Parade College staff visit Presentation Brothers

Staff from Parade College in Melbourne visited Mount St Joseph recently as part of a pilgrimage to Ireland. Parade College is a member of the Edmund Rice Education Australia (EREA) network of schools.

The group of eight included Principal Br. Denis Moore CFC and was led by Assistant Principal, Andy Kuppe. Andy spent a number of years as Director of the Mount Sion Heritage Centre in Waterford.

Before coming to Cork the group visited Glendalough where they were given an introduction to Celtic Spirituality by Fr. Michael Rodgers SPS.

They then travelled to the birthplace of Blessed Edmund Rice at Callan in County Kilkenny and to Mount Sion in Waterford city where Edmund began his educational mission. That mission eventually led to the founding of Parade College in Melbourne by the Christian Brothers.

A day was also spent at the Nano Nagle Centre in Kilavullen. Nano, founder of the Presentation Sisters, served as an inspiration to Edmund as he started his work of educating the youth of Waterford.

The next stage of the pilgrimage led the group to Presentation Brothers, Mardyke House in Cork. There they were able to spend some time of reflection in the Edmund Rice Prayer Garden which highlights the influence of seven women on Edmund’s life.

The final stop was at the Presentation Brothers’ Generalate in Mount St Joseph where they were welcomed by Congregation Leader, Br. Martin Kenneally and Deputy Leader Br. Rupert O Sullivan. The visit concluded with a dinner with the community.

Br Martin presented the group with a gift to mark the occasion. The Principal of Parade College, Br. Denis Moore, said that the experience was both enriching and delightful. He thanked the Brothers for affording them the opportunity to connect with the Presentation tradition of the Edmund Rice family. 

Before leaving Mount St Joseph the visitors also called to the SHARE complex where they met some residents and heard the story of how SHARE began.