New day dawns for Christian Brothers

pathways, OCTOBER 2007

 

 

 

(from the prayer service of induction)

 

 

Years of prayer, collaboration and planning came together when the new leadership team was inducted during a prayer service in Brisbane ahead of a Pre-Chapter meeting at which 40 Brothers gathered (October 2-9) in preparation for the congregation's March 2008 Chapter in India.

 

Br Vince Duggan CFC who has been in Papua New Guinea for the past 17 years now leads the Province. He will be assisted by Brs Peter Dowling CFC (Deputy Province Leader, Vic.), Peter Harney CFC (Qld), Joe Lauren CFC (NZ), Julian McDonald CFC (NSW), Dean McGlaughlin CFC (WA) and Paul Robertson CFC (NZ).

 

They have been commissioned to be more inspirational and prophetic rather than managerial as they attempt to lead the Brothers to inspire and to better channel the release of an Edmund Rice energy that is sweeping across Oceania.

 

The new Brisbane-based structure, which is intended to achieve a more efficient administration and to make it easier to expand the work of the Christian Brothers, has brought together six administrations covering Australia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, East Timor, the Philippines and the Cook Islands.

 

Twelve clusters have been established throughout the new province.  Each cluster leader will have pastoral concern for the Brothers in his cluster, supporting the Brothers and others in fostering and nurturing the charism of Edmund Rice and ensuring that the physical and spiritual needs of the communities are met.

 

Four Life and Mission Teams will focus on:  Edmund Rice ministries, formation within the Edmund Rice network, Edmund Rice network liaison and finance and resources.  These teams will enable the day-to-day implementation of the vision and strategies and establish networks for support and collaboration across Oceania.

 

Another significant feature of the new organisational structure will be separate governance and administration of the Christian Brothers' schools, under the banner of Edmund Rice Education Australia (EREA).  This organisation will be inaugurated in February, 2008.

 

According to Br Duggan, Christian Brothers throughout the region had sought a new structure which affirmed an educational tradition which could grow separately while marshalling resources in an effective way to allow for expansion of work in social justice and other areas.

 

"This social justice focus is on the poor and marginalised, with special emphasis on care of the young," Br Duggan said.  "The Christian Brothers increasingly work collaboratively with other people in the Edmund Rice network to meet the demand for this type of service."

 

Br Duggan said that the group of Brothers who had planned this development had shown a combination of courage and vision in creating a way for the values of the Christian Brothers to be perpetuated and to flourish.

 

In their restructure, the Christian Brothers have sought to reshape the organisation so as to sustain and creatively expand their ministries into the future, find new ways of addressing emerging needs, promote their passion for justice and to respect and cherish the earth. Although they are known principally for their work in schools, the Brothers provide more than 60 ministries across the new province including adult education and social justice activities with refugees, asylum seekers, indigenous people and disadvantaged youth.

 

The Brothers also believe that as they reach out to lay people to share their vision they will encourage new and mutually enriching partnerships.

 

Among those present at the inauguration were three members of the Congregational Leadership team:  Congregational Leader, Br Philip Pinto CFC, Deputy Leader, Br Michael Godfrey CFC (and Australian Congregation Councillor - pictured right), and Br Mark McDonnell CFC (Ireland's Congregational Councillor).

 

Br Pinto (left) told pathways that while a tremendous amount of work had gone into reaching this point of the restructure, the real work now began.

 

"It is far easier to change outward structures, but much harder to change minds and hearts," he said.  "Our Chapter in 2002 reminded us that restructuring was always about mission, about encouraging prophetic religious living and about the more equitable distribution of resources in an unequal world."

 

He said the new leaders now had the task of being relevant in today's world and not offering it the tired services and solutions of yesterday. This would not be easy and, he predicted, it would prove a real challenge to many of the Brothers.

 

"My experience all over the Congregation is that our older men have been simply heroic in their response, and have offered themselves in many ways to be a real part of the future that is unfolding.

 

"It is the younger men who will need to step up to the plate.

 

"Perhaps a question for all of us is: 'How will my life be different after October 1 2007?' If nothing changes, then the whole exercise has been a wasted effort."

 

The Christian Brothers began in Ireland in 1802, under the inspiration and vision of Blessed Edmund Rice. There have been Christian Brothers in Australia since 1842, for three years initially and continuously since 1868; in New Zealand since 1876 and in Papua New Guineas since 1950.

 

 

as we are led into the unknown.
(from the prayer service of induction)