Congregation of Christian Brothers in New Zealand
Encyclopedia
The Congregation of Christian Brothers is a Catholic religious order which has been established in New Zealand since 1876. The order's particular charism
is the education of boys and in New Zealand the order has been responsible for eight schools and has launched other educational initiatives.
The Christian Brothers were founded in Waterford
, Ireland
in 1802 by Edmund Ignatius Rice
who was beatified in Rome in 1996. He was a wealthy committed Catholic businessman noted for his charity towards the poor. The death of his wife shortly after the birth of a handicapped daughter was a catalyst in his life. It deepened his spirituality which made him more aware of the needs of the marginalised especially young boys who lacked education in faith, literacy, numeracy and often lacked the basic necessities of life. He established schools for these boys despite the fact he had no teacher training and was in his early forties. Gradually other men, often businessmen like himself, joined him inspired by his charity and compassion. Other schools spread rapidly throughout Ireland. By the time of his death in 1844 his considerable fortune had been spent in establishing schools. In his own lifetime schools had been set up in England, and by the turn of the century schools were founded in America, India, South Africa, Australia, and New Zealand.
The Christian Brothers arrived in New Zealand in 1876 and, in that year opened a secondary school in Dunedin, the Christian Brothers School
. From the arrival of the Christian Brothers, New Zealand was administered as part of the Australasian province incorporating Australia, New Zealand and, from 1950, Papua New Guinea
. In 1959, New Zealand became St Joseph's Vice-Province. This resulted in New Zealand Brothers returning to work in their home country and many Australian brothers went in the opposite direction. In 1966 New Zealand became a full Province of the order.
In recent years, especially following the integration of their schools into the New Zealand state education system and with aging membership and a lack of recruits, the New Zealand Christian Brothers have generally moved away from teaching in and managing schools and have refocused on those at the margins of society. There is still, however, strong support for the New Zealand schools and a focus on establishing and supporting schools in Oceania
, Africa and the Philippines.
In 2007, the Christian Brothers provinces in Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific (including St Joseph's Province, New Zealand) were abolished and replaced by one new Oceania
Province which was itself sub-divided into twelve "clusters". Each cluster leader is responsible for the pastoral care of the Brothers in the cluster as well as encouraging close links with the Edmund Rice Ministries and Edmund Rice Network in that cluster area. The New Zealand Cluster includes: the Christian Brother Communities at Young Street Dunedin
, 24A Wharenui Road Christchurch
, 24B Wharenui Road Christchurch, Rarotonga
, Murupara
, Otorohanga
, the Edmund Rice Community Westport
, the Edmund Rice Community Auckland and the Mission Sisters/Christian Brothers community in Opotiki
. The other clusters in the Oceania Province are: Papua-New Guinea Cluster; NSW Cluster A; NSW Cluster B; NSW Cluster C; Victoria & Tasmania cluster A; Victoria & Tasmania cluster B; Victoria & Tasmania cluster C; Queensland cluster A; Queensland cluster B; South Australia Cluster; and Western Australia Cluster.
Charism
In Christian theology, a charism in general denotes any good gift that flows from God's love to man. The word can also mean any of the spiritual graces and qualifications granted to every Christian to perform his or her task in the Church...
is the education of boys and in New Zealand the order has been responsible for eight schools and has launched other educational initiatives.
History of the Christian Brothers
Biographical information (as at October 2009) (scroll to end)The Christian Brothers were founded in Waterford
Waterford
Waterford is a city in the South-East Region of Ireland. It is the oldest city in the country and fifth largest by population. Waterford City Council is the local government authority for the city and its immediate hinterland...
, Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
in 1802 by Edmund Ignatius Rice
Edmund Ignatius Rice
Blessed Edmund Ignatius Rice , was a Roman Catholic missionary and educationalist. Edmund was the founder of two orders of religious brothers: the Congregation of Christian Brothers and the Presentation Brothers....
who was beatified in Rome in 1996. He was a wealthy committed Catholic businessman noted for his charity towards the poor. The death of his wife shortly after the birth of a handicapped daughter was a catalyst in his life. It deepened his spirituality which made him more aware of the needs of the marginalised especially young boys who lacked education in faith, literacy, numeracy and often lacked the basic necessities of life. He established schools for these boys despite the fact he had no teacher training and was in his early forties. Gradually other men, often businessmen like himself, joined him inspired by his charity and compassion. Other schools spread rapidly throughout Ireland. By the time of his death in 1844 his considerable fortune had been spent in establishing schools. In his own lifetime schools had been set up in England, and by the turn of the century schools were founded in America, India, South Africa, Australia, and New Zealand.
