Centenary Celebrations in Canada

The Centenary of the Presentation Brothers in Canada has been celebrated in style at Brebeuf College School in Toronto. Friends, past pupils, colleagues, Associates, and students attended the festivities. The day began with a welcome by Brother Francis Schafer, Province Leader, and a Mass of Thanksgiving in the school chapel. At the end of Mass, Edmund Rice Medals from Mount Sion were blessed and the Edmund Rice prayer recited.

Following the Mass, the public got its first glimpse of the mural painted by Brebeuf students to mark the Centenary.

A luncheon was then held in the school’s atrium. The guest speakers included: Brother Martin Kenneally, Congregation Leader; Brother Hugh O’Neill, Province Leader of the Christian Brothers; Michael Da Costa, Co-Chair of the organising committee and Associate; Keith Rodrigues, student; and the Keynote Speaker, Brother Denis Claivaz.

 

Some special presentations were also made. To honour its Presentation connection, the staff of Brebeuf have decided to name the staff lounge after Brother Lawrence Maher, the last Presentation Brother Principal. The students of the school announced a scholarship to send a student from Presentation JSS in Logre, Ghana to secondary school. The alumni unveiled a statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary to mark the centenary. Bro Francis Schafer announced that the Brothers will be sponsoring one student to participate in the school’s Ghana immersion trip in March 2011.

The day ended with the distribution of a history souvenir booklet and a slideshow to show the Brothers’ history in Canada since 1910.

Congratulations to all those involved in organising this hugely successful commemoration.

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Photo 1: Province Leader, Br Francis Schafer, welcomes the assembly.

Photo 2: The mural unveiled at the celebrations.

Photo 3: Br Henry Spencer makes a contribution.

Photo 4: Br Denis Claivaz delivers the keynote address.

Photo 5: Congregation Leader, Br Martin Kenneally, addresses the gathering.