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Edition 6 : June 2002
Greetings
all and welcome to this winter edition
of Edmund Rice News for the Bicentennial Year.
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SPECIAL INVITATION -- Eucharist and Lunch with the Province Chapter (See
details here)
Quick Guide to this issue:
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From
July 10-17, 20 Brothers from our Province will gather at the
Redemptorist Retreat House, North Perth, for our Province Chapter.
This event occurs every 6 years, and is a major opportunity for
reviewing our situation and planning for the next six years.
Among other things, the Chapter will look at applying the directions
from the Congregation Chapter in March to our Province. It will
also have a major input into the appointment process for our
next Province Leadership Team (due to be announced in August).
You are invited to join the Chapter Participants in celebrating
Eucharist on Sunday July 14, 11.30 a.m., at the Redemptorist
Retreat Centre (enter off Camelia St.), North Perth and to join
them afterwards for a buffet lunch. This Eucharist and lunch
is a chance to express support for the Brothers involved in the
Chapter by praying, celebrating and relaxing with them.
RSVP (Essential)
Tel Noelene 9365 2800 by Tues, 9th July 2002
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 OME
COMMENTATORS are now saying the Church is in the grip of a crisis
that is as great as the one she faced at the time of the Reformation.
Some of the same commentators are also saying that we are moving through
a time of unprecedented re-evaluation that seems to be being stirred
by the Holy Spirit. With the developments in science and technology,
not to mention the advances being made in medicine and psychology
into our self understanding of "being", we live in an exciting
time of unprecedented change and growth. Is it also a time of spiritual
renewal?
 Our time is also one of enormous challenge. The celebrations
this year of the 200th Anniversary of the opening of the first school
by Blessed Edmund Ignatius Rice have time and again drawn us to a
renewed appreciation that Edmund was a man who understood challenge
and how to respond to it.
Challenge is a two-edged sword. It can cut a community to its
quick. Or, viewed in the right light, it opens up opportunities
for new growth, enterprise and insight.
As Christians we can identify with this as the lesson at the
"heart" of the paradoxical insight of Christ that we
have to die in order to live -- our resurrection is borne out
of our responses to our workaday travails.
This issue of Edmund Rice Family News reflects on what has been
flowing out of the General Chapter held in Rome in March. It
also reflects on our on going work throughout the Holy Spirit
Province and seeks your on-going support and input into the Province
Chapter in a few week's time that will help shape the future
work of Edmund Rice in our corner of the world. |
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Edition
5: Mar 2002 |
Family to Network - an
unfolding story...
Province Leader, Br
Tony Shanahan, reflects on what has come out of the General Chapter
for the broader Edmund Rice Network.
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 THE 2002
CONGREGATION CHAPTER OF THE CHRISTIAN BROTHERS broke new ground
by inviting eleven lay representatives of the Edmund Rice Network
around the world to participate for the first ten days. In this
way, the Chapter started boldly in its approach to the reality
of the Edmund Rice Family. At the other end of the Chapter, its
final document, "The Heart of Being Brother", may strike
some as being a bit bland and general in what it says about the
Edmund Rice Family. (The text from the ERF of this part of the
Chapter Statement is reproduced in a separate box below).
Br Tony Shanahan
cfc
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From an ERF point of view, what has come out of the Chapter?
Where has it left us?
As with many things, the process here is as important as the
final product. Seen in this way, the Chapter's gesture in inviting
eleven lay people to take part in the Chapter may be its most
important contribution to the development of the ERF. The interaction
and sharing with those eleven people was an invaluable form of
consciousness raising and education for all of us about what
ERF means.
Some of my learnings from those ten days were:
- How important it is to encounter
the Edmund Rice story enfleshed in other people. For many lay
members of the ERN, meeting and getting to know Christian Brothers
has been critical.
- The Edmund Rice Family/Network
is about mutuality and growing together. Meeting Brothers may
be a critical step in encountering Edmund Rice for lay people
- for Brothers, encountering dedicated ERF people maybe equally
important.
- In this regard, I experienced
at several points of the Chapter some of the invited ERF people
challenging and inviting us Brothers to go the extra distance
to be completely faithful to our calling as followers of Edmund
Rice.
- The familiar words Edmund
Rice Family/Network mean, in practice, very different things
in different parts of the world. It is very difficult to generalise
about the Edmund Rice Family across the Congregation.
- The Chapter experience reinforced
my hunch that the Edmund Rice Family reality needs to offer at
least three key elements or types of experience Ministry,
or the living out of Edmund's mission to others; Community, involvement
in a network of like minded people; and a Spirituality that supports
and sustains both ministry and community.
 These are what struck me - others who were at the Chapter
would probably add other insights or learnings of their own.
The experience of the first ten days was rich and powerful. Personally,
I was somewhat disappointed with the generality of the Chapter
statement. However, this may have been unavoidable. We had the
difficulty of trying to formulate a statement about Edmund Rice
Family with only part of the family represented, i.e. the Brothers,
since the final document was put together at the end of the Chapter,
several weeks after the invited ERF representatives had left.
The Unfolding
Story
The Edmund Rice
Network
(from the final statement of the General Chapter)
What
have we discovered?
