A new centre in Waterford dedicated to Edmund Rice, founder of the Christian and Presentation Brothers, is to become one of the country’s premier ecclesiastical and heritage tourism sites. Taoiseach Bertie Ahern will cut the ribbon at the new Edmund Rice International Heritage Centre on the historic Mount Sion site on Barrack Street, Waterford on February 8th.
The centre is expected to draw Irish and overseas visitors and is the first major refurbishment of the site since the beatification of Blessed Edmund by Pope John Paul II in 1996.
In the days leading up to the official opening, a host of events are planned.
Among these is a one man play Edmund Rice written and performed by Br Dan Casey and a lecture on Edmund Rice at Mount Sion’s primary school hall by international author and historian, Dr Dáire Keogh, on Wednesday, February 6.
The mortal remains of the Founder of the Christian Brothers and Presentation Brothers rest at Mount Sion and it is the principal site for the veneration of his relics. It is also where Edmund Rice established his first community and school in 1802. The new Edmund Rice Chapel with the founder’s tomb as a centre-piece is now nearing completion.
The new heritage centre will allow visitors to ‘live the Edmund Rice story’ through an atmospheric and interactive walk-through museum which will take them back in time to 18th century Waterford, visit a 19th century school-room and see personal items associated with the businessman who went on to found two congregations which are still meeting the needs of the poor in 35 countries around the globe.
The centre is housed in some of the period buildings at Mount Sion, including the former chapel and band-room, dating back to the early 19th century.
The new centre charts the history and global missionary outreach of the Christian Brothers and the Presentation Brothers over the past 200 years. The museum will also reflect the social changes in Ireland since the beginning of the 19th century and will showcase some of the current developments and changes in the life and work of the Brothers and of the Edmund Rice Network in 26 countries throughout the world.
The new Edmund Rice chapel will continue to be available and accessible to the local community. Stained glass panels from the windows of the demolished 1970s building have been incorporated in the new stone-faced circular chapel which has a free-standing square natural slate roof. The chapel’s design takes full advantage of the dramatic vista of Waterford city spread out between Mount Sion and the River Suir.
The present community on Barrack Street comprises four Christian and one Presentation Brother. They are currently offering initiatives in youth ministry and the provision of an Information and Support Unit (ISU) for refugees, asylum seekers and recent arrivals in Ireland.
The heritage centre is also home to the Nagle Centre which provides IT training to the local community. The Mt Sion primary and secondary schools are also on the site.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
No responsibility or liability shall attach itself to either myself or to the blogspot ‘Clerical Whispers’ for any or all of the articles placed here.
The placing of an article hereupon does not necessarily imply that I agree or accept the contents of the article as being necessarily factual in theology, dogma or otherwise.
Sotto Voce