What is important for us as Christian Brothers?
1. Blessed Edmund.
The story of Blessed Edmund Rice has inspired generations of people across the world. Among the values that we cherish from his tradition are his generosity, his courage, his humanity, his love of God’s word in Scripture, his devotion to the Mother of God, his practical reaching out to the poor and oppressed, and his absolute trust in God’s providence. (For more about Edmund Rice see publications and the Edmund Rice pages on this site).
2. The Joy of Brotherhood.
For us
Christian Brothers community living is a central part of
our identity. We live together the vowed life of Chastity,
Poverty and Obedience in a way that is life-giving for us.
We pray together to Jesus our Brother, and we share our
cares and joys. As members of a community we carry our
gifts to others. We are enriched as the lives of others
touch our own.
3. We experience the love of God in our
lives.
We meet God in our community prayer, and in our personal
prayer and reflection. We experience the love and care of
God in the ordinary and extraordinary events of our lives.
Like Edmund we trust ourselves to his providence.
4. We want to share our search for God and our
experience.
The
search for God is an important element in the lives of many
young people. Christian Brothers are travelling on this
journey, and we want to accompany others on their search
for a spiritual life.
5.
We have a strong commitment to justice.
Human rights
advocacy is a new ministry of the Christian Brothers and
reflects a new understanding of global mission. Right
across the world young people and children are the victims
of injustice and poverty. Many are abused. All are in need
of compassion, services and a safe place where they can
speak of and about their situation. When Edmund Rice looked
out the window in Waterford he saw the children on the
street; today he would see the children of the world.
Eco-justice is a new area if concern for us as we try to
bring an awareness of our responsibilities as stewards of
the world around us.
6.
We are on the side of the poor and disadvantaged.
Since the time
of Blessed Edmund the Brothers have directed their
personnel and resources to educating the poor, and our
school immersion projects have opened the eyes and hearts
of Irish students and teachers to the realities of poverty
in Africa and India. Our justice offices throughout the
world stand up for the rights of the oppressed.
7.
We empower people through education.
Education was
the means Edmund Rice used to transform the children of his day.
Since then it has been the method of “helping people
to help themselves.”
The Brothers have been involved in all levels of education
for over two hundred years, and in thirty-five countries.
Recently the foundation of “Life-centres” in
urban areas has shown the recognition that normal school
structures do not always work.