The development of the many expressions of the Edmund Rice charism
fills us with joy and brings new life and energy to the Congregation.
What are
our Heart Decisions?
To support and resource formation programmes enabling all expressions
of the Edmund Rice network to explore the heart of the charism.
To develop more effective channels of communication among the
various sectors of the Edmund Rice network.
To encourage further expressions of and deeper commitment to
the Edmund Rice Charism.
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I think there are a number
of reasons for the Chapter statement not being more specific
or "gutsy", at least from my point of view. One is
the diversity of ERF around the world, which, as I have noted
above, makes it hard to generalise. A second difficulty is contained
in the title of this section "The Unfolding story".
Because it is an unfolding story, because the Edmund Rice Family
is still growing and taking shape, the situation is often messy
and confusing, with lots of loose ends. This is not conducive
to neat statements.
Nonetheless, I think the Chapter statement does offer us some
important guidelines in moving ahead:
- There is no doubt that the
Christian Brothers are positive and hopeful about this reality
we call Edmund Rice Family. There is no doubt that the ERF/ERN
is strongly affirmed by the Chapter.
- The "heart decisions"
listed as part of the Chapter statement point to fundamental
areas that will need our attention: Formation opportunities and
Communication. I think it is significant that the last decision
refers not only to "further expressions" of the charism,
but to "deeper commitment". I don't think we've had
too much difficulty with encouraging and welcoming new expressions
over recent years. But what does it mean to develop forms of
deeper commitment within the Edmund Rice Family? I see this as
one of the major challenges.
One of the major legacies
of the Chapter may scarcely be noticed the change in terminology
from "Family" to "Network". This might turn
out to be a bit of a time bomb. I think this is more than simply
finding a better word than "Family", though that was
part of the move to a new term.
The idea of a "network" is more accurate in regard
to the actual reality of ERF on the ground. It is not as coherent
and close-knit as a family it is something more sprawling
and loose in its connections, as suggested by the word network.
One of the questions that this raises is where within this network
does the "Edmund Rice Family" fit, that group of people
who have actively identified with Edmund Rice Family over the
last six years, and who by virtue of this involvement are in
fact much more "family" than just a network?
There is no shortage of questions, as we probably knew already,
especially in the wake of Peter Nicholson's Report last year,
in which a number of the key questions around ERF/ERN are canvassed.
In the next few months there will be two processes that will
help move some of these things forward. Each of the Australian
Provinces will complete their Province Chapters, in which they
try to apply to their own Province circumstances what came out
of the Congregation Chapter. Our own Province Chapter will be
held in Perth from July 10 to 17.
An Australia New Zealand ERF Committee is being formed. This
structure was decided on at the ERF National Gathering in Melbourne
last year. This will provide some form of structure to coordinate,
stimulate and reflect on what is happening across Australia and
New Zealand.
The statement of the Congregation Chapter was general. That might
be seen as a limitation or failing. It can also be seen as an
opportunity it leaves open for us here in Australia, and
in this Province particularly, the opportunity and invitation
to keep on shaping the ERN/ERF reality in a way that responds
to the hopes and aspirations of our people, and according to
our own circumstances.
Finally, I invite you to support the work of our Province Chapter
from July 10 to 17 with your prayer.
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The
Special Edmund Rice pageants and Masses in Adelaide and Perth...
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NEARLY 5,000 STUDENTS FROM SCHOOLS
IN WESTERN AUSTRALIA connected with the Christian Brothers gathered
on Friday, 10th May, at the Perth Entertainment Centre for a
magnificent liturgy to honour the Bicentenary of Blessed Edmund
Rice and Christian Brothers' Schools.
The Mass was preceded by a moving
pageant or tableux which captured the social and political climate
in Ireland that led Edmund Rice to embark on his far-sighted
undertaking of lifting the poor and disenfranchised up through
education.
 Fr Paddy Meagher
SJ was the principal celebrant. For those who do not know Fr Paddy,
he is one of Australia's most brilliant teachers and preachers.
Today his home base is as a lecturer in theology in Delhi, India
but he regularly returns home to lecture at our Catholic universities
and to those working in the Catholic Education and Health Care professions.
Fr Paddy was assisted by six other priests who also were former
students of the brothers or are chaplains at their schools. Fr Paddy
preached the homily. It was one of those masterly strokes of genius
that perhaps few are capable of -- and particularly so when trying
to retain the attention of 5,000 hormone charged young people some
of whom were seated up in the darkness perhaps fifty or sixty metres
away from the lectern.
Fr Paddy introduced his homily
with a focus on three symbols. Firstly he held up a beautiful
porcelain pot which he smashed with a hammer and pointed to the
broken shards on the floor beneath him to make the point that
we are all broken. He then held up a veiled portrait of the face
of Christ to make the point of the unbrokeness of Christ. He
then lifted a largish bowl of earth from the altar and "scattered
it on the ground in handfuls" while making the point that
we are called, like Edmund Rice, to be generous with the gifts
that have been given to us.
The atmosphere in the Entertainment
Centre was hushed particularly in that the gestures were conveyed
in close-up detail on two jumbo television screens.