The Christian Brothers arrived in New Zealand in 1876 and, in that year opened a secondary school in Dunedin, the Christian Brothers School
Kavanagh College
Kavanagh College is a Catholic Secondary school in Dunedin, New Zealand. The school in its present form dates from 1989 but its origins as a secondary school go back to 1871....
. From the arrival of the Christian Brothers, New Zealand was administered as part of the Australasian province incorporating Australia, New Zealand and, from 1950, Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea , officially the Independent State of Papua New Guinea, is a country in Oceania, occupying the eastern half of the island of New Guinea and numerous offshore islands...
. In 1959, New Zealand became St Joseph's Vice-Province. This resulted in New Zealand Brothers returning to work in their home country and many Australian brothers went in the opposite direction. In 1966 New Zealand became a full Province of the order.
In recent years, especially following the integration of their schools into the New Zealand state education system and with aging membership and a lack of recruits, the New Zealand Christian Brothers have generally moved away from teaching in and managing schools and have refocused on those at the margins of society. There is still, however, strong support for the New Zealand schools and a focus on establishing and supporting schools in Oceania
Oceania
Oceania is a region centered on the islands of the tropical Pacific Ocean. Conceptions of what constitutes Oceania range from the coral atolls and volcanic islands of the South Pacific to the entire insular region between Asia and the Americas, including Australasia and the Malay Archipelago...
, Africa and the Philippines.
In 2007, the Christian Brothers provinces in Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific (including St Joseph's Province, New Zealand) were abolished and replaced by one new Oceania
Oceania
Oceania is a region centered on the islands of the tropical Pacific Ocean. Conceptions of what constitutes Oceania range from the coral atolls and volcanic islands of the South Pacific to the entire insular region between Asia and the Americas, including Australasia and the Malay Archipelago...
Province which was itself sub-divided into twelve "clusters". Each cluster leader is responsible for the pastoral care of the Brothers in the cluster as well as encouraging close links with the Edmund Rice Ministries and Edmund Rice Network in that cluster area. The New Zealand Cluster includes: the Christian Brother Communities at Young Street Dunedin
Dunedin
Dunedin is the second-largest city in the South Island of New Zealand, and the principal city of the Otago Region. It is considered to be one of the four main urban centres of New Zealand for historic, cultural, and geographic reasons. Dunedin was the largest city by territorial land area until...
, 24A Wharenui Road Christchurch
Christchurch
Christchurch is the largest city in the South Island of New Zealand, and the country's second-largest urban area after Auckland. It lies one third of the way down the South Island's east coast, just north of Banks Peninsula which itself, since 2006, lies within the formal limits of...
, 24B Wharenui Road Christchurch, Rarotonga
Rarotonga
Rarotonga is the most populous island of the Cook Islands, with a population of 14,153 , out of the country's total population of 19,569.The Cook Islands' Parliament buildings and international airport are on Rarotonga...
, Murupara
Murupara
Murupara is a town located in the North Island of New Zealand. The town is situated in an isolated part of the Bay of Plenty region between the Kaingaroa Forest and Te Urewera National Park, on the banks of the Rangitaiki River, 65 kilometres southeast of Rotorua, along SH38. Murupara is the...
, Otorohanga
Otorohanga
Otorohanga is a north King Country town at the southern end of the Waikato region in the North Island of New Zealand. It is located 53 kilometres south of Hamilton and 18 kilometres north of Te Kuiti, on the Waipa River...
, the Edmund Rice Community Westport
Westport, New Zealand
-Economy:Economic activity is based around fishing, coal mining and dairy farming. Historically, gold mining was a major industry, and coal mining was much more extensive than today . However, the region still is home to New Zealand's largest opencast mining operation in Stockton...
, the Edmund Rice Community Auckland and the Mission Sisters/Christian Brothers community in Opotiki
Opotiki
Opotiki is a town in the eastern Bay of Plenty in the North Island of New Zealand. It houses the headquarters of the Opotiki District Council and comes under the Bay of Plenty Regional Council.-Population:* of the town: 4176 - Male 1,989, Female 2,187...
. The other clusters in the Oceania Province are: Papua-New Guinea Cluster; NSW Cluster A; NSW Cluster B; NSW Cluster C; Victoria & Tasmania cluster A; Victoria & Tasmania cluster B; Victoria & Tasmania cluster C; Queensland cluster A; Queensland cluster B; South Australia Cluster; and Western Australia Cluster.
