Presentation Brothers facts for kids
The Congregation of Presentation Brothers is a group of Catholic men who are not priests. They were started in 1802 in Waterford, Ireland, by a kind Irish businessman named Edmund Ignatius Rice. He is now known as Blessed Edmund Ignatius Rice, which means he is recognized as a very holy person by the Catholic Church.
Today, Presentation Brothers live and work in many countries. These include Ireland, England, the US, Canada, Ghana, Nigeria, Zimbabwe, Zambia, and Grenada. There are about 100 brothers around the world.
The brothers make three special promises: to live simply (poverty), to not marry (chastity), and to obey their leaders (obedience). They live together in small groups called "communities." Their motto is "Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam", which means "For the greater glory of God." You can tell they are Presentation Brothers because they use the letters F.P.M. after their names. This stands for Fratres Presentationis Mariae, which means "Brothers of the Presentation of Mary" in Latin.
The main goal of the Presentation Brothers is to "help young people grow in their faith and become good people." They have traditionally done this through education. Now, they also help people in many other ways. They work with people who are homeless, elderly, young people who need extra support, and the Roma people. In 2007, the Presentation Brothers started new missions in Slovakia and Nigeria. They also opened an office in Geneva to speak up for poor people.
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History of the Presentation Brothers
The Presentation Brothers were founded by Edmund Rice in the city of Waterford, Ireland, in 1802.
Edmund Rice's Early Life
Edmund Rice was born on June 1, 1762, in a place called Westcourt, near Callan in County Kilkenny. His parents, Robert and Margaret Tierney Murphy Rice, were successful farmers. His family spoke Irish and also English for their business. In 1762, Ireland was ruled by the British. There were old laws called Penal Laws that made it hard for Catholics to get an education.
Edmund went to a hedge school for his first lessons. These were secret schools set up by traveling teachers. The laws became less strict when Edmund was a child. He later went to a proper school in Kilkenny.
When he was 17, Edmund started learning business from his uncle, Michael Rice, in Waterford city. Waterford was a very busy port back then. Seven years later, his uncle gave the business to him. Edmund was very smart and good at business. He used his money to buy land and property.
At 25, Edmund married Mary Elliot. She was the daughter of a local businessman. Sadly, Mary died in a horse riding accident. The baby she was expecting was born with a disability. The baby was named Mary, and Edmund's step-sister Joan took care of her.
Edmund's Religious Journey
After his wife died, Edmund became more religious. He felt a strong connection to Saint Teresa of Jesus. He also started doing a lot of good deeds. He often visited poor people in Waterford and gave them money.
In 1798, Edmund helped the Presentation Sisters open a convent (a place where nuns live) and a school for girls in Waterford. Edmund then decided to do something similar for boys. In 1800, he began teaching young boys at his business place. Some volunteers helped him. The next year, Edmund turned some stables on New Street into a temporary school. His friends thought it was a crazy idea. Two men, Thomas Grosvenor and Patrick Finn, came to help him. The three men lived above the stable while they waited for a proper monastery to be built.
How the Congregations Began
In the beginning, Edmund Rice's followers formed a small group. They lived together and followed a set of guidelines similar to those used by the Presentation Sisters. The Pope had already approved these guidelines.
In 1832, a new set of guidelines for Religious Brothers was approved by the Pope. As the main leader of a group approved by the Pope, Edmund could now move brothers between different church areas without asking each local bishop. Most of the brothers accepted these new guidelines. They went on to become the Congregation of Christian Brothers. Today, there are Irish Christian Brothers in 17 different countries.
However, Brother Michael Augustine Riordan and a few brothers from Cork decided to stay under the local bishop's control. They continued to follow the original Presentation guidelines. They became a group approved by the Pope in 1889. The Presentation Brothers have a special devotion to Our Lady of Good Counsel.
Where They Expanded To
In 1876, the first Presentation school outside Ireland opened in England. Like the Irish Christian Brothers, the Presentation Brothers have followed the example of early Irish missionaries. They have responded to different needs in various places and situations. Presentation Brothers College, Cork was started in 1878.
