Edmund was the founder of two religious institutes: The Congregation of Christian Brothers and the Presentation Brothers. Rice was born on the 1^st of June, 1762 in the town of Westcourt near the village of Callan in County Kilkenny in Ireland. He was born into wealthy farming family with 7 brothers and 2 step-sisters. When Edmund was a young man he moved to the busy city port of Waterford and became a very successful businessman as he was extremely talented and grew to be very wealthy. Edmund married Marry Elliot, but unfortunately she passed giving birth to their daughter. His daughter was born premature and handicapped. During this time of loss and mourning his relationship with God grew very strong. He turned to his faith and became incredibly connected with scriptures and the parables of Jesus. Edmunds eyes were "opened" and in his own brokenness he was moved with empathy to notice those who were suffering from brokenness around him. 

 “What is written in the Law?” he replied. “How do you read it?”

 He answered, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’”

 “You have answered correctly,” Jesus replied. “Do this and you will live.”

 But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”

 In reply Jesus said: “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he was attacked by robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. ³¹ A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. ³² So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side.³³ But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. ³⁴ He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him. ³⁵ The next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Look after him,’ he said, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.’

 “Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?”

The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.”

Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.”

As evening approached, the disciples came to him and said, “This is a remote place, and it’s already getting late. Send the crowds away, so they can go to the villages and buy themselves some food.”

Jesus replied, “They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat.”

“We have here only five loaves of bread and two fish,” they answered.

 “Bring them here to me,” he said. And he directed the people to sit down on the grass. Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves. Then he gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the people. They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over. The number of those who ate was about five thousand men, besides women and children.

 

“the lord has given, and the lord has taken away: Blessed be the name of the lord forever”

 
“creating the hearts and the minds of the young in poverty”

 

“Give to the poor, in handfuls”

 

“Have courage; the good seed will grow in the heart of the child later on”

 

“were we to know the merit and value of only going from one street to another to serve a neighbour for the love of God, we should prize it more than silver and gold”

-  Started a free catholic school for boys who couldn’t afford an education or were in poverty. 
- provided free clothes and food for boys in poverty
- He opened his heart to help those oppressed by poverty and injustice

-  spoke out for those in need of an education
- spoke out for all in poverty
- gave free clothing and food to the boys
- Edmund started the congregation of the Christian brothers, a group of teachers who followed Edmund and helped the poor along side him. This group inspired hundreds of other groups and now there are thousands across the world.