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Br. Rice as Superior General.

Edmund was now in his sixtieth year.

He went to visit the communities. First to Carrick, then Thurles and after this, Dublin, where he went to Hanover Street, Mill Street and James St. After visiting His Grace the Archbishop, he went on to Limerick, then Cork and finally Dungarvan before returning to Mt. Sion.

In Limerick, the completion of a monastery and school by 1829 in Sexton Street was achieved. This had started in 1816. The Brothers had a difficult time doing this - at times they had to beg for money, make clothes for the pupils and feed them.

The visit to Cork was strange. The North Monastery was under Diocesan control and separate from the Congregation, due to the actions of the Bishop, Dr. Murphy. This community was an Autonomous community. The bishop tried to take the title to the property. The Brothers only had a lease and feared the freehold would be bought from under them - they had no spare money. The Congregation bought out the freehold after some of the Brothers placed themselves under the jurisdiction of Br. Rice and the protection afforded by the Papal Brief. The bishop was furious and a Congregation called the Presentation Brothers evolved from this disquiet with the first school being founded in Cat Lane in Cork. Down the road, the Christian Brothers built Sullivan's Quay School in 1827 while another row with the bishop took place !

Dungarvan had its difficulties as well at this period.

A request came from Ennistymon to start a Brothers school. This was started in 1824 as Mount St. Joseph's and completed by 1827. The local farmers gave turf for the fires.

In 1825, after another request, Br. Rice travelled to Preston and allowed a new school to start. This was the first mission.

By 1826, Manchester followed with St. Mary's in Lloyd Street. England flourished to 15 houses and 73 brothers. Due to many problems, these communities closed one by one, until the mission to England ceased.

In Ireland, between 1840 and 1880, 68 new foundations were made.

Patterns in development.

As an example of the way things went, Ennis in Co. Clare in 1826 was the venue for a new foundation. The local bishop had invited the Brothers in. Not getting money due from the Church became a major issue. Br. Rice was in the centre of dealing with the difficulties for the Brothers here. He didn't resolve it. By 1840, the Brothers were withdrawn from Ennis by the Superior general of the time, as the position was untenable.

By 1853, when there was educational turmoil in the area, the parishioners asked both the Sisters of Mercy and the Christian Brothers to come back. The money to allow it to happen came directly from the parishioners.

This pattern during Edmund's life of failure and success together with trial and consolation was a common pattern for the Christian Brothers. Praying by the Brothers and the offering of masses for intentions were both an important part of working through turbulent times.