Edmund Rice Tradition

Edmund Rice 

Edmund Rice is honoured at St Peter’s because of the historical association of the Christian Brothers with ourCollege. Edmund Rice founded the Christian Brothers in Ireland in the early 1800s. Early in his adult life Edmund Rice was a very successful businessman. However, after the tragic death of his wife, Edmund became more interested in serving the needs of the poor. After a long period of reflection he moved to an impoverished section of the Irish city of Waterford and set up a school. He died in 1844. The St Peter’s College library building, the Edmund RIce Library, is named after him, as is one of our six Student Houses.

Edmund Rice Group

The Edmund Rice Group consists of Year 12 and 13 students who are committed to promoting the Edmund Rice ethos and charism at St Peter’s. Members meet weekly to discuss, plan, and promote the Edmund Rice culture at St Peter’s College. The group was set up by long-serving St Peter’s College Staff Member and Christian Brother, Paul Robertson. Each Year in May, the Edmund Rice Group tell the story of Edmund Rice, and promote Edmund Rice works in the school, such as Edmund Rice camps (see below) and Pillars (a new initiative in 2011 where St Peter’s Students visit a South Auckland Primary School every week for the purpose of mentoring).

Edmund Rice Camps

These camps for disadvantaged children were started in Dunedin in the mid 1990s. A group of St Peter’s OldBoys began Edmund Rice camps in Auckland in January 2003 after attending a Dunedin camp. A significant feature of the week-long camps is that there is one leader per child. Senior students at St Peter’s have the opportunity to be involved as leaders on the Auckland Edmund Rice camps.

Edmund Rice Icon

The Edmund Rice Icon (see right) sits in a shrine in the entrance to the Edmund Rice Library. It tells the story of Edmund Rice. There is an explanation of the icon next to it. A copy of the icon is in most teaching spaces in the College.

Please click on the image for a detailed explanation
of its symbolism.

Edmund Rice New Zealand Website