Since early 1998 the Christian Brothers and the Edmund Rice Movement in Australia have embarked upon a creative approach to the formation of those who feel called to respond to the invitation of Jesus to be in solidarity with those on the margins in the spirit of Edmund Rice.

This approach has come to be known as the National Formation Process.

....We are gifted by the Charism of Blessed Edmund, our Founder, and we are responsible for nurturing it. We recognise that this Charism is shared by others who draw inspiration from Blessed Edmund. (Constitution 3)

The formation process is for those who are attracted to the Edmund Rice Story.

It seeks to encourage them to grow in their own spirituality and desire for God.

It enables them to respond to those who find themselves on the margins of our world.

"No one sews a piece of unshrunk cloth on an old cloak; otherwise, the patch pulls away from it, the new from the old, and a worse tear is made. And no one puts new wine into old wineskins; otherwise, the wine will burst the skins, and the wine is lost, and so are the skins; but one puts new wine into fresh wineskins." (Mark 2: 21-22)

The process has four phases.

At present the St Francis Xavier Province links interested people into the National Formation Process through a series of 'Formation Options'. The number and variety of these options will be continually reviewed to meet real needs. The options available at present are:

Trasna

Dadirri

Set us Free

Centre for Justice & Spirituality