For more photos and an extended
report click here
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Shaun Clarke, Religious
Education Coordinator at CBC Adelaide, reports on the Mass celebrated
by Archbishop Philip Wilson at St Francis Xavier Cathedral on
22nd May.
OUR MASS commenced with a drama
presentation, recounting the life of Edmund Rice: "the past".
This was powerfully depicted by a lone Irish Piper which reminded
us of Edmund's Irish heritage, followed by a large high cross,
modelled on the cross found in the ruins of Clonmacnois, Ireland.
The cross was a reminder of Edmund's commitment to faith "To
live Jesus in our Lives Forever". His life was then depicted
in a series of images projected upon screens held by the senior
drama students. The images used were photographs recently taken
by the Bicentennial Pilgrimage Group in Ireland.
The mass also reflected the vision
of "living the present". We were reminded as an Edmund
Rice Family we can live Jesus among us through the Eucharist,
which we celebrate together. This indeed was the case of Edmund
Rice, who took the words and promise of Jesus literally and gave
up everything including his security, his wealth, his freedom,
to serve and inspire penniless children, untutored and robbed
of any worthwhile ambition. Our final drama presentation in the
mass challenged us all "to seek the future". That as
members of the Edmund Rice Family we too can carry this vision,
to live for God and to show all the world a living sacrifice
to others around the world. This was symbolised by six year seven
students who brought forward a candle representing inspired words
of Blessed Edmund Ignatius Rice.
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Kevin
Ryan's reflection on the General Chapter
The General Chapter of the Christian
Brothers held in Rome in March was attended by delegates from
all the international provinces. The work of the General Chapter
is to elect a new leadership team and to reflect on and provide
some direction to the ethos and mission of the Congregation at
the international level. For the first tens days of this General
Chapter, members of the wider Edmund Rice Family also joined
the brothers to provide input to the work and mission of the
wider family. Br Kevin Ryan, Deputy Leader of Holy Spirit Province,
has provided this personal reflection on this important event...
IN REFLECTING ON the Chapter experience nearly three
months after the event, some aspects still continue to be clear
in my mind and heart.
The new Congregational
Leadership Team elected in Rome. From left: Mark McDonnell, Michael
Godfrey, Philip Pinto (Leader, India), Jack Mostyn, Dominic Sassi
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In the first ten days of
the Chapter, the Edmund Rice Family delegates gave the gathering
an immense amount of energy which stayed within the Chapter for
the subsequent three weeks. I think they also helped to highlight
several issues for me and other Brother delegates.
The first of these is that their
journey into the Edmund Rice Charism was through relationships.
This became clear in the telling of their stories. For the eleven
who were there, the beginning of their journey was through a
contact with a Brother. However, as Richard Mavros pointed out
to delegates, this raised the challenge for Edmund Rice Network
people that if/when there are times and places in which there
are no Brothers, will there be Edmund Rice people to establish
the relationships and share the charism for the next generation?
The second issue is that through
the sharing of the ERF delegates and Brothers, and lectures of
Sr Sandra Schneiders, the call to celibate Brotherhood was once
again affirmed. The presence of people "other than Brothers"
seemed to call this affirmation out of us. There seemed to be
a validation of our call.
The third experience of the chapter
that remains with me is the "honesty of the sharing".
This includes all the delegates, elected and invited (including
Presentation Brothers and ERF) honestly talking about what their
life experiences had been like as well as their dreams for the
future. This made the outcomes of the Chapter very real, for
me at least. The alternative would have been theoretical statements
about Religious Life.
The fourth strong experience
for me is related to the call to celibate Brotherhood noted above,
and to the focus of the Chapter on the heart of being Brother.
While in no way setting aside the vigorous call of the Brothers'
Constitutions for "Mission", (to provide service, to
work alongside people, to evangelise, to educate youth), and
the "call to the margins" of the 1996 Chapter, this
Chapter called me to reflect on the heart of my call to be "Brother".
This call is to be in a focussed, contemplative relationship
with God, and to be in relationship with my Brothers and with
all I come in contact.
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Br Pat Carey receives
his Distinguised Service Medal from UNDA Chancellor, Terry O'Connor
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Pat Carey explores
a new ministry
SHORTLY BEFORE LEAVING PERTH to take up a new three year appointment
at Providence College in Rhode Island, USA, the Board of Governors
of the University of Notre Dame awarded Br Pat Carey the UNDA
Distinguished Service Medal. The Vice Chancellor of the University,
Peter Tannock, described Br Pat as a "major founding influence
on the University".
The Province Leader of the Christian
Brothers, Tony Shanahan, provided this further comment in the
Brothers' newsletter on Br Pat's new appointment in the US:
Pat was contacted some months
ago by a search committee from the Providence Alliance for Catholic
Teachers (PACT) at Providence College in Rhode Island to see
if he'd be interested in taking on the position of Director.
Providence College is the only Dominican University in the United
States. Following interviews before Easter, he was appointed
to the position, to begin in mid-June.
