Presentation Brothers

The Congregation of Presentation Brothers is an international Catholic congregation of laymen founded in 1802 in Waterford, Ireland, by a local businessman, Edmund Ignatius Rice, now Blessed Edmund Ignatius Rice. Presentation Brothers live and work in Ireland, England, USA, Canada, Ghana, Nigeria, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Zambia and Grenada with about 100 Brothers throughout these countries.

The Brothers take three promises—poverty, chastity and obedience—and live together in small groups called "communities". The motto of the congregation was adopted from that of the Jesuits: "Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam" or "For the Greater Glory of God". Brothers bear the initials F.P.M. (Fratres Presentationis Mariae).

The expressed mission of the Presentation Brothers is to "form Christ in the Young" and traditionally they have worked to achieve this through education. Today Presentation Brothers work in a wider range of ministries including with the homeless, elderly, disadvantaged youth and the Roma people. In 2007 the Presentation Brothers opened new missions in Slovakia and Nigeria and an Advocacy Office for the poor in Geneva.

The Presentation Brothers were founded by Edmund Rice in the city of Waterford, Ireland in 1802.

Edmund Rice was born in the townland of Westcourt near the village of Callan in County Kilkenny on June 1, 1762. His parents, Robert and Margaret Tierney Murphy Rice, were prosperous farmers. The family spoke Irish but would also have spoken English in order to conduct their business affairs. Ireland in 1762, was under British rule and the anti-Catholic Penal Laws prevented a Catholic from receiving an education. Rice received his primary school education from a “hedge school”. These were illegal schools established by travelling teachers. The laws were relaxed at the time of Edmund’s childhood and eventually he attended an academy in Kilkenny.

At the age of 17, Rice was apprenticed to his uncle, Michael Rice, in Waterford city. Waterford was one of the busiest ports in the world at the time, second only to Hamburg. Seven years later, Edmund’s uncle signed the business over to him. A shrewd businessman, Rice invested his growing fortune in land and property. At the age of 25, Edmund married the daughter of a local businessman, Mary Elliott. Mary was killed in a horse riding accident and the baby she was carrying was born with a handicap. The baby was christened Mary and Edmund’s step-sister Joan took charge of looking after her.

...
Wikipedia