New Zealand Province Leaders 1959-2007
- Br Christopher Claver Marlow (1959–1965)
- Br Patrick Celestine (Paddy) Ryan (1966–1972)
- Br Patrick Aiden McManus (1972–1984)
- Br Michael Benignis (Ben) Scanlan (1984–1996)
- Br Brian Joseph Lauren (1996–2007)
Christian Brothers initiatives
Schools and other initiatives associated with the New Zealand Christian Brothers include:- Christian Brothers High SchoolKavanagh CollegeKavanagh College is a Catholic Secondary school in Dunedin, New Zealand. The school in its present form dates from 1989 but its origins as a secondary school go back to 1871....
http://www.kavanagh.school.nz/, DunedinDunedinDunedin is the second-largest city in the South Island of New Zealand, and the principal city of the Otago Region. It is considered to be one of the four main urban centres of New Zealand for historic, cultural, and geographic reasons. Dunedin was the largest city by territorial land area until... - Christian Brothers Junior SchoolKavanagh CollegeKavanagh College is a Catholic Secondary school in Dunedin, New Zealand. The school in its present form dates from 1989 but its origins as a secondary school go back to 1871....
http://www.kavanagh.school.nz/, DunedinDunedinDunedin is the second-largest city in the South Island of New Zealand, and the principal city of the Otago Region. It is considered to be one of the four main urban centres of New Zealand for historic, cultural, and geographic reasons. Dunedin was the largest city by territorial land area until... - Edmund Rice CollegeJohn Paul College, RotoruaJohn Paul College is a secondary school in Rotorua, New Zealand. It caters for year 7 to 13 boys and girls and offers a Catholic education to its students. It was opened in 1987 and combined two existing schools, Edmund Rice College and MacKillop College . The school was founded to serve the...
http://www.jpc.co.nz/, RotoruaRotoruaRotorua is a city on the southern shores of the lake of the same name, in the Bay of Plenty region of the North Island of New Zealand. The city is the seat of the Rotorua District, a territorial authority encompassing the city and several other nearby towns... - Edmund Rice Community, MuruparaMuruparaMurupara is a town located in the North Island of New Zealand. The town is situated in an isolated part of the Bay of Plenty region between the Kaingaroa Forest and Te Urewera National Park, on the banks of the Rangitaiki River, 65 kilometres southeast of Rotorua, along SH38. Murupara is the...
, Bay of PlentyBay of PlentyThe Bay of Plenty , often abbreviated to BOP, is a region in the North Island of New Zealand situated around the body of water of the same name... - Edmund Rice Sinon Secondary School, ArushaArushaArusha is a city in northern Tanzania. It is the capital of the Arusha Region, which claims a population of 1,288,088, including 281,608 for the Arusha District . Arusha is surrounded by some of Africa's most famous landscapes and national parks...
, TanzaniaTanzaniaThe United Republic of Tanzania is a country in East Africa bordered by Kenya and Uganda to the north, Rwanda, Burundi, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the west, and Zambia, Malawi, and Mozambique to the south. The country's eastern borders lie on the Indian Ocean.Tanzania is a state...
. - Fatima Vocational School, Banz Western Highlands Province, Papua New GuineaPapua New GuineaPapua New Guinea , officially the Independent State of Papua New Guinea, is a country in Oceania, occupying the eastern half of the island of New Guinea and numerous offshore islands...
- John Paul CollegeJohn Paul College, RotoruaJohn Paul College is a secondary school in Rotorua, New Zealand. It caters for year 7 to 13 boys and girls and offers a Catholic education to its students. It was opened in 1987 and combined two existing schools, Edmund Rice College and MacKillop College . The school was founded to serve the...
http://www.jpc.co.nz/, RotoruaRotoruaRotorua is a city on the southern shores of the lake of the same name, in the Bay of Plenty region of the North Island of New Zealand. The city is the seat of the Rotorua District, a territorial authority encompassing the city and several other nearby towns... - Kavanagh CollegeKavanagh CollegeKavanagh College is a Catholic Secondary school in Dunedin, New Zealand. The school in its present form dates from 1989 but its origins as a secondary school go back to 1871....
http://www.kavanagh.school.nz/, DunedinDunedinDunedin is the second-largest city in the South Island of New Zealand, and the principal city of the Otago Region. It is considered to be one of the four main urban centres of New Zealand for historic, cultural, and geographic reasons. Dunedin was the largest city by territorial land area until... - Liston College http://www.liston.school.nz/, Waitakere City, AucklandAucklandThe Auckland metropolitan area , in the North Island of New Zealand, is the largest and most populous urban area in the country with residents, percent of the country's population. Auckland also has the largest Polynesian population of any city in the world...
