Two congregations of Brothers, both founded by Blessed Edmund Rice, have come together in a new association.
At his birthplace in Callan, Co Kilkenny, last Saturday, an estimated 200 members of the Irish Christian Brothers and the Presentation Brothers inaugurated the association. Present also were representatives of the Edmund Rice Network, a movement of lay men and women.
The association, which does not have a title, was first launched in northern Ghana at a gathering of Brothers and Presentation Sisters last August.
Included in the association will be 1,300 Brothers from both congregations. Currently they are responsible for the ownership and trusteeship of about 300 schools in Africa, Australia, Canada, the West Indies, Britain and Ireland.
Presentation Brother Martin Kenneally said the model of association, rather than that of amalgamation, had been chosen "to better express the freedom and depth of commitment with which the Brothers are coming together. This will help the congregations face the ever changing signs of the times and the challenges to develop new expressions of life and mission."
Over recent years both congregations have moved from the separateness and competitiveness, hallmarks of their development, towards greater co-operation.
There also exists a new Nagle-Rice community in Cork formed by the Presentation Sisters, founded by Nano Nagle, and the two congregations of Brothers.
Recently the leadership teams of both Brothers' congregations met in Cork for three days of prayer, reflection and planning.
Brother Philip Pinto, congregation leader of the Christian Brothers, remarked of the meeting that "in terms of outcomes we could not have asked for more. The congregations share the same spirit."
He referred to another group, known as the Calcutta Brothers, which in 1890 amalgamated with the Christian Brothers in India.
Brother Andrew Hickey, congregation leader of the Presentation Brothers, said it was also "very significant" that last Saturday they had gathered "in Callan, the birthplace of Blessed Edmund". He felt it was the spirit of Edmund Rice which had brought them there again.