Edmund Rice Education Australia Edmund Rice Education Australia was established in October 2007. It is the outcome of deliberations following the Christian Brothers International Congregation Chapter of 2002 which acknowledged the importance of the educational mission of the Christian Brothers through education and other ministries. This led to the establishment of two new project groups, the National Planning Committee for Schools Governance and Shaping our Future Committee Oceania. As a result of the work of these two groups, the Christian Brothers decided in 2006 to amalgamate separate Christian Brothers provinces in Australia, New Zealand and Papua New Guinea to form one Oceania Province focused on the social justice mission of the Christian Brothers. Separately, Edmund Rice Education Australia was established with the intention of independently implementing the educational mission of the Christian Brothers. Before October 2007, separate state and country administrations of the Christian Brothers managed both schools another ministries. The intention of the new structure is to invigorate both missions while empowering lay people to become increasingly involved in the future work of the Christian Brothers. The opportunity for Edmund Rice Education Australia is to reinforce the distinctive values of Edmund Rice Education through a national and unified network of Australian schools and educational entities.
Edmund Rice Education Philosophy 1. Presence leading to a respectful sense of the sacred
2. Compassion nurturing authentic community
3. Liberation underpinning the provision of education
Two primary documents which underlie the establishment of Edmund Rice Education Australia were prepared by the National Planning Committee for Schools Governance of the Christian Brothers. These are:
Each school and educational entity within Edmund Rice Education Australia is called to be authentic to The Charter.
Blessed Edmund Rice was a man of great and expansive heart. His deep faith, creative vision and energetic know-how enabled him to build bridges from what had been his experience of life in eighteenth century Ireland to what needed to emerge in the nineteenth century and beyond. For more information on the Edmund Rice story, see http://www.edmundrice.org.au/The_Edmund_Rice_Story/
The Christian Brothers continue the vision of Blessed Edmund Rice. They are a congregation of Catholic religious men numbering about 1,800 Brothers working in 26 countries throughout the world, with headquarters in Rome. They endeavour through a variety of ministries to foster the human dignity of those they work with and to help them to build better relationships with God and their fellow men and women. For more information, see http://www.edmundrice.org.au/Christian_Brothers/ and related websites The Catholic Church in Australia The Christian Brothers were established in 1802 under the authority of the Roman Catholic Church and in Australia work in partnership with the bishops of the Catholic Church in the dioceses in which they operate. The establishment of Edmund Rice Education Australia was achieved with the encouragement and enthusiasm of the bishops of the Catholic Church in Australia. The principal website of the Catholic Church in Australia is http://www.catholic.org.au/
Catholic Education is a ministry centered on Christ’s vision for humanity, focused on authentic human growth and given expression through principles of faith tradition, quality service and developmental excellence. It embraces four domains which call all catholic schools to develop: (a) dignity of the human person and his or her need for help growing towards a fullness of life; (b) growth of the evangelizing mission of the Church, a mission the school shares; (c) building of the Christian community and (d) service of individuals, communities, culture and the world. While being a part of the evangelizing mission of the universal Catholic Church and sharing similar aims and objectives, schools and educational entities governed by Edmund Rice Education Australia operate separately from Catholic school systems... Catholic schools systems are operated by Catholic Education Offices in each diocese of the Catholic Church. Websites of two of the larger Catholic Education Offices are http://www.ceo.syd.catholic.edu.au/cms/Jahia/site/ceosydney and http://www.ceo.melb.catholic.edu.au/
There are five principal features of Edmund Rice Education:
The structure of Edmund Rice Education Australia for its role comprises:
All schools and educational entities in Australia in the Edmund Rice tradition are bound by a Charter of cultural characteristics which comprise holistic education, spirituality, faith in action, community, pastoral care, service of others, being just, caring for those at the margins, compassion, stewardship and reflective practice. Living these characteristics give Edmund Rice Education a special position in educating the hearts and minds of the young.
The following are the underlying values of Edmund Rice Education Australia: Faith Community The faith of the faithful is the faith of the Church, received from the Apostles. Communion Our shared faith and understanding of the unity and life of the Trinity compels us to give expression to this Spirit through collaboration, trust and support so that while so many we are one. Interdependence and Co-Responsibility The constituent members of EREA recognise that the actions of one impact upon the circumstances of all. Each is a part of the larger whole. Authenticity The alignment of decisions, structures and processes with the Charism and Vision underpin the organisation. Subsidiarity Entities within the overall organisation are encouraged to pursue decision-making at the level most appropriate and most respectful of human involvement. Responsible Stewardship Each person is responsible and accountable for an area of delegated work within a Ministry. Unity in Diversity Entities are united by Charism but given diverse expression in varying contexts. Common Good The sum total of social conditions allows people, either as groups or as individuals, to reach their fulfillment more fully and more easily. Collegiality Recognition of the whole is given and the demonstration of interest and service beyond the immediate boundaries of responsibility is enacted. Preferential Option for the Poor Blessed Edmund Rice’s direction was, “Make it their principal care to teach children, particularly the poor, and the things necessary for a virtuous life.” Relationship with the Edmund Rice Network
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