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Birth
Born in Callan, Ireland, in 1762 -
Early Working Life
At the age of seventeen he left his native Callan to work for his uncle, who had a business in Waterford city. Edmund was amazed when he saw the poverty of the Waterford people. After a while Edmund opened up his own chandler shop (a person who supplies goods to ships). Edmund employed mostly poor people for his business. Edmund Rice mainly employed poor people, as this would enhance their income, supplying them with food, water and other needs. By this, Edmund Rice reduced the amount of people -
Married
Edmund Rice married Mary Elliot, a daughter of a wealthy man at age 23, in Waterford -
Death of Wife
Deeply saddened by her loss, Edmund entered a time of mourning. As his daughter continued to open the depths of his love, his relationship with God deepened. In his own brokenness, he was moved with compassion to recognise the brokenness of those around him. He entered more deeply into their struggle and found in the story of Jesus the call to liberation that is at the heart of what Jesus preached and in which his church is engaged. -
Work with Nano Nagle
Edmund Rice worked with Nano Nagle from 1727-1784. Nagle, Distressed by the ignorance of the Irish in both faith and academics, she opened her first school in 1754 with an enrolment of thirty-five girls in a two-room cabin. These began her great work of education and as some historians have noted her important work in saving the Irish culture. -
Establishment of first school
Edmund Rice, with two others form community in rooms over the stable school in Waterford, Ireland. -
Builds Monastery
Mountsion MonasteryIn 1802 he commenced to build a monastery where he and his followers could live a full religious life. -
Takes vows as member of the Diocesan Society
Edmund and 8 companions took their vows in 1808. They became nine as gentlemen of the presentation. Edmund took a new name (Edmatios). -
Formation of the Presentation Brothers
Edmund and his companions worked and prayed together sharing their lives and possession in mutual support as a community. They shared a common vision where they combined a semi monastic life with the hard work of teaching unruly boys under primitive conditions -
Brothers continue work across Ireland
The system was put in place where a bishop would send young men to mount sion for two and a half years of training. Then these men would return to their diocese and train future novices. Foundations were in Cork, Dublin, Thurles and Limerick. Rice was looked upon as the leader by the brothers but technically the local bishop was the superior so the brothers decided it would be more efficient if they became Pontifical this would mean leader ship of the brothers would be by an elected brother of t -
First school opened in England
First school opened in England, at Preston in Lancashire. More schools follow in Manchester Liverpool and London. This impacted the brothers to open more schools in England for the Catholic youth. -
Presentation Brothers become Christian Brothers
They changed from Presentation Brothers to Christian Brothers. They built their first school located in Sydney, NSW in 1868. -
Death
Edmund Rice died in 1844 -
First school in Australia
They built their first school located in Sydney, NSW in 1868
