The Presentation Brothers
are an international Roman Catholic Congregation of religious brothers working
in several countries.
We are men who believe that
Jesus Christ is calling us to serve him and his people in a radical way. We live
our baptismal promises through sharing all that we earn and by devoting our
lives to the service of people. We take three vows; chastity, poverty and
obedience and we live together in small groups called communities where we
support one another and live out this challenging lifestyle.
We are teachers, social
workers, pastoral workers, chaplains. Regardless of the work we do, it is all
“Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam”- for the greater glory of God.
Today, we work in Ghana,
Nigeria, West Indies (St. Lucia & Grenada), USA, Canada, Ireland, England,
Slovakia and Geneva.
A man joins the Brothers’
community in response to a call from Christ (this is called a vocation). He
dedicates his life to God (just like Blessed Edmund Rice). He gives of himself
so that others may live more wholesome lives and in doing so shows that all men
and women are brothers and sisters of Christ.
We take our name from the
Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary in the Temple.
Mary, the Mother of God, was a Jew and, following tradition, was taken by her
parents, Anne and Joachim, to the Temple at a young age. Mary presented her life
to God. In the same way, we, Presentation Brothers, try to present God to the
world in which we live.
The Presentation Brothers
were founded in Waterford by a businessman, Edmund Rice, in 1802. Edmund had
been married. However, his wife Mary Elliott, died while giving birth to their
only child. After his wife’s death Edmund drew closer to God in prayer.
After his wife’s death, he
decided to devote his life entirely to God. He gathered a number of men around
him and together they opened a school in a converted horse stable. Edmund’s
goal was to provide a Catholic education to the youngsters on the streets of the
city. The Brothers have continued this mission for 200 years.
May 5th is Blessed Edmund
Rice’s Feast Day.
Edmund Rice chose the name “Presentation Brothers” to honour the “Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary”. This was a Jewish tradition in which Mary was brought to the Temple by her parents, Anne and Joachim. Mary presented her life to God and, later, presented Jesus to the world. In the same way the Brothers try to present Jesus to the world in which they live. The Feast of the Presentation of Mary, November 21st, is a day of celebration for the entire Presentation Family.
Contact:
Br.
Andrew Hickey, Presentation Brothers, Glasthule, Dun Laoghaire, Co. Dublin.
Tel. +353-1-2842228; Fax +353-1-2801711
e-mail:
prescall@eircom.net
Br.
Richard English, Presentation Brothers, 6 The Brent,
Dartford DAI IYG, Kent, England.
Tel. +44-1322-279106
e-mail:
richardenglish283@hotmail.com
Br.
Godfrey Kuubagr, Presentation Brothers, PO Box 322, Bolgatanga,
UER, Ghana.
Tel. +233-722-3126 or Mobile: 0209 250 331
e-mail:
kuubagr@yahoo.com
Br.
Gerard Despathy, Presentation Brothers, 1602 N. Pettis Blvd.,
Kissimmee, Fl., 34741 USA.
Tel. +1-407-846-2033
e-mail:
brofromknox@yahoo.com
Br.
Robert Fanovich, Presentation Brothers, PO Box 113,
St. Georges, Grenada, West Indies.
e-mail:
fanrob38@hotmail.com