr. Fred Zarb
Consent Education
Last Tuesday we had Brent Sanders present a free seminar to parents and carers. For the past 22 years Brent has been presenting gender-specific seminars on violence against women to male and female students in secondary schools and at universities throughout Australia. Brent regularly visits St Edmund’s College to present age-specific seminars to students in Year 9 (in conjunction with students from St Clare’s College), Year 11 and Year 12. Parents were able to listen to Brent’s wisdom and experience on these crucial matters, as well as have the opportunity to ask important and pertinent questions. I thank Brent for taking the time to share his knowledge and insights with members of our community. You can access Brent’s podcasts by searching for “Brent Sanders Driven Young podcasts” and you can view Brent’s You Tube presentations here https://youtu.be/ufClX9ymGd0
Brent’s engagement with our students (and now our parents) is an integral part of an overall program we have in place focusing on the growth and development of our young men here at St Edmund’s College. So far this year we have had Brent’s student seminars (with more to come); a Father and Son Camp (with another planned later in the year); respected author Robert Falzon launching his book Raising Fathers (looking at the contemporary nature of fatherhood); Menslink presentations to particular year groups; camps and retreats for particular years groups as well as the topics covered in our Health and Physical Education curriculum, our Religious Education curriculum and our regular Formation program. We will continue to promote and develop the nature of right relationships in so many different ways – relationships between the boys and their mates, other students in the school, their families, the wider community and gender-based relationship issues. Following last night’s Brent Sanders seminar, we aim to have another parent evening in Term 3 where we will present on overview of our programs in sex education, values education and personal development program within our curriculum and other special programs.
Last night’s seminar worked to reinforce the partnership between parents and carers and the College in the education and growth of the young men who attend St Edmund’s by allowing all of us to present a strong and confident voice in sensitive and vital issues. I sincerely thank the parents and carers who attended the evening and were able to participate in an evening of thought-provoking and challenging issues. I was quite disappointed with the number of parents in attendance and would have expected a greater number of parents given the importance of this issue and how it directly impacts our community of students and given the relevance of the issue and the genuine attempts of the College to further forge our partnership with parents and carers.
PrayerLoving God, we thank you for the life of Edmund Rice.
He opened his heart to Christ present in those oppressed by poverty and injustice.
May we follow his example of faith and generosity.
Grant us the courage and compassion of Edmund
As we seek to live lives of love and service.
We ask this through Christ our Lord,
Amen.
Blessed Edmund Rice, pray for us
Live Jesus in our hearts, forever
Joe Zavone
Principal
Christus Lux Mea