St Patrick's College is a proud Catholic school in the Edmund Rice tradition. With the person and story of Jesus Christ as our foundation, seen through the lens of Blessed Edmund Rice, founder of the Christian Brothers, we endeavour to provide an education that provides our students with both the skills they can utilise and the desire to work for a better world for all.

We follow in the footsteps of the Christian Brothers in encouraging the young men of St Patrick's to "Fight the Good Fight".

Edmund Rice was born in 1762 in Callan, county Kilkenny, Ireland. Following his early education he moved to Waterford where he was apprenticed to his uncle, Michael, who supplied the numerous ships visiting the expanded port. Edmund eventually succeeded his uncle and became a prosperous businessman. He married in 1785 and a daughter was born to the marriage but soon after his wife died in 1789. Edmund cared for his daughter with the support of his step-sister, Joan.

After much discernment and seeing the lack of Christian education among the boys of Waterford especially the poor and the outcasts, Edmund commenced his great work of Christian education, which over time spread across the globe.

Two religious congregations, the Christians Brothers and the Presentation Brothers, developed from the foundation which he laid in 1802. Edmund led the Brothers for many years before dying in Waterford in 1844. In 1996, he was beatified by the Catholic Church - the first step towards sainthood.

Today, the Christian Brothers continue to lead schools all over the world, and work with the poor and marginalised in communities as they strive for justice for all. They continue to provide inspiration and direction for our College in the twenty-first century. To find out more about the Edmund Rice family across the world go to www.edmundrice.net

Edmund Rice Education Australia (EREA)

Edmund Rice Education Australia was established by the Christian Brothers and is an integral part of the Edmund Rice Network, the Catholic Church in Australia and its associated Catholic Education Commissions and Offices in dioceses of the Catholic Church around Australia. Edmund Rice Education Australia commenced on 1 October 2007 and was established with the intention of independently implementing the educational mission of the Christian Brothers

Edmund Rice Education Australia fosters the distinctive values of Edmund Rice Education through a national and unified network of Australian schools and educational entities. To find out more about the EREA go to www.erea.edu.au

The Charter

In 2011, the Charter for Catholic Schools in the Edmund Rice Tradition was launched. It describes and provides a practical expression of the distinct identity of EREA. The Charter was renewed in 2018 and is the foundational document for Edmund Rice schools in Australia. The Charter identifies for us four touchstones of what an Edmund Rice education looks like – Liberating Education, Gospel Spirituality, Justice and Solidarity and an Inclusive Community

EREA Charter

These Touchstones shape the Identity of our College and impact on all areas of College life

LIBERATING EDUCATION

The College curriculum, College events, and daily classroom activities promote justice and peace, with a particular focus on the poor and marginalised. We seek to support our young men to become critical thinkers who can help to transform our world in the light of Jesus’ teachings.

GOSPEL SPIRITUALITY

"Have courage, the good seed will grow up in the children's hearts later on." Blessed Edmund Rice

We offer our young men opportunities to reflect on their lives and make meaning in the light of the Gospel and its call to transformation. These include the following:

JUSTICE AND SOLIDARITY

"Speak out for those who cannot speak... Speak out, judge fairly, defend the rights of the poor and needy." Proverbs 31:8-9

As a Catholic school in the Edmund Rice tradition, particularly situated in this wonderful country of ours and this affluent city of Brisbane, it is incumbent upon us to speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, due to poverty, oppression, disability or circumstance - simply, to advocate. Jesus Christ stood in solidarity with those on the margins, and inspired by the story of Jesus, Edmund Rice acted to address injustices in his community.

INCLUSIVE COMMUNITY

Then the King will say to those at his right hand, "Come, you that are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me." Then the righteous will answer him "Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry and gave you food, or thirsty and gave you something to drink? And when was it that we saw you a stranger and welcomed you, or naked and gave you clothing? And when was it that we saw you sick or in prison and visited you? And the king will answer them, "Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it for me." Matthew 25:34-40

St Patrick’s College prides itself on heeding Edmund Rice’s call to be civic leaders and assist the poor and marginalised in our community. We encourage our students to do this by living our faith through action.