Providence Alliance for Catholic
Teachers is one of ten similar programs conducted by Catholic
Universities in the USA. It is a two-year program leading to
a Masters Degree in Education, and prepares recent graduates
to teach in Catholic schools, particularly those in low resourced
rural and inner-city Catholic schools in the New England area.
The students in the program take professional studies in education
at the College, live in small Christian communities in the neighbourhoods
where they're teaching, and follow a program of spiritual development.
Pat's knowledge of and enthusiasm
for this type of work with Catholic teachers is well known.
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News from all around
Holy Spirit Province...
Wheelchairs
without Olly Pickett?
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 BR OLLY
PICKETT'S wheelchairs seem to
be becoming so famous that they are now beginning to appear in the
media without reference to Olly. This surely must be a sign of further
success not to mention that more than 860 of them have now been
manufactured and exported to distant corners of the world. Just
think of the lives of so many victims of land mines and people with
disabilities in the third world whose lives have been transformed
by the efforts of Br Olly and all the supporters who have made this
initiative so successful.
On June 18th the wheelchairs
appeared in The West Australian as a prop for Sian White
to promote the Young People Who Care Awards. These awards which
recognise outstanding contributions in caring within WA, are
organised by Silver Chain and Carers WA.
The photo of Olly
in The West
on 27 May
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On 27th May Br Olly himself
featured in The West Australian as a nominee of the WA
Citizen of the Year Awards. The paper reported "[Br Olly's]
passion for the project, his organisational skills and his unquestionable
gift of the gab make it easy to understand why sponsors find
it hard to say no."
In April/May Br Olly travelled
to Chennai in India with Bob Sheridan and Br Rob Callen to set
up a wheelchair manufacturing facility at M.I.T.H.R.A. This brings
to a total of three the number of manufacturing facilities he
has established overseas. The others are in Cambodia and Kenya.
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"Beyond Dreams
in Stone" Book Launch -- 9th July...
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THE LAUNCH of Br
Kevin Paull's book, "Beyond Dreams in Stone"
happens in the Aquinas Dining Room on Tuesday, 9th July from
5.00 - 6.30 pm. (See the review in the last edition of ERFN.
WA people see the enclosed flyer.) The book has been many years
in the making. It tells the story of the Christian Brothers in
Western Australia from 1894-2000. |
Nuptials
for Heidi...
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SA Eddie Rice Camp
Executive Officer Heidi sent us this pic to share the happy moment
of her recent wedding to Nick Hancock.
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Province
Resource Team staff programs...
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THIS YEAR some 70 New
Staff (SA and WA) took part in the regular two-day Induction
Programs in Adelaide and Perth. The PRT is consistently encouraged
by the quality and commitment of new Staff joining the Edmund
Rice Schools network.
The PRT also conducts
two-day workshops in Adelaide and Perth for more experienced
Staff and 'Longer-Serving Staff'. In Adelaide we are assisted
by Kathy McEvoy from the Archbishop's Pastoral Team.
On 29th April a very
successful one-day Retreat for the whole Rostrevor Staff was
held at the Monastery. St Paul's College also had a one-day Staff
Retreat this year on 24th Jan.
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SA
New Staff Induction Group May 2002
Back
L-R:
Pamela Holmes (CBC), Sonia Bailey (RC), Michael Urdanoff (CBC),
Sophie Cull (CBC).
Middle: Justin Chung (RC), Danielle Abraham (St P), Maro
Geidel (St P), Jenny Laughton (CBC), Amelia Crescitelli (St P),
Marnie Greenrod (St P), Terry Casey (PRT), Hamish Redden (CBC).
Front: Rachel Hehir (FAME), Mark Ashmore (RC), Gerry Faulkner
(PRT), Emily Wilsdon (StP), Carmel Wauchope (RC), Margaret Rowe
(StP), Maria Doherty (St P), Paul Coughlin (RC).
Absent: Allison Klein (CBC), Barry Bryan (RC) Jane Sanderson
(St P)
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SA
Longer Serving Staff Workshop March
Back
L-R:
David Beinke (CBC), Helen Pegg (RC), Kathy McEvoy (PRT), Heather
Callery (CBC), Michael Swinkals (RC).
Front: Tim Donovan
(StP), Jan Burns (St P), Damian Antenucci (St P), Lynette Douglas
(St P).
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Photo
WA Longer Serving Staff Workshop May
L-R:
Bill
Cuthbert (CBC), Lissa Coleman (TC), Andrew Eaton (Aq), Gerry
Faulkner (PRT), Paul Jacobs (Aq), Rose Lenzo (CBC).
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Edmund
Rice Family Link reaches out...
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EVERY MONTH a group of Emund
Rice Family people meet at Waterford (WA) to share a meal, review
what is happening at the province level and nationally. They
encourage communication between groups, assist in planning events
such as Province Days and act as a contact point for dialogue
about matters concerning the wider Edmund Rice Family.
One recent observation was
that there are a number of groups around Perth who seldom have
an opportunity to exchange ideas about what they do and what
inspires them in their ministry. As one way of promoting a better
network and dialogue between the groups, members of the ERF Link
are asking for invitations to attend gatherings of the Edmund
Rice groups, to let them know what is happening nationally and
locally in other groups, to encourage and learn more about the
many initiatives that are already happening and to promote contact
between them.
