News
This site will now become a static site. All new contributions will be loaded to and accessed through
Note that there is no ".au" at the end.
The content on this site will still be accessable for some time but we strongly recommend that you visit the new site and experience all the new features that it offers.
{slide=Gathering to Guide the future of Edmund Rice Network}
29 May 2009
The future direction of the Christian Brothers affiliated Edmund Rice Network (ERN) will be discussed by over 30 participants from across the globe at a special gathering at the spiritual home of the Christian Brothers at Mt Sion in Waterford, Ireland from June 24 to 30.
The Living the Vision event aims to explore the future of the ERN at an international level and examine ways of coordinating the Network to ensure it reaches its full potential.
The organising committee for the event, including two members of the Congregation Leadership Team of the Christian Brothers former deputy leader of the Oceania Province Peter Dowling and European Province member Francis Hall, said the event was hoping to put forward answers to three key issues.
1. How is the Spirit of God calling our Network to open up the spirit of Edmund Rice for our world?
2. How might we best organise ourselves internationally to allow this to happen?
3. How can we commit ourselves to living this vision?
The organisers hope to draw on the collective wisdom present within the ERN and as such are inviting anyone who has been associated with the Christian Brothers and their entities to become involved.
"The ERN exists to serve God's purposes in our world and cosmos," the organisers said in their letter of invitation.
"Its life force is the communication between people - the act of ‘networking'.
"We invite people and organisations to contribute to this life force by speaking about the event with others, by submitting ideas and above all, by holding the event in their hearts and prayers, the organisers said.
The wider ERN has been recognised in both the Congregation and Oceania chapters held in 2008 as vital to the future of the Brothers and the Edmund Rice charism. It is a broad collection of individuals and groups who are inspired by the life of Edmund Rice; connected to the Christian Brothers; engaged in an Edmund Rice ministry and connected to the Edmund Rice Education Australia (EREA) schools.
People are encouraged to provide their insights into any of the above topics or others matters concerning the future of the ERN by emailing vision@edmundrice.ie using the subject "Living the Vision" followed by a family name or other identifier.
Daily updates and a collective wisdom document from the gathering will be posted on the Edmund Rice Heritage Centre website at www.edmundrice.ie from June 24.
For more information, please contact Tom Cranitch on 0437 045 799, + 61 (0)7 3621 9675 or tacranitch@edmundrice.org
{/slide}
{slide=Christian Brothers appoint peace activist to key Network Role}
2 April 2009
The Oceania Province of the Christian Brothers have announced the appointment of peace and justice campaigner and former human shield in Iraq, Donna Mulhearn as the Regional Coordinator of the Edmund Rice Network (ERN) in New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory.
In announcing the appointment, the Province's Director of Networking, Communication and Development, Br Steve McLaughlin said Donna Mulhearn's social activism would sit comfortably with the social justice pursuits of the Christian Brothers.
"Her considerable achievements and experience will be invaluable to her development of the wider ERN throughout NSW and the ACT," Br McLaughlin said.
"Donna will be responsible for developing opportunities for people with both historical and contemporary connections with the Christian Brothers and the legacy of our founder Edmund Rice.
"She has proven herself to be a strong advocate for causes with are closely connected to our objectives," Br McLaughlin said.
Donna is a well known peace and justice campaigner whose professional experiences cover a wide range of areas. She has been involved in community development activities in various countries including Iraq, Kenya, India, East Timor and Palestine as a worker or volunteer for several Non-Government Organisations (NGO).
From 2003 until 2006 Donna was the Coordinator of Our Home - Iraq, a grassroots NGO providing assistance to street kids and refugees in the country. Her commitment to the people of Iraq and anti-war activities saw her participate as a member of the Human Shield Movement in Iraq in 2003. Her social activism has also witnessed her being a member of Christians Against ALL Terrorism which conducted a Citizen's Inspection of the Pine Gap military facility in 2005. She has also been featured on ABC TV's Australian Story.
She is a former journalist and political adviser and in recent years she has been undertaking speaking and writing engagements on issues of social justice, non-violence and spirituality to education and youth groups to show how they can make a difference in the world.
Donna has been active in local community and Church groups including youth refuges, refugee and homeless shelters and in parish and Catholic social justice groups. She describes herself as having a strong commitment to justice, peace, inter-faith dialogue and nonviolence.
Donna said she feels blessed to be in a position that complements her personal call to be involved in social justice full-time.
"I've been on a wonderful journey the past few years exploring the question of how I can make a difference in the world," she said.
"The answer has expressed itself in different ways through my involvement in anti-war activity, aid work and activism.
"The beauty of the Edmund Rice Network is that it provides the space for people to explore that question together as a community, walking the journey together."
Donna said she hopes her networking role can help people discover or go deeper into the special part they have to play in creating a more just and peaceful world.
"We all have the chance contribute to peace and justice in the world. It will be different role for everyone, depending on their unique gifts, talents and passions.
"The Edmund Rice Network can provide the opportunities and support for the journey to action. It's a journey of reflection and action and conversion for all of us.
