4 minute read
Province Leader
(from the Prophet Micah 6:8)
Since 1878 in South Australia and 1894 in Western Australia the Br Kevin P Ryan Province Leader Congregation of Christian Brothers has been conducting schools. While the Christian Brothers will continue to be involved in schools and other community based work throughout Australia and many other places in the world, from October 2007 the Congregation itself will no longer conduct or govern schools. The Congregation will continue to conduct other organisations in these two states and elsewhere in Australia, Papua New Guinea, New Zealand, East Timor and The Philippines. What will this mean for students, families and staff of our schools? Let me explore this a little. In 1802 a man called Edmund Rice, inspired by the Spirit of God, opened a school in a city called Waterford in Ireland. He wanted to provide education for the Catholic boys of Ireland who were not able to attend other schools in that country. He wished to help those boys ‘to be good Catholics and good citizens’. In conducting schools in Western Australia and South Australia the Christian Brothers, inspired by the same Spirit of God and the life and work of Edmund Rice, have been attempting to help young women and men to know and love God and to be able to have the skills, knowledge and values to live their lives in the service of others in this country and elsewhere. This service was to be expressed in their families, their communities and in their work. Some have expressed their lives of service as Priests or as members of Religious Congregations in the Catholic Church. Over many years, many people who are not Christian Brothers have also been inspired by the Spirit of God and the life and work of Edmund Rice. Some of those have been students in our schools, families associated with the schools, staff members or leaders in our schools and others have been board members. Working alongside Christian Brothers, they have kept our schools true to the story of Edmund. The story is now moving on to the next chapter. The Congregation of Christian Brothers and other men and women throughout Australia are, we believe, responding again to the call of the Spirit. An organisation called Edmund Rice Education Australia is being established. This new organisation will take over the conduct or governance of the 39 schools which are now conducted by the Congregation all across the country, from Townsville to Hobart and from Hobart to Tardun! This does not mean that Christian Brothers will not work in schools, or be members of Boards, or work in the administration of Edmund Rice Education Australia, but the Congregation is handing over the responsibility of conducting the schools to Edmund Rice Education Australia.
Administration
Administration
The Christian Brothers are very confident that the people being appointed to ‘run’ Edmund Rice Education Australia will keep the spirit of Edmund Rice alive in schools and will develop new and exciting ways of doing this as the needs of young people change over the coming years. The Christian Brothers, and many others, believe the life and work of Edmund Rice can continue to be an inspiration for many young men and women throughout Australia, can make a strong contribution to Catholic Education and can help Australia to be a more just, loving and compassionate country. I write this article as the Year 2006 draws to a close. This article is distributed to Christian Brothers College Adelaide, Rostrevor College, St Paul’s College and Flexible Accreditation Meaningful Education (FAME) in South Australia. It also goes to Christian Brothers Agricultural School Tardun, Catholic Agricultural College Bindoon, Aquinas College, Christian Brothers College Fremantle and Clontarf Aboriginal College in Western Australia. With that in mind, we offer thanks and congratulations to some of our current Principals who are moving on from their roles at the end of the year. Br Pat Cronin leaves Christian Brothers College Adelaide after 12 years of extraordinary and innovative leadership. Mr David McFadden moves from Christian Brothers College Fremantle to lead a school in London, Mr Brad Hall leaves Catholic Agricultural College Bindoon to take up the Principalship of St Joseph’s College Albany and Mr Rob Henderson, who has been Acting Principal of Trinity College, takes up the Principalship of Christian Brothers College Fremantle. They have all done great work in very challenging roles. On behalf of all in the Edmund Rice Schools – I say thank you to each of them! As well as welcoming Rob Henderson to the leadership of Christian Brothers College Fremantle, we welcome Mr Ivan Banks (formerly Principal of Bunbury Catholic College) to the Principalship of Trinity College and Ms Sue Alderman as Acting Principal of Catholic Agricultural College, Bindoon. We wish them well in their significant roles of leadership in 2007 and beyond. May all of us, like Edmund Rice, continue to be open to the Spirit of God. Like Edmund, may our lives be driven by justice, love and compassion. As we attempt to follow the teachings of Jesus, as Edmund did, may we have the courage to stand up for what is right, have the strength and love for ourselves and others to say ‘No’ when it is necessary, and to be kind and gentle when needed. Thank you all for your involvement in Catholic Education in the Edmund Rice Tradition in 2006 and I wish you, your families and friends, health, happiness and peace for 2007.
Br Kevin P Ryan
Province Leader of the Christian Brothers SA and WA
