To the community of St Edmund’s College,
Last Friday the College community celebrated the Feast Day of Blessed Edmund Rice (the actual Feast Day being 5 May). 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.
It was a pleasure to have the presence of Christian Brothers Br Matt McKeon (a former teacher, RE Co-ordinator and Spiritual Director at the College) and Br John Giacon (former Deputy Principal at the College) at such a significant occasion, reminding us of the wonderful legacy and heritage the Christian Brothers have provided for us.
I sincerely thank the community of St Clare’s College for allowing us to use their facilities for our Founder’s Day Mass given the uncertainty of weather conditions on the day. My thanks to our Director of Mission and Identity Mr Michael Monagle and our Deputy Principal Mr Jacob Knowles for facilitating the change of venue and ensuring that the last change of venue did not diminish the significance of the event. Thanks also to Mr Monagle’s Mission and Identity Team (Ms Carmela Wilson, Ms Bridget Cusack, Mr Sam Stubbs) for preparing a Eucharistic liturgy befitting the significance of the event. This was enhanced with the wonderful musical work of Ms Margaret Thomas and Mr Sean Gautusa.
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, 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.
Loving 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
Love Jesus in our Hearts, forever.
Br Matt McKeon Faith and Service Awards
My most sincere congratulations to the following members of our community who received the Br Matt McKeon Award at the Founder’s Day Mass in acknowledgement and celebration of their service to the College community.
Staff: Ms Leigh Pirie, Ms Leonie Owens
Students: Aidan Rhodes (Year 12, Rice), Lachlan Hayes (Year 12, Clancy)
Old Boy: Matt De Jongh (Class of 1991)
College Musical
My deepest thanks to all those involved in the staging of this year’s College musical, “Disco Inferno”. Staging a musical is no easy task and requires many hours of artistic, technical and administrative preparation and rehearsals. My thanks to the many students involved both from St Edmund’s and St Clare’s – the quality of partnership between the two schools in most impressive and heartening. The vibrant costumes, disco music (the music with which I grew up) and energetic performances certainly warmed up a little cold corner of Griffith for three nights last week. Congratulations to Director Mr Nigel Palfreman and Musical Director Ms Margaret Thomas and the very strong team of staff members who supported them: Ms Rebecca Lee, Ms Linda James, Ms Claire Halse, Ms Leigh Pirie, Mr Adam Buck, Mr Jason Moore, Mr Colin Rogers, Ms Emma Ramke and Ms Emma Bachetto. Congratulations also to the large number for students, both performers and assistants, who contributed wonderfully to a memorable production, especially our lead characters Lachlan Brayshaw (Year 10 Mulrooney), Joshua Nicholls (Year 9 O’Brien), Ishe Chitsungo (Year 11 Haydon), Leo Marris (Year 10 Treacy) and Matt Brown (Year 12 Rice).
Eddies Spirit
The College received a lovely email during the week about one of our students on the afternoon bus out to Yass (Transborder from Civic) which takes members of the public as well as school students. The bus driver announced that he was not quite sure of the new bus route through Gungahlin and asked if any of the students could help him by reading out the bus route as he drove along. There was silence from students from other colleges until an Eddies boy volunteered to guide the bus driver in a friendly and co-operative manner. Eddies to the fore indeed.
Congratulations
Congratulations to Louka Mantzouris (Year 12, Haydon) for his outstanding achievements at the recent Natural Bodybuilding ICN Canberra & Country Titles. Louka received the following medals: Silver Medal in Men’s Bodybuilding Teenage; Silver Medal in Men’s Bodybuilding Novice; Bronze Medal in Men’s Bodybuilding First Timers; Bronze Medal in Men’s Bodybuilding Open – Tall. Louka’s consistent training and nutrition regime ensures that he has a very promising future in this sport.
Congratulations also to Nicholas Taylor (Year 12, O’Brien) for being selected in the ACT Schoolboys Water Polo Team to compete at the Australian Schoolboys Championships in Perth later this month.
Blue and White Ball
The Old Boys and Friends Association are again organising the Blue and White Ball this year. The event is being held on Saturday 26 May in the Br R J Wallace Hall commencing at 6pm. I would encourage parents to consider attending this wonderful event. You will enjoy the company of the Eddies community with good food and music. Tickets are available digitally through the Old Boys and Friends Association on their website (see the link in Community on the College website) or through the Facebook pages of either the College or the Old Boys and Friends.
Christus Lux Mea
Joe Zavone (Principal)