I am delighted to be the Director of the English Schools’ Office. After 18 years at St. Joseph’s College, Stoke-on- Trent, (6 as Deputy Head and 12 as Head teacher) it is such a blessing to work with the Network. I spent the whole of my career as an RE teacher and was very privileged to be a National Leader of Education which enabled me to work with other schools, especially those in challenging circumstances.
I have been involved in Immersions to Zambia, Sierra Leone, India and South Africa. I have been inspired and enriched by those experiences. I am passionate about the work we do in the Network and I am inspired daily by the charism of Edmund.
Email: director.ero@gmail.com
As Network Facilitator, my role is to support charism and mission development in our schools and across the global network. I coordinate and develop opportunities within the English Network and to liaise closely with all the branches of the Edmund Rice family. I am blessed to be entrusted by the Christian Brothers to take forward the mission of Blessed Edmund into an exciting and successful future.
Email: annnichols.ero@gmail.com
Edmund Rice was a spectacularly successful merchant who in 1802 gave up his wealth, founded a religious order dedicated to teaching, and opened his first schools in New Street and on Mount Sion in Waterford, Ireland.
By 1825 Edmund had built eleven schools in Ireland, with 4,000 pupils. In that year he crossed to Liverpool and founded the first Christian Brother school in England, in Fox Street, Preston.
Between 1825 and 1880 a total of 22 Christian Brother schools were established in England, pioneering education for the children of the poor in the major industrial towns. During the same period Edmund’s network became global, and soon there were Edmund Rice schools in every continent.
There are currently 12 schools in the Edmund Rice family in England. We continue to be connected with the world-wide family of Edmund Rice communities and schools throughout Africa, and in Australia, New Zealand, Oceania, India, and South and North America.
O God, we thank you for the life of Edmund Rice.
He opened his heart to Christ present in those oppressed by poverty and injustice.
May we follow his example of faith and generosity.
Grant us the courage and compassion of Edmund as we seek to live lives of love and service.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.
Amen.