Mission & Identity

The Lord said: I will not leave you orphans.

I will come back to you, and your hearts will rejoice. (John 14:18)

The official day to commemorate Blessed Edmund Rice Day is 5 May each year. However, as this date falls on a Sunday in 2024, we held our celebrations today, Friday 3 May.

“Edmund encountered personal suffering through the death of his beloved wife. In this tragedy he experienced pain, grief and heartache. The joyous, secure and comfortable world he had once known was now visibly shaken. In his words, he described feeling as if half of his own soul was gone. He was left feeling alone, dislocated and vulnerable. In the wake of this event Edmund searched for new meaning. Prayerful reflection and daily Eucharist supported him in this time of uncertainty. Through the gift of friendship with Jesus that opened him up to the world, he saw his baby daughter growing and developing, and this awakened him to new possibilities for expressing love, tenderness and care. It was his faith that everything is a gift of God’s love that opened his eyes and heart to see beauty and possibility in the faces of those who were so often forgotten and ignored by the community around him. It certainly offered him a new perspective from which to act! But like most of us, Edmund needed a purposeful nudge to get him to take that final step into action. When sharing his thoughts about potentially leaving Waterford to join a secluded Monastery, a valued woman friend, Mary Power, led him to the window, threw back the curtains and, pointing to the streets of unruly young boys below, declared “Can you see, Mr Rice – there is your Monastery in the streets”. From that moment, Edmund’s view from his window, motivated his work to bring hope to the lives of those young boys.” (c.f Primary-Prayer-Service-5th-May-2024-1.pdf (erst.ie))

The title “Blessed” has been conferred because Edmund has been credited with a miracle: the curing of a young Newry man, Kevin Ellison, who was thought to have had only 48 hours to live. In verifying the miracle, the Church looked at whether God truly performed a miracle and whether the miracle was in response to the intercession of Edmund. As beatified, Edmund may be venerated through special prayers or Mass, or a walkathon! Next step in sainthood in the case of another verified miracle.

May is Edmund Rice Month and includes our major fundraising event of the year. Our fundraiser is a tangible expression of our identity as a Catholic school in the Edmund Rice Tradition, enabling all our students and staff to work together towards raising a significant amount of money for some very needy causes. Next week fundraising cards will be issued to all students and this year will include a QR code to assist their efforts. Students are invited to seek donations of at least $40 to assist the work of our nominated justice partners. 

Edmund Rice Community Services:

Edmund Rice Community Services operates as focused communities across Australia and Papua New Guinea, working with and on behalf of people and communities who are facing significant and complex adversity or injustice.  With a commitment to subsidiarity.  Edmund Rice Community practices deliver services including awareness raising, advocacy, recreational programs, education, and initiatives that support strong inclusive communities.

Edmund Rice Aid Overseas Fund:

The Edmund Rice schools of Victoria and Tasmania have a close connection with a number of schools and clinics on the East Coast of Africa. These schools and clinics are situated in Tanzania, Kenya, and the Sudan. They enable students and their families to a live a better life through meaningful education and health programmes. A daily meal is given to all students and the provision of hostel accommodation allows young people from rural areas the opportunity to attend school.

Edmund Rice Camps Victoria:

Edmund Rice Camps have been operating in Victoria for 26 years. The camps provide disadvantaged young people and their families the opportunity to enjoy a holiday in a safe, caring environment. Volunteers staff the camps and aim to provide the young participants with companionship and memorable experiences.

Caritas Australia:

Caritas Australia belongs to a network of agencies called Caritas International, which works with communities experiencing poverty, injustice, hunger, and oppression across 190 countries. Communities are assisted regardless of their religious, political, or cultural beliefs and Caritas works in ways that respect, enhance and build their human dignity and empower them to be authentic agents of change in their own lives, families, communities, and societies.

May the life of Blessed Edmund encourage and inspire us to love one another as Christ taught us. For Jesus said to his disciples:

‘As the Father has loved me,

so I have loved you.

Remain in my love.

If you keep my commandments

you will remain in my love,

just as I have kept my Father’s commandments

and remain in his love.

I have told you this

so that my own joy may be in you

and your joy be complete.’

(John 15:9-11)