Vancouver College - Collegian Yearbook (Vancouver, British Columbia Canada)

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(Eliristuut Irnllftra of Jrplanii 1802 — 1952 One hundred and fifty years is not a long time as the age of religious orders are measured. Yet, in this time, the Christian Brothers of Ireland have grown from the inspiration of one devout man to a congregation of over seven thousand members. The Irish Christian Brothers were founded in Water- ford, Ireland, in 1802 by the Venerable Edmund Igna- tius Rice. Having been a successful business man, he decided, at the age of forty, to devote himself to God’s service. On the advice of friends he presented himself to the Bishop of Waterford and expressed his desire to aid the children of Ireland who had been deprived of the privilege of all education, both religious and secular, by the infamous Penal Laws. The Irish Province Saint Mary’s in Dublin, the nerve center of the Irish Christian Brothers Congregation. 6

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OD cannot be omitted from education at any level. Education and religion are so closely interrelated that the prescription of education deprived of religion is practically the same as prescribing irreligion and atheism. T HE ultimate answers to most problems are based on religious principles. To explain the world and human life without reference to their Creator is Atheism. Christ’s own words: “He who is not with me is against me”, and St. Paul’s salient words: “Without faith it is im- possible to please God”, adequately express the reasons why we are proud to attend a Catholic School. TT HIS religious education permeates our entire school life. God’s help is invoked in the classroom, at the various activities and on the field. Basically, our training is Christo-Centric. Hence, regardless of our material prosperity in later life, this aspect of our education will be the determining factor in our earthly happiness and eventual salvation. X N sending us to a school such as this, our parents have given us the finest gift possible. The debt we owe to them could never be repaid in a material way. By the prayers we have learned at home and at school, we hope to intercede with Christ and His Blessed Mother in their behalf. M AY God give us the grace to bene- fit by this Catholic Education — our parent’s gift to us. 5

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The Bishop heartily approved this plan and, aided by generous young men whom his example inspired, the Founder established the first school of the Congregation. The fame of the Brothers’ work soon spread through all Ireland and during the first 18 years, nine schools were established. In 1820, over 100,000 people witnessed the dedication of the O’Connell Schools. Later, in 1822, Pope Pius VII gave Papal approval to the young congregation. Before his death in August of 1844, Edmund Rice had established twenty schools. Truly, “the finger of God” was in his work. TW e4- v Plov, ” ce Prior Park College, founded in 1895. The buildings in this pic- ture extend for almost a quarter of a mile. 7