“Each Brother is an open letter from Christ, a message written not with ink
but in the Spirit of the living God, with a faithful human heart to carry it.”
Blessed Edmund Rice
Why study at St. Anselm’s Catholic College?
The purpose of a Catholic school is defined well in Canon Law:
‘Since true education must strive for complete formation of the human person that looks to his or her final end as well as to the common good of societies, children and youth are to be nurtured in such a way that they are able to develop their physical, moral, and intellectual talents harmoniously, acquire a more perfect sense of responsibility and right use of freedom, and are formed to participate actively in social life’ (Canon Law, 1983, 795).
As such therefore, to be part of St. Anselm’s College means embracing an education that seeks the full and balanced formation of each and every person. It is not limited to academic success but also nurtures physical, moral, and spiritual growth. St. Anselm’s helps young people develop responsibility, use their freedom wisely, and prepare to contribute actively to the common good of society, all while keeping in view their ultimate purpose and dignity before God.
Our distinct Charism:
A ‘Charism’ refers to an institution or organization within the Church which is believed to have been inspired towards a special expression of faith through the Holy Spirit. In this case, St. Anselm’s has inherited it’s charism from the Christian Brothers, who were founded by Blessed Edmund Rice in the 19th century.
The Congregation of Christian Brothers founded St. Anselm’s College in 1933, after they were invited to Birkenhead by the Catholic faithful then living here. The College was founded for precisely the same reason that Blessed Edmund Rice founded his first school in Waterford at the end of the 18th century: to offer an education to boys that is rooted in and underpinned by the Catholic faith. In the light of our Charism, we can see that faith and education are inseparable; this is expressed in both the figure and motto of our patron, Saint Anselm of Canterbury.
Our motto is based on his celebrated work Proslogion. “Fides Quaerens Intellectum” or ‘Faith, Seeking Understanding’ is an excellent summary of the purpose for which St. Anselm’s College was founded, and the purpose for which we still continue our work today. Like Blessed Edmund Rice, and St Anselm before him, we believe that faith is not a repressive or backward mode of life, but something profoundly liberating, joyful and purposeful.
By embracing the mystery and power of God, glimpsed and felt and known in the sacraments and celebrations of our Catholic Faith, we open ourselves up to the true purpose of learning, which is that we might ‘seek to understand’ the world which God has created, the love he holds for us, and the work which he calls us to through his Son, Jesus Christ. This learning encompasses every one of our departments, which are united together by one foundational faith.
