ERN and the Bigger God
Reflections on ERN - part 1
It has been getting clearer to me for some years that Edmund Rice is bigger than the Christian Brothers. But how much bigger? This has only recently taken a quantum leap in my consciousness and I am still reeling off-balance. These reflections are an attempt to get my head around it all, something I am realizing is not fully possible as the Edmund effect in our world today is mutating and propagating as never before into expressions far different from our traditional schools. The structure and spirit of Edmund Rice keeps evolving into an ever-new reality and over the past 30 years there have been paradigm shifts in our awareness and identity as followers of Edmund. The recent growth can be traced in the documents of the last five Congregation Chapters which have clearly taken us beyond the confines of the Congregation.
I have come to know and believe Edmund Rice’s greatness (in the sense that his spirit cannot be contained or confined) in many people. In the Presentation Brothers. In our elder brothers. In ER camp-leaders whose energy and enthusiasm is infectious. In Christian and non-Christian school-staff who, inspired by Edmund, bring something more to their work and lives and to the lives of their students. Among past pupils who may have never given Edmund Rice a second thought as students, but who now find that something in their lives resonates with something in his as they generously participate in projects inspired by Edmund. In prayer groups, who gather faithfully under Edmund’s influence, to pray and to visit and help the less fortunate. In ‘strangers’ who have somehow encountered Edmund and have been moved to action by his life-example. In men who left vowed life but could never leave Edmund and his influence. In youth whose love for Edmund, and expression of that love, is so real and spontaneous that I feel embarrassed in comparison.
These are just some of the myriad expressions of Edmund Rice’s charism evolving in the world today. Expressions that range from groups that are clearly structured and constituted to others that have little or no articulated connection to Edmund.
Even in the Congregation of Christian Brothers, surprising things are happening. New ways of being in ministry are sprouting. New ways of being in our traditional ministry of schools for boys. New ways of being in community, away from the monastic model we adapted to. New ways of gathering together that are less parliamentarian or political but more communitarian and transparent. Perhaps the biggest challenge I see in the brothers is a new way of leadership emerging and a re-commitment to Edmund’s values lived out in the context in which we find ourselves today. This is all exciting and energising, challenging and confusing. Our corporate riches in personnel, property, and prestige are dwindling faster than they are being replenished. Our corporate traditions, identity, and impact are generally gone - some by circumstance and some by choice. Our corporate reputation has been widely ravaged by shocking revelations of our sinful past ruthlessly exposed in the global media, much to our guilt and shame.
But as I struggle to grieve and mourn, to explain and argue, to find the courage, humility, and authenticity to acknowledge, apologise, reconcile, forgive, and not to forget ‘the God who gave us birth’, one thing is clear to me: Edmund Rice is alive and active in a larger reality than I thought or imagined. He shines brighter and with more relevance than ever before amidst the murky darkness that can easily enshroud and in which I can stray ‘from the gospel experience of what Blessed Edmund Rice did’. This has less to do with my membership of the Congregation and more to do with ‘the spiritual core of who we are’. Today I see it in belonging to the ERN.
My experience and understanding of ERN is limited, personal, but growing. It leaves me with more questions than answers. But one thing resonates strongly for me: ERN is a reflection of the Bigger God phenomenon that has invaded my consciousness. A bigger God that cannot be contained by boundaries, traditional or not, who calls and leads me beyond. A God who goes before us and shocks, surprises, and shakes out all our nonsense. A God whose love knows no bounds and who offers salvation beyond the Congregation and Church. Many things that I know about the bigger God, I see reflected in ERN. But as I am still bound by my traditional beliefs and expectations of God, my full acceptance of the ERN is a struggle. And a lot of my struggle with accepting the reality of ERN is my struggle to accept the Bigger God reality. The more I reflect on the ERN, the more I find myself reflecting on my relationship with God as the Bigger God.
Senan D’Souza cfc
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January 2010
Watch RICE EXPRESS for Part 2: ‘EDMUND RICE NETWORKING’.
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