Images of Blessed Edmund Rice newly created using the latest in forensic science feature in the $9.6 million Edmund Rice Heritage Centre which was opened last month by the Prime Minister of Ireland, Mr Bertie Ahern.
During Edmund's life only one portrait of him was painted. It is said to be a reasonable likeness.
When his remains were transferred to the new heritage centre, noted forensic scientist, Dr Caroline Wilkinson, from the University of Dundee, scanned his skull and created new likenesses using techniques perfected by the police over the past 50 years.
These likenesses have been made into busts, one of which shows Edmund's appearance at the time of his death in 1844 at the age of 82, and one of him as a younger man.
The Edmund Rice Heritage Centre is located at Mt Sion in Waterford, Ireland, where Edmund Rice - who founded two congregations, the Christian Brothers and the Presentation Brothers - began his first school and community of Brothers in 1802.
The centre includes a replica of the room where Edmund spent the final seven weeks of his life. Personal items are also on display.
The restored chapel which now contains his tomb as well as a band room from the 19th century and a replica of a 19th century school room are among the highlights.
A museum charts the history of the Brothers over the past 200 years.
Visitors to the heritage centre can experience life in historical Waterford through the use of screens, sounds and a smell generator.
An unusual feature of the centre is a "newsroom", similar to a television broadcast newsroom. The aim of the newsroom is to give information and updates regarding the Christian Brothers' works in the 26 countries in which they now work.
An Australian Christian Brother, Michael Godfrey, who is chairman of the heritage centre, said the project was intended to honour Edmund Rice whose spirit enriches the hearts and lives of men and women around the globe.
At the heritage centre opening, the Prime Minister described Edmund as a "social reformer" and a "quiet revolutionary ... who overcame personal tragedy to put his life in service of the greater good". He praised the work of the Christian Brothers "whose members devoted themselves to the education and care of those who could not provide for themselves".
The opening was held during a week of celebratory events which featured
- the performance of a one act play on the life of Edmund Rice written and performed by Br Dan Casey of the United States
- a gala concert, the proceeds of which will be given to the Brothers' missions in Africa
- a lecture on Edmund Rice by Irish historian Mr Daire Keogh, a lecturer in Early Modern European and Irish History who was recently awarded a senior Government of Ireland Fellowship which allowed him complete an historical monograph based on Edmund Rice, 'The Christian Brothers; Irish Education and Society 1802 - 2002'.
The centre is expected to be one of Ireland's premier ecclesiastical and heritage tourism sites.
Br Godfrey, writing on the Congregational Leadership website said, "With the opening of chapel and museum there are untold possibilities for Mt Sion to attract students, teachers and visitors from around the world; to develop adult education programs in spirituality; to offer rituals in the chapel with focus on a spirituality for our age; to avail of the museum as a means of telling the story and the handing on of the charism."
As part of a bigger development at Mt Sion, a three-storey monastery has been renovated also. The third floor has been redeveloped as a community residence for an international Community of Edmund Rice Brothers - four Christian Brothers and one Presentation Brother, from Canada, United States, Ireland, Australia and Pakistan - who have been together now for three years. They minister to marginalised people and youth of the area.
Other levels of the former monastery have been converted into facilities for an outreach to recent arrivals, migrants and refugees, computer facilities for disadvantaged people, as well as retreat facilities and conference centre facilities for a wide variety of groups.
above: Brother Michael Godfrey, an Australian Christian Brother and Chairman of the Edmund Rice Heritage Centre, is with the Bishop of Waterford and Lismore, Dr William Lee, who officiated at the opening.
below: The chapel interior shows the tomb of Edmund Rice in the centre at the back of the chapel. The new Edmund Rice Heritage Centre chapel, which overlooks Waterford between Mount Sion and the River Suir, will be used by the local Waterford community.
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