Blessed Edmund Rice Feast Day Message

Message from the EREA Council

Edmund’s foundational motto to “Live Jesus in Our Hearts—Forever” is a central theme to his Feast Day. The motto refers to the fervent belief that Edmund held that the ‘Holy Spirit dwells within us, and that personal encounter and belief in Jesus transforms our thoughts, actions, and emotions’.

Our EREA communities are invited to pause and reflect on this Feast Day of Blessed Edmund Rice which is celebrated annually on the 5th of May. As the founder of the Christian Brothers and the Presentation Brothers, let us remember his legacy of liberating education, compassion for the poor, and a call to justice and solidarity.

On this celebratory day we are reminded of the zeal Edmund had for compassion and justice, urging the Christian Brothers to focus on eliminating poverty and injustice by being present and attentive to the marginalised and less fortunate. So today we reflect upon the legacy passed on through generations, specifically in Australia, and its relevance to the modern community. Our Colleges, Flexible Learning Centres, Early Childhood Centres and BlendED schools aim to foster a liberating education that empowers young people to build a better world. Like Edmund, we place our trust in Divine Providence and concentrate on our actions by displaying courage that the good seed will grow in our hearts. Let us be inspired by his example to serve others with purpose and act with compassion in our daily lives.