"I'm inspired by the Edmund Rice charism which provides a wonderful framework for the journey: Presence, Compassion, Liberation. And being part of something bigger means we can encourage and inspire each other.
"There are so many opportunities to help.
"Everyone can make a difference."
For more information, please contact Tom Cranitch on 0437 045 799, (61 7) 3621 9675 or tacranitch@edmundrice.org
The Christian Brothers are a Catholic religious congregation of lay men, founded in the city of Waterford, Ireland, by Edmund Ignatius Rice in 1802. Edmund Rice was forty years of age when he founded his congregation in response to the needs of the children of his own city and indeed the whole of Ireland. Over the past two centuries, the Christian Brothers have worked across the globe principally in education. In more recent times they have been involved in healthcare, community development, social justice and advocacy programs, and specialised ministries work with the poor and people living at the margins of society. They currently number about 1,800 members, and undertake work in 26 countries.
Oceania Province includes Australia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Cook Islands, Timor-Leste and the Philippines and there are approximately 410 Brothers in the region.
The Edmund Rice Network (ERN) is an association of groups, institutions and people that look to the story of Edmund Rice as pat of their personal inspiration or that have a connection to an Edmund Rice/Christian Brothers' inspired ministry.
{/slide}
{slide=Christian Brothers appoint new Director of Callan Services}
MEDIA STATEMENT
CHRISTIAN BROTHERS TO APPOINT FORMER WA LEADER TO REPLACE PIONEER IN PNG DISABILITY SERVICES
5 November 2008
The Christian Brothers have announced the appointment of their former Western Australian leader as the new director of their national disability services network in Papua New Guinea.
Fifty eight year old Br Kevin Ryan will head Callan Services for Disabled Persons and be based at its national coordinating unit in Wewak.
Br Ryan is a former Province Leader of the Christian Brothers in Western Australia and South Australia from 2002 until 2007. He has had an extensive career as an educator and in working with troubled youth and indigenous students.
He was the Foundation Principal of Clontarf Aboriginal College in Perth from 1986 until 1990 and of Catholic schools in Broome.
Callan Services was established by the Christian Brothers in Papua New Guinea in 1991 with the support of CBM and Save the Children and over the past two decades has led the way in building services for people with disabilities.
Callan Services is involved in the training of personnel to work with people with physical, sensory and mental disability. The national unit working in partnership with national and international, government and non-government partners and agencies, also addresses social disadvantage, promotes specialist health services and mounts disability prevention programs in rural communities.
Up to 200 staff throughout the country work under the Callan Services network banner with approximately 20 staff working from the national coordinating unit in Wewak.
Province Leader of the Christian Brothers in the Oceania region, Br Vince Duggan welcomed Br Ryan to the "challenging and vitally important role" and praised the efforts of Callan Services foundation director, Br Graeme Leach over the past two decades.
"Graeme has been able to influence national policy at the highest level and the rights of people with disabilities are much more honoured now than was ever the case before," Br Duggan said.
"Graeme’s name has become synonymous with early intervention and inclusive education programs and his work has left a lasting landmark on the PNG education and disability services sectors.
"His vision and dedication has seen local people become qualified practitioners in the areas of special education, physiotherapy, ear and eye care and many related fields.
"We are all confident that Br Kevin Ryan with his strength of purpose, compassion and determination will see through Graeme’s legacy and continue to produce a service with which the Christian Brothers and the people of Papua New Guinea can be proud," Br Duggan added.
To ensure a smooth transition, Br Graeme Leach will remain involved as a consultant at Callan Services in the early months of 2009.
For more information, please contact Tom Cranitch on
{/slide}
{slide=Changes to Edmund Rice Community Services}
{/slide}
{slide=Letter from Mr Wayne Tinsey to Friends and Colleagues}
Dear Friends and Colleagues,
The warmest of greetings at the beginning of Term 4!
Evangelisation Towards Authenticity
Evangelisation as Cultural Critique
Take great care,
Wayne Tinsey
Executive Director
National Office
9 The Vaucluse
Richmond
Victoria 3121
{/slide}
{slide=Chapter appoints new Leadership Member}
CHAPTER APPOINTS NEW LEADERSHIP MEMBERS
The first Oceania Province Chapter of the Christian Brothers has elected a new Deputy Leader of the Province and a new member of the Oceania Leadership Team (OLT) on the final day of its 10 day gathering in Brisbane.
Current OLT member, Br Peter Harney has been appointed as the new Deputy Leader of the Province replacing Br Peter Dowling who was elected to the Congregation’s international leadership earlier this year.
One of the Province’s Cluster Leaders for Victoria/Tasmania, Br Chris Meehl, has been elected as a new member of the OLT.
Chris lives in community at St Albans in suburban Melbourne and in addition to his cluster leadership, he is also a coordinator for ministries in south eastern Australia for the Province. He is also involved in refugee ministry in the St Alban’s region and prior to this was involved in the education ministry in Victoria, Tasmania and Tonga.
Oceania Province Leader, Br Vince Duggan congratulated both Brothers on their new roles and welcomed them to the OLT.
