Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Sydney (Agenzia Fides) - At the first chapter of their newly created Oceania Province, from June 22 to July 2, the Christian Brothers will look to deepen their spirituality and commitment to their own charism within their present cultural and historical context, especially in their service to the youth and with marginalized communities.
Forty-eight elected Brothers will be attending the Chapter which will take place at the University of Queensland, where they will discuss spirituality, education, service to the poor and most marginalized, relations, and saving the environment.
The area covered by the Province now includes Australia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Timor-Leste, the Philippines and the Cook Islands.
Br. Vince Duggan, Province Leader, said, “we also believe that we need to be inspired by the spirit of our founder, Blessed Edmund Rice and recognize that our strength lies in complete trust and in recognition that providence is our inheritance.”
One of the central themes for the Chapter will be education: the Christian Brothers have founded a vast number of schools in Australia and throughout Oceania, which are now under the auspices of a new lay-led model of school governance called Edmund Rice Education Australia.
The Christian Brothers (“Congregatio Fratrum Christianorum”, CFC) are an institute of consecrated life, founded by Blessed Edmund Ignatius Rice, in 1802, in Ireland. In 1820, the Holy See granted them approval as a Religious Institute of Pontifical Right. The Congregation today works mainly in the area of evangelization and youth education, however it also performs other services such as caring for the poor and needy. It has 345 houses worldwide, with a total of 1,360 Brothers. In the Oceania Province, there are nearly 440 Christian Brothers. (PA) (Agenzia Fides 18/6/2008)