There are Reflection groups
at Leederville, Westcourt, Manning and Girrawheen; ministry groups
such as the Edmund Rice Centre, Eddy's Carpentry Shop, Olly's
Workshop. There may be others that are not widely known.
Should you wish to hear more
about any of these groups, you may wish to contact someone at
these locations. You may also wish to get in touch with Terry
Casey who is convenor of the ERF Link group which welcomes new
members any time. The phone number is 9365 2815.
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Banners make for colourful
display in Sydney street...
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Br Michael Dredge has written
something to reflect on about the picture of the Edmund Rice
banners flying in George Street Sydney in February. We've lifted
this from the national bicentenary website but you may wish to
pay a visit there yourself to keep up with what is happening
elsewhere around Australia. The national, international website
addresses are given at the end of this article.
 SEE George
Street, in February 2002: the
bustling, modern street outside Town Hall, colourfully decorated
with a multitude of banners, all proclaiming the message "200
Years of Edmund Rice Education". Thousands of Sydneysiders,
workers, shoppers, school students, touristsall would have asked
themselves: "Who was this man?" "What was his education
system?"
IMAGINE George
Street, in 1843: a rough
track, the main link for three small schools in Kent Street,
Macquarie Street and Broadway, in a colonial outpost, conducted
by three newly-arrived Irish Christian Brothers. Edmund Rice,
the founder of the new order, was still alive in Ireland, an
old man. He had lived to see his Brothers arrive on the other
side of the world, bringing with them to the growing colony the
cherished traditions of Catholic education from Ireland.
REMEMBER New
Street, Waterford, Ireland in 1802:
Edmund Rice, the prosperous Waterford businessman and philanthropist,
widower and father, begins the educational enterprise in a converted
stable, near the waterfront. Meanwhile, he was putting his considerable
wealth into building a new school, with attendant bakery and
tailor's shop, on the hill overlooking his port city.
The work begun in a stable
in Ireland in 1802 - the untold number of good works, the thousands
who have been educated, the outreach still continuing - is commemorated
in 2002. May the great work continue!
International website: www.edmundrice2002.com
National Committee website: www.edmundrice.org
Province website: www.westcourt.wa.edu.au/
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You
can help this East Timor initiative...
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  THE EDMUND RICE CENTRE at the University of
Notre Dame has been working with Leeuwin Care, a small and completely
East Timorese run NGO, since April 2000. By the very close and direct
contact they have allowed us to have with the people of East Timor,
Leeuwin Care has become instrumental in our immersion program. In
an attempt to further our relationship with our partners in East
Timor and the communities that have hosted us, we are supporting
and seeking assistance for the following project undertaken by Leeuwin
Care.
The people
of Eraulu and Church of Letefoho, a village in the mountains
two hours south of Dili, have given four hectares of land to
build a youth training centre The Bakhita Youth Centre.
This Centre will be established as a showcase for appropriate
and substantial technologies and will include facilities for
training East Timorese in agricultural and tourism-related activities.
It will also provide recreational and sporting facilities, computer
facilities, and accommodation for youth groups visiting from
country areas of East Timor.
 On the
18th of June, nearly a month after their independence, two University
staff members and 15 students will be travelling to East Timor to
teach English and assist in medical clinics in three different remote
village communities for one month. One of the three groups travelling
will stay in Eraulu, the future home of the Bakhita Centre. The
architect has already drawn up the plans; the funding is just needed
to begin construction.
If you are
interested in contributing in any way please feel free to contact
Clare O'Connor at the Edmund Rice Centre MWF at 9239 5540 or
coconnor@nd.edu.au. Or send cheques made out to the "Christian
Brothers Foundation Overseas Aid Fund" to: The Bakhita Centre
Project, Edmund Rice Centre, University of Notre Dame, PO Box
1225, Fremantle WA 6959.
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Dan Courtney
update: |
Br
Dan Courtney was seriously injured in a motorcyle accident in
East Timor. Br Bill Tynan reports that Dan is still in hospital
but slowly recovering some movement in his limbs. "On Monday
I was there with Denis and his family. Dan was holding a ball.
I asked him to throw it to me, and he bent his arm back and did
so and I dropped it. This we repeated a few times, and
my fielding did not improve. Later, a joke was shared about Br
Rogers, who died recently. He had taught both Dan and Denis.
Dan grinned widely when the story about 'Jolly' Rogers was told." |
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Tell the rest of the Edmund Rice Community what’s
happening in your sector. Send your stories to Pat
Kelly
or Brian
Coyne.
If you have photos, logos or graphics all the better. |
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Richard
Mavros reports on lots of things...
"What you do with
your 'heart' affects the whole universe..."
ONCE AGAIN my work has seen me travel miles from
home. This time I went to Rome. I was there with a group from
our Province consisting of Br Tony Shanahan, Br Kevin Ryan, Br
Gerry Faulkner and Donella Brown for the General Chapter.