- Nukutere CollegeNukutere CollegeNukutere College is a Catholic secondary school located in Avarua, Rarotonga, Cook Islands. It is the country’s only Catholic secondary school and has an important educational role across the archipelago of islands...
, AvaruaAvaruaAvarua is a town and district in the north of Rarotonga Island, the national capital of the Cook Islands...
, RarotongaRarotongaRarotonga is the most populous island of the Cook Islands, with a population of 14,153 , out of the country's total population of 19,569.The Cook Islands' Parliament buildings and international airport are on Rarotonga...
, Cook IslandsCook IslandsThe Cook Islands is a self-governing parliamentary democracy in the South Pacific Ocean in free association with New Zealand... - St Bakhita Formation Centre, KitaleKitaleKitale is an agricultural town in western Kenya situated between Mount Elgon and the Cherengani Hills at an elevation of around . Its urban population was estimated at 220,000 in 2007....
, North West KenyaKenyaKenya , officially known as the Republic of Kenya, is a country in East Africa that lies on the equator, with the Indian Ocean to its south-east... - St Edmund's SchoolKavanagh CollegeKavanagh College is a Catholic Secondary school in Dunedin, New Zealand. The school in its present form dates from 1989 but its origins as a secondary school go back to 1871....
http://www.kavanagh.school.nz/, South DunedinDunedinDunedin is the second-largest city in the South Island of New Zealand, and the principal city of the Otago Region. It is considered to be one of the four main urban centres of New Zealand for historic, cultural, and geographic reasons. Dunedin was the largest city by territorial land area until... - St Kevin's CollegeSt. Kevin's College, OamaruSt Kevin's College in Oamaru, New Zealand was founded in 1927. It is a Catholic school run by the Christian Brothers and Dominican Sisters for boaders and day students...
http://www.stkevins.school.nz/, OamaruOamaruOamaru , the largest town in North Otago, in the South Island of New Zealand, is the main town in the Waitaki District. It is 80 kilometres south of Timaru and 120 kilometres north of Dunedin, on the Pacific coast, and State Highway 1 and the railway Main South Line connects it to both... - St Patrick's Primary SchoolSt. Kevin's College, OamaruSt Kevin's College in Oamaru, New Zealand was founded in 1927. It is a Catholic school run by the Christian Brothers and Dominican Sisters for boaders and day students...
http://www.stkevins.school.nz/, OamaruOamaruOamaru , the largest town in North Otago, in the South Island of New Zealand, is the main town in the Waitaki District. It is 80 kilometres south of Timaru and 120 kilometres north of Dunedin, on the Pacific coast, and State Highway 1 and the railway Main South Line connects it to both... - St Paul's High SchoolKavanagh CollegeKavanagh College is a Catholic Secondary school in Dunedin, New Zealand. The school in its present form dates from 1989 but its origins as a secondary school go back to 1871....
http://www.kavanagh.school.nz/, DunedinDunedinDunedin is the second-largest city in the South Island of New Zealand, and the principal city of the Otago Region. It is considered to be one of the four main urban centres of New Zealand for historic, cultural, and geographic reasons. Dunedin was the largest city by territorial land area until... - St Peter's College http://www.st-peters.school.nz/, EpsomEpsom, New ZealandEpsom is a suburb of Auckland, New Zealand. It is located in the centre of the Auckland isthmus between Mount Eden and One Tree Hill, south of Newmarket, and five km south of the city centre.-Notable features:...
, AucklandAucklandThe Auckland metropolitan area , in the North Island of New Zealand, is the largest and most populous urban area in the country with residents, percent of the country's population. Auckland also has the largest Polynesian population of any city in the world... - St Thomas of Canterbury CollegeSt Thomas of Canterbury CollegeSt Thomas of Canterbury College is a college for year 7 to 13 boys and offers a Catholic education to its students. It is located in Christchurch, New Zealand...
http://www.stthomas-coll.school.nz/, ChristchurchChristchurchChristchurch is the largest city in the South Island of New Zealand, and the country's second-largest urban area after Auckland. It lies one third of the way down the South Island's east coast, just north of Banks Peninsula which itself, since 2006, lies within the formal limits of...