{/slide}
{slide=Daring to be Different}
DARING TO BE DIFFERENT
The international leader of the Christian Brothers, Br Philip Pinto urged members of the congregation’s first Oceania Province Chapter meeting at St Leo’s College in Brisbane to take risks and embrace new thinking for a new world.
Br Pinto, who was re-appointed as the order’s Leader at the Congregation Chapter at Munnar, India in March implored the Brothers to "chance ourselves" on the Divine Word.
"Unless there are those among us that care enough for the community to risk for it, then renewal is out of the question," Br Pinto said.
"We have been guilty and paralysed by old thinking and have not allowed the new to come in.
"We have abandoned the new to the design of others.
"We have to risk the new world beckoning us," Br Pinto said.
His speech was given to 48 Christian Brothers and two dozen members of the wider Edmund Rice Network who are participants in the first Oceania Province Chapter – the first such gathering since the amalgamation of five Christian Brothers’ provinces and several regions to form the new Oceania Province on October 1 2007.
He said the essence of the Munnar Chapter was its invitation to the order to dare to be a disciple of Jesus of Nazareth.
"The Chapter invited us to ‘Dare to be Disciple’ and this means daring to be different," he said.
"A disciple has to be different because discipleship is counter-cultural.
"Difference is the hallmark of discipleship and our challenge is not to be scared of difference but to welcome it and welcome the stranger in our midst as our brother and our sister.
The Oceania Chapter is considering the strategic directions for the new Province from 2008 until the next Chapter gathering in 2014. It is anticipated it will take further steps to affirm the future focus of the Christian Brothers in Oceania on social justice, advocacy and eco-spirituality issues.
Br Pinto urged the Oceania Chapter participants to adopt an approach of "passion and possibility". He said despite the average age of the 420 Brothers in the region being 70, a key question focusing the order was whether "our hearts and souls are burning for life and mission?"
Earlier in the Chapter, Oceania Province Leader, Br Vince Duggan invited the order to celebrate the diversity of the people and culture of the region and to "Think Oceania" in all its activities.
He said key points for the Chapter to consider included how the Province can respond to the cry of the poor in the region today and what ways can the order grow the wider Edmund Rice Network of supporters so that they are sustainable and empowered into the future.
{/slide}
| Australian Catholic University | Christian Brothers |
All Christian Brothers along with former Brothers and those who attended the Juniorate, together with their partners are cordially invited to a Centerary Celebration to be held at Strathfield.
| 9.30-10.30 | Morning Tea | ||
| 10.45-11.45 | Welcome: | ||
| Professor Greg Craven, Vice-Chancellor Brother Vincent Duggan, Province Leader |
|||
|
Audio-Visual: Historical Overview & some Sharing
|
|||
| 12.00 | Celebration of Eucharist |
||
| CENTENARY DINNER AT THE CAMPUS | |||
| 15.00 | Revisiting the Campus | ||
| 16.00 | Continue the visit on Campus (coffee & tea available) or visit Brothers' plot at Rookwood Cemetery |
||
| 18.00 | CLOSURE | ||
Please note that entry is now by Barker Road and NOT Albert Road
FIRST ANNIVERSARY
OF OCEANIA PROVINCE
1 October 2008
The new Oceania Province of the Christian Brothers will mark its first anniversary today (1 October 2008) with Brothers, staff and supporters across six countries celebrating the occasion with a special liturgy and partaking in other celebratory activities.
In a message to commemorate the day, Province Leader, Br Vince Duggan thanked all Brothers, staff, volunteers and members of the wider Edmund Rice Network (ERN) for their prayers, work and endeavours to forge the identity of the new Province.
Br Duggan described their role in the first 12 months of the organisation as “indispensable”.
He said the Congregation Chapter of the order in Munnar, India, in March this year provided the way forward for the Christian Brothers in Oceania.
“At Munnar the Spirit of the Risen Christ invited us to take hold of this opportunity of change and to let go of the chains that were binding us. We were encouraged to risk being different and to dare to be disciple, Br Duggan said.
“Let us go forward now excited by the future challenges and conscious of the Munnar invitation that the ‘Time is now! The place is here! We are the people!” Br Duggan said.
The Oceania Province of the Christian Brothers commenced on 1 October 2007 and comprises the four former provinces of the order in Australia; the former New Zealand province; and the regions of Papua New Guinea and the Philippines. It also covers East Timor and the Cook Islands.
The date (1 October 2007) also marked the commencement of a new Province-owned authority to administer the 40 Brothers schools in Australia called Edmund Rice Education Australia.
Since this time, the Brothers have been charting a new course outside their traditional foothold in schools and focusing more heavily on ministries and programs in the areas of social justice, advocacy and eco-spirituality issues.
The liturgy to celebrate the first anniversary includes the Inauguration Prayer of the Province which prays in part “...conscious of the waters which surround us, we join with all creation as we celebrate this new beginning of our journey as followers of Edmund Rice in Oceania.”
For more information, please contact Tom Cranitch on 0437 045 799, (61 7) 3621 9675 or tacranitch@edmundrice.org
