Edmund Rice Schools ‘Rejoice!’ as new Gaudete Trust is commissioned

Rejoice!

The Gaudete Trust, the new educational trust that English Edmund Rice schools are entering was formally commissioned in July. This Trust, comprising 5 Religious Orders and their 17 schools, held a Commissioning event for Members, Trustees, Headteachers and Governors at St Paul’s School for Girls, SP in Birmingham on 11 July. This was a significant step in the journey of the establishment of said trust, conceived from the Religious Orders in Education organisation, in the spirit of collaboration and support for Religious Congregations involved in delivering Catholic education in England.  The Gaudete Trust, a legal entity, (PJP and CIO), has the authority to take on the legal, financial and inspirational responsibilities of educational trusteeship that have been, until now, exercised by the individual Orders in the group.

This ceremony saw the founding orders; the Sisters of Charity of St Paul the Apostle, the De La Mennais Brothers, the Christian Brothers, the Faithful Companions of Jesus and the La Sainte Union Sisters, officially commission representatives of its board of Trustees, including Dame Maura Regan, Ms Roisin Maguire, Ms Maureen Mee and Mr Mike Russell, to ensure the future of their schools both in terms of the responsibilities of trusteeship and in honouring the distinctive charisms. In turn, Headteachers and Governors of Member schools were asked to commit to working with the Gaudete family of schools in offering an education true to the values of both their founding order and in harmony with the Trust’s Vision of Education.

The afternoon was an opportunity to reflect on the role of the Trust, its Vision, Mission, Values and Guiding Principles by participants, who were encouraged to discuss these in mixed groups. Trust values echoed through the ritual, led by Sr Brenda Wallace fcj and a brief history of Gaudete’s conception was given by Roisin Maguire, Director of the Edmund Rice Schools’ Education Office. Our informal lunch and subsequent ritual were kindly and most excellently hosted by St Paul’s whose Headteacher Dr Dawn Casserly, staff and students all contributed to a wonderfully warm reception.

Significant moments during the Commissioning included senior representatives of each Religious Order coming together to light the Gaudete Trust Commissioning Candle, from whose light all schools were given their own light to take back into their communities. Symbolic documents were signed by members, trustees and school headteachers as signs of their commitment to the new Trust.

Much work lies ahead for Trustees and the working party who will continue to decipher how the collaborative service to the member schools will be shaped.  School representatives were excited by the prospect of belonging to a larger Catholic educational community and look forward to getting to know their Gaudete family.

Link to Gaudete Launch Video.

Link to ROE website.