The Congregation of Presentation Brothers is an international Catholic congregation of laymen founded in 1802 in Waterford, Ireland, by a local businessman, Edmund Ignatius Rice. Presentation Brothers live and work in Ireland, England, USA, Canada, Ghana, St. Lucia and Grenada with about 100 Brothers throughout these countries. The Brothers take three promises—poverty, chastity and obedience—and live together in small groups called "communities". The motto of the congregation is the same as that of the Jesuits: "Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam" or "For the Greater Glory of God". Brothers bear the initials F.P.M. (Friatrum Presentationis Mariae). The expressed mission of the Presentation Brothers is to "form Christ in the Young" and traditionally they have worked to achieve this through education. Today Presentation Bothers work in a wider range of ministries including with the homeless, elderly, disadvantaged youth and the Roma people. Read more...

Len Breen, a former pupil wrote: A great teacher, a mentor, something of a guru, and for me, in my adolescent years, a person who was the worldly big brother or wise father figure that I had missed in growing up. Frank McCarthy was a very clever person, no less for an alienated kid such as me for whom he always had generous time. He brought art and music to my world, one where otherwise such things were fanciful. He, with such grace, engendered self-confidence and self-assurance in me and stimulated and affirmed my inquiring mind. He was a special person for me, but also for a vast number of others. My most impressive memory of him - a treasured memory - was of the first Student Art Exhibition where I had entered two images. I was summoned out of class to be congratulated, praised and applauded by him for my 'fine works'. I was so apprehensive and timid about entering my paintings and so elated by his actions and words.  Read More Read more...