For the first time ever the Brothers
asked that a small group representing the broader Edmund Rice
Family attend for the first 11 days of their conference to better
represent all who are engaged in works, ministry and community
under the banner of Edmund Rice. To
include non-Brothers in part of this event is a huge step
but one that for most, seems logical given the ever increasing
collaboration between Brothers and others.
The Delegates
and Facilitators in Rome
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It became painfully obvious
to me from Day One that I had names, faces, smiles and thoughts
of my allies and co-workers swirling through my head as I sat
in. I wished I was able to share all this with the people that
I have worked alongside. I
thought I'd heard the Edmund Rice story before but we had
a guest speaker come to the Chapter who painted the most tangible
portrait of Edmund Rice I've heard to date. This was in the first
few days, a great place to start from the room was a buzz
with questions and reflections on what it really meant to be
connected to that story, of that man in those times somehow
projected into these times.
As many of you would know, Perth
hosted twelve ERC groups from around the world in February for
the first International ERC Conference. Did anybody else know
about ERC Paraguay? ERC has been running for 6 years in Paraguay.
A great Br Eddie from Ireland now lives and works there with
the group of volunteers that runs it. On the last day of the
Chapter I had the opportunity to present to the group an International
ERC Banner made for the event in Perth. I spread it out for all
to see and talked briefly about it's origins.
While obviously the Chapter covered
countless topics, broader than ERC, I must say that in its purest
form ERC does stack up well against the overall call of the Edmund
Rice Network. There are some big questions that we have to ask
about the goings on behind what we do but as a concept I am more
convinced than ever that ERC offers an extraordinary gift to
any community.
In the last few days there was
much talk around the Edmund Rice Family or as is becoming
increasingly favoured, the Edmund Rice Network. Australia's own
Peter Nicholson took the floor. When he spoke people were really
listening and understanding. Rather than get caught up in words,
the real sense was clear on the ground around the world people
are taking up the challenge.
There definitely emerged some
themes for the week. Clearly the sense that to really work with
and for someone you need to be in relationship with that person
and that such relationships are transforming of both parties.
It also became increasingly clear that in order to be able to
serve other more vulnerable members of your community you had
to be in 'right relationship' with yourself.
After the Chapter I had the opportunity
to attend a weekend in Dublin, in April. At one stage this event
attracted a crowd of 2,000. It was titled "Share the Vision".
It was a combination of conference and celebration to mark the
200th anniversary of Edmund opening his first school. It is worth
noting that the title is both an 'invitation' to gather
and 'share the vision'. But it is also a naming of a challenge
and a task, to go out and 'share the vision'.
 One of the particular things about the
Edmund Rice Network is its tradition that the 'search for Self and God'
is wrapped up in issues of social justice and work with the marginalised
in our society. Unfortunately for most people their lives lack experiences
that prompt and challenge them to actually consider making small changes
to the way they live. So the question remains, who or what is going to
prompt and assist people to embark on this journey?
On the last night the 11 of us
sat in a circle of 12 chairs in front of the whole group and
said a few words each. The empty chair was there because one
of the delegates could not attend at the last moment. The empty
chair will always stick with me as a vivid reminder that the
11 in the circle represented the thousands spread throughout
the world who could so easily have been in that chair.
At times these moments were not
just warm fuzzy feelings but a real challenge to the group. Most
importantly the real challenge was to each of us in the room
as individuals to really look inside our heart, our minds and
the way we live and ask some pretty tough questions.
Such occasions are uncomfortable,
even emotional ... they lie at the core of what we do, for only
when I make sure that my words are true to me ... and then that
I am true to my words, can I ever really contribute. What you
do with your "heart" affects the whole universe!
ONCE AGAIN my work has seen me travel miles from home. This time
I went to Rome. I was there with a group from our Province consisting
of Br Tony Shanahan, Br Kevin Ryan, Br Gerry Faulkner and Donella
Brown for the General Chapter.
For the first time ever the Brothers
asked that a small group representing the broader Edmund Rice
Family attend for the first 11 days of their conference to better
represent all who are engaged in works, ministry and community
under the banner of Edmund Rice.
To include non-Brothers in part
of this event is a huge step but one that for most, seems
logical given the ever increasing collaboration between Brothers
and others.
It became painfully obvious to
me from Day One that I had names, faces, smiles and thoughts
of my allies and co-workers swirling through my head as I sat
in. I wished I was able to share all this with the people that
I have worked alongside.
I thought I'd heard the Edmund
Rice story before but we had a guest speaker come to the
Chapter who painted the most tangible portrait of Edmund Rice
I've heard to date. This was in the first few days, a great place
to start from the room was a buzz with questions and reflections
on what it really meant to be connected to that story, of that
man in those times somehow projected into these times.
As many of you would know, Perth
hosted twelve ERC groups from around the world in February for
the first International ERC Conference. Did anybody else know
about ERC Paraguay? ERC has been running for 6 years in Paraguay.
A great Br Eddie from Ireland now lives and works there with
the group of volunteers that runs it. On the last day of the
Chapter I had the opportunity to present to the group an International
ERC Banner made for the event in Perth. I spread it out for all
to see and talked briefly about it's origins.
