Presentation Brothers

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The Congregation of Presentation Brothers is an international Catholic congregation of laymen founded in 1802 in Waterford, Ireland, by a local business man, Edmund Ignatius Rice.

Presentation Brothers live and work in Ireland, England, USA, Canada, Ghana, St.Lucia and Grenada. There are about 100 Brothers in these countries. About 20 men are training to join the Brothers.

The Brothers take three vows (or promises): poverty, celibacy and obedience. Brothers live together in small groups called "communities".

The expressed mission of the Presentation Brothers is to "form Christ in the Young". Traditionally it has worked to achieve this through education. Today Brothers work in a wider range of ministries including work with the homeless, the elderly, disadvantaged youth and the Roma people.

In 2005, Brother Martin Kenneally was elected Congregation Leader (or Superior General). He succeeded Brother Andrew Hickey who held the office from 1999-2005. The Generalate is at Mount St. Joseph in Cork, Ireland.

In 2006, the Brothers devoted fresh resources to vocations ministry and employed a layman, Dr. Andrew O'Connell, to head up a new Communications Office.

In 2007 the Presentation Brothers expect to open two new missions in Slovakia and Nigeria.