The main places they have started missions are:
- US: 1843
- England: 1876
- Canada: 1910
- West Indies: 1946
- Ghana: 1968
- Peru: 1969
- Geneva: 2007
- Nigeria: 2007
- Slovakia: 2007
The Presentation Brothers also run the Leadership Education and Formation (L.E.A.F) Project. This project helps people develop leadership skills. It is based at Mount St. Joseph's in Cork.
Headquarters
The main office for the Presentation Brothers is at Mount St. Joseph, Blarney Street, in Cork, Ireland. This building was first used for studies. The brothers have lived there since 1892.
Provinces
There are about 350 Presentation Brothers. They live in 22 communities across 7 countries. The group is divided into three main areas called Provinces:
- Anglo-Irish Province (Ireland, England)
- Our Lady of the Americas Province (Canada, US, Grenada)
- Ghana Province (Ghana, Nigeria)
Schools
- Presentation Brothers College, Cork, Ireland
- Coláiste an Spioraid Naoimh, Cork, Ireland
- Presentation College, Bray, Wicklow, Ireland
- St. Aloysius Grade School, Montreal, Canada
- Brebeuf College School, Toronto, Canada
- Coláiste Chríost Rí, Cork, Ireland
- Coláiste Mhuire, Cobh, Ireland
- Scoil Iosaef Naofa, Cobh, Ireland
- Presentation College, San Fernando, Trinidad
- Presentation Brothers College, Grenada
- Presentation College Chaguanas, Trinidad
- Presentation Secondary Miltown, Kerry, Ireland
- Scoil Chríost Rí, Cork
- Presentation College, Carlow
- St Mary's College, Vigie, St. Lucia.
Former Schools
- Presentation College, Reading, England
- Presentation High School, Montebello, Quebec
- Verdun Catholic High School, Verdun, Quebec
- Daniel O'Connell School, Montreal, Quebec
- Sacred Heart Elementary School, Prince George, British Columbia
- Presentation College, Saint John, Barbados
- St Joseph's College Enniskillen, Northern Ireland
- Presentation College Glasthule, Leinster, Ireland
Notable Alumni
Many famous people have attended schools run by the Presentation Brothers:
- Michael Bond, author of the Paddington Bear books (Reading)
- Joseph Boyden, author of "Three Day Road" and "Through Black Spruce" (Brebeuf)
- Marc Kielburger, co-founder of Me to We and Free the Children (Brebeuf)
- John McGahern, author (Presentation College Leitrim)
- Patrick Manning, former Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago (Pres San Fernando)
- Micheál Martin, former Prime Minister of Ireland (Coláiste Chríost Rí). He also taught at Presentation College, Cork.
- Cillian Murphy, actor (Pres Cork)
- Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O'Connor, former Archbishop of Westminster (Reading & Cork)
- Seán Ó Faoláin, author (Pres Cork)
- Joseph Kelly, Editor and CEO of the Universe Catholic newspaper (Reading)
- Michael O'Leary, former Irish Tánaiste (Deputy Prime Minister) (Pres Cork)
- Mike Oldfield, musician (Reading)
- Basdeo Panday, former Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago (Pres San Fernando)
- Many Irish rugby players, including Ronan O'Gara, Peter Stringer, and coach Declan Kidney.
- Anthony Carmona, former President of Trinidad and Tobago (Pres San Fernando)
- Jack Warner, former Vice President of FIFA (Pres Chaguanas)
- Lawrie Sanchez, footballer and football manager (Reading)
- Gerard Johnson, musician, composer, and producer (Reading)
- Damian Thompson, Journalist and Associate Editor of the Spectator (Reading)
- Hon. Keith Claudius Mitchell, PhD, former Prime Minister of Grenada (Presentation Brothers College Grenada)
- Mr. Maurice Bishop, LLB, former Prime Minister of Grenada (Presentation Brothers College Grenada)