While obviously the Chapter covered
countless topics, broader than ERC, I must say that in its purest
form ERC does stack up well against the overall call of the Edmund
Rice Network. There are some big questions that we have to ask
about the goings on behind what we do but as a concept I am more
convinced than ever that ERC offers an extraordinary gift to
any community.
"Mav"
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|
In the last few days there
was much talk around the Edmund Rice Family or as is becoming
increasingly favoured, the Edmund Rice Network. Australia's own
Peter Nicholson took the floor. When he spoke people were really
listening and understanding. Rather than get caught up in words,
the real sense was clear on the ground around the world people
are taking up the challenge.
There definitely emerged some
themes for the week. Clearly the sense that to really work with
and for someone you need to be in relationship with that person
and that such relationships are transforming of both parties.
It also became increasingly clear that in order to be able to
serve other more vulnerable members of your community you had
to be in 'right relationship' with yourself.
After the Chapter I had the opportunity
to attend a weekend in Dublin, in April. At one stage this event
attracted a crowd of 2,000. It was titled "Share the Vision".
It was a combination of conference and celebration to mark the
200th anniversary of Edmund opening his first school. It is worth
noting that the title is both an 'invitation' to gather
and 'share the vision'. But it is also a naming of a challenge
and a task, to go out and 'share the vision'.
One of the particular things
about the Edmund Rice Network is its tradition that the 'search
for Self and God' is wrapped up in issues of social justice and
work with the marginalised in our society. Unfortunately for
most people their lives lack experiences that prompt and challenge
them to actually consider making small changes to the way they
live. So the question remains, who or what is going to prompt
and assist people to embark on this journey?
On the last night the 11 of us
sat in a circle of 12 chairs in front of the whole group and
said a few words each. The empty chair was there because one
of the delegates could not attend at the last moment. The empty
chair will always stick with me as a vivid reminder that the
11 in the circle represented the thousands spread throughout
the world who could so easily have been in that chair.
At times these moments were not
just warm fuzzy feelings but a real challenge to the group. Most
importantly the real challenge was to each of us in the room
as individuals to really look inside our heart, our minds and
the way we live and ask some pretty tough questions.
Such occasions are uncomfortable,
even emotional ... they lie at the core of what we do, for only
when I make sure that my words are true to me ... and then that
I am true to my words, can I ever really contribute. What you
do with your "heart" affects the whole universe!
|
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|
News
from the Edmund Rice Centre, Mirrabooka...
Br Steve Bowman has
provided us with this update
Refugee Adult Classes...
|
| OUR
CLASSES continue to be
popular and well attended despite the fact that those adults
on the "Temporary Protection Visa" now have access
to the English Programmes provided by the State Government. A
new initiate this year has been the provision of a "Women's
Coffee Morning" which is held at the Centre each Saturday
morning from 10am - 12noon. This activity offers an opportunity
for women from diverse backgrounds to meet and share in an informal
atmosphere. New members are welcome. |
Refugee Youth Leisure
Program...
|
|
Coordinator Br. Jim van der
Zalm
THE YOUTH LEISURE PROGRAMME operates on Wednesdays from 4pm
6pm and on Saturday mornings from 9.15am 12.30pm. The program
caters for youth from 10-16 years of age from Refugee and Aboriginal
backgrounds.
On Saturday, June 1st, we had
31 participants and 7 volunteers for our train trip to Fremantle.
It was a record number for a Saturday morning activity. On Saturday,
June15, we are going to Eddy's Carpentry Shop to learn some carpentry
skills.
The highlight of the year will
be the Youth Leisure Programme camp. It will run from Friday
evening, June 28th to Sunday, June 30th at Tuppin House at Moore
River. Everyone is looking forward to it. Anyone wishing to help
out as a volunteer or make a donation towards the cost of the
camp could contact the Centre on Ph 9440 0625.
|
Donated Household Goods
|
| LAST
YEAR WE ASSISTED 147 REFUGEE FAMILIES
with second hand household goods. So far this year about 49 families
have been assisted. We are always keen to accept donations of
any household goods (big and small) with the exception of clothing.
Please phone the Centre on 9440 0625 if you can assist. |
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Tell the rest of the Edmund Rice Community what’s
happening in your sector. Send your stories to Pat
Kelly
or Brian
Coyne.
If you have photos, logos or graphics all the better. |
|
Trinity makes big commitment to Campus Ministry
Rob Callen cfc
 |
TRINITY
COLLEGE Campus
Minister, Br Rob Callen reports considerable progress this year
in the establishment of an integrated "HeadHeartHand"
approach to spirituality in the community. Marya Stewart has
been appointed as Director of Christian Service and she and Rob
have new offices in a converted classroom at the very heart of
the College. Marya is embarking on a plan to introduce Christian
Service programs at each year level across the College. At Year
8 level, which she is working on at the moment, the students
are expected to take on service in the home. This expands each
year with students involved in activities in the wider community.
The College has been running a program at Year 11 level for some
considerable time but Marya explained to ERFN that over the next
few years it will become an integral part of the education of
each student at secondary level.
The workbook each student
has to complete gives the following overview of what is expected
through Christian Service:
- "The service
you provide must be done freely out of your own choice without
expectation of reward, money or gifts. It should be a service
that you are capable of doing by yourself in a safe environment.
