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Welcome message from Brothers of Christian Instruction

The spirit of the Congregation is one of faith and charity, abnegation and humility. And our motto is ‘God alone’. The Congregation honours Mary, the Mother of God, as special patroness and the Brothers celebrates her as such on August 15, more still Uganda as a province honours Saint Teresa of the child Jesus as it’s patroness. Special is given to all people who have been so supportive to the Brothers, first and foremost special thanks to the White Fathers who accepted the Brothers to come to Uganda, Brother Charles Jule Potrais and companions who accepted by obedience to come to Africa and particularly Uganda, the first three African Brother who accepted Late Brother Stefano Bwanika, Late Brother Alphonsus Zayera and Late Brother Aloysius Lutaaya these were men with great zeal. Special thanks go to all the Provincial Superiors since 1926 – to date, to the Parents who have entrusted us with their children, and to all the well wishers of this province of Saint Teresa of the Child Jesus.

 Images on the Home Page explained.

Coat-of-arms

1.  On top of the home page is the Coat-of-arms, Like other religious families, the congregation of the Brothers of Christian Instruction has a coat-of-arms which affirms its identity, tells of its history and proclaims its purpose. The oval escutcheon is divided into three parts. The upper half features a cross bracketed by the initials D and S, which constitutes the traditional emblem of the Congregation. Above the cross, a radiant star symbolises the Brothers’ mission to spread the knowledge and love of Jesus Christ. The bottom half recalls the origins of the Congregation. The section with the golden chevron, the ears of wheat and the silver anchor refers to the la mennais family. Pierre Loius Robert, a ship-owner and importer, had generously supplied wheat and other cereals to the people of Brittany at a time of near-famine, thus earning letters of nobility entitling him to add the title de la mennais to his surname. The other section of the bottom half, a silver field dotted with ermines, is taken from the emblem of Brittany, where the congregation was founded. The rosary encompassing the escutcheon signifies the devotion of the Brothers to Mary, their Mother, and Patroness of the Congregation. The official title of the Congregation is given on the border between the rosary and the cartouche. The olive branches forming the background to the cartouche suggest the spirit of peace and charity animating the Brothers in their mutual relations and in their dealings with others, especially their students. Below the armorial display, a banderole features the Divine Master’s admonitions to his disciples, ‘Let the little children come to me.’

2. On the right hand side of the web site, on top is the image of Saint Teresa of the Child Jesus the Patroness of the Province, she was born at Alencon in France in 1873. And as a young girl she joined the Carmelite monastry at Lisieux. She lived a life of humility, evangelical simplicity and trust in God. She died September 30, 1897.

3. Next Image is that of the Founders of the Congregation of the Brothers of Christian Instruction. Father Gabriel Deshayes (4 December 1767 to Beignon in Brittany, France - 28 December 1841 in Saint-Laurent-sur-Sevres, France) is a Breton priest known for his commitment to education, particularly among people with deafness. He founded schools for this purpose, including Auray. Father John Mary de la Mennais born in 1780 in Saint Malo, France grew up in a family of merchants and ship owners experienced the turbulent times of the French revolution died in 1860.

4. Brother Charles Jules Poitras was founder and first Superior of the Brothers in East Africa. With three other companions, he took charge of the first secondary school of the Brothers at Kisubi on the August of 1926. An untiring worker, a daring organiser, a religious of remarkable sincerity, he gave to the work he had started an impetus that has kept it going until now. During his administration from 1926 to 1946, the Brothers’ schools multiplied in the various dioceses, thus laying the foundation of the work of education which would more and more take such amplitude for the benefit of the African youth. He died as a result of a long illness consequent to a motor-cycle accident, on 13^th September, 1947