It should address the needs of people in your family, local neighbourhood,
parish or school. Ideally, it should contribute to building better
relationships between people. It will help you discover gifts
and talents in yourself and give you insight into qualities which
others possess. It will challenge you to go beyond what is already
expected of you and to make an extra effort to care for someone."
 Br Rob's exciting initiative
this year is the introduction of a four-day Kairos Retreat for Year 12
students. To get the program underway the College is bringing a team of
young students who have just completed Year 12 at Bellarmine Prep in San
Jose, California -- a Jesuit High School -- to conduct our first retreat.
Two teachers and six students will arrive from California in mid July.
Trinity students
at the tomb of Mother Teresa in Calcutta
 |
While there are
similar retreats operating in other Christian Brothers schools
this will be the first Kairos Retreat held in the Holy Spirit
Province. The retreat is largely presented by previous students
who have done the retreat and hence the need to bring students
from America to begin the program here. The feedback coming from
students who have been involved in the Kairos and similar retreats
is that these are among the most meaningful spiritual experiences
the students have during their secondary education.
Br Rob also reports
that the Pilgrimage to India program is continuing every second
year and is more popular than ever. In the alternate year the
College is establishing a pilgrimage to the Kimberley where students
will have a cultural exchange with the Aboriginal people.
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To add your name to
the email list:
This year the hard-copy edition
of Edmund Rice News will be published three times but the email
edition will be published each month. The hard copy edition is
for archival purposes and for community reception areas and for
those who do not have access to email. It will contain a summary
of what is published in the email edition. Costs are largely
what dictate this editorial change. It costs us literally cents
in distribution costs to send out an email edition to as many
people as we like. Each hard copy edition costs in the order
of $1 per copy for distribution.
We do need to build up our email
database. To make sure you receive the email edition in colour
send your email address to briancoyne@viastuas.net.au.
Let us know if you would like to receive the full email in html
format – i.e. with all photographs and graphics – or
a text message directing you to a website where it can be viewed
through a web browser such as Internet Explorer or Netscape Navigator.
|
 Bicentenary moves towards its climax
The Bicentenary celebrations
are steadily moving towards the climax which will be held in
Perth on 12 October (please note date change) and in Adelaide
on 19 October.
The other important celebration
dates remaining this year are:
July 10-17
Holy Spirit Province Chapter
July 22
All Schools Staff Conferences in Adelaide
and Perth
Aug 23-26
AHERSA Conference Aquinas
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DADIRRI
2002-3 is a personal formation
program offered jointly by the four Australian provinces. It
offers an opportunity to deepen and explore how Edmund's vision
for a more just, peaceful and loving world can continue to be
realised in and through you.
Applications for the new program close
on 19th July 2002. The successful applicants will join a group
of 25-30 people in the 15-month personal journey. The following
are the general criteria that you need to meet to be selected.
You should be:
- a minimum of 25 years old
- willing to work for peace and justice
for all god's creation
- open to deepening your spirituality through
exploring your own story in relation to the stories of Jesus
and Edmund
- invited to respond practically to the
call of the gospel by reaching out to those on the margins of
society
- interested in examining the universe and
Australian story from new perspectives, and be keen to reflect
alone and within a community context
- willing to place yourself in unfamiliar
situations - to stretch your thoughts and actions beyond comfortable
boundaries
- be familiar with and supportive of the
spirit of the Christian Brothers and the Edmund Rice Family but
you do not necessarily have to be Catholic.
- willing to engage in a wide-ranging program,
including reading, the study and praying of scripture and theological
reflection
- willing to commit to being present for
all components of the fifteen month program, including three
5-day residential workshops (held in school holiday periods),
and in a position to contribute $700-$1000 toward the cost of
the program.
Members of the Edmund Rice Family in the
Holy Spirit Province who are interested in participating should
contact Br Gerry Faulkner in WA on 9365 2815 or Br Des O'Grady
in SA on 8384 5871.
|
The painting
of Edmund Rice
with his daughter, Mary,
is from an
exhibition on the
national Edmund Rice web site
by Tasmanian painter, Br Hugh
Sharpe of Hobart
[Pastel on
Canvas (27x66) cms. 1996.
Photography. Hugh
Sharpe, cfc]
http://www.edmundrice.org/
content/gallery_e.html.
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EDMUND RICE REFLECTION...
"Be constant in prayer
and whatever will happen will turn to our good. Place all your
cares in the hands of Divine Providence."
This reflection is taken from Chapter 8
on Prayer in God is in the Ordinary by Teresa Pirola.
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TO PROVINCE WEBSITE
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Edmund Rice Family
News is edited and produced by Brian Coyne for the Holy Spirit
Province of the Christian Brothers
Vias Tuas Communications,
7/63 Stirling Highway, NEDLANDS WA 6009 Tel: 9389 9829
email: briancoyne@viastuas.net.au
web: http://users.bigpond.net.au/viastuas |
|
Content
©2000-2Congregation of Christian Brothers ~ WebDesign, Elements & Graphics ©2000-2Vias
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