The
Congregation of Christian Brothers (officially, in
Latin:
Congregatio Fratrum Christianorum; members of the order use the post-nominal "CFC") is a worldwide religious community within the
Catholic Church, founded by
Edmund Rice (later
beatified). The
Christian Brothers, as they are commonly known, chiefly work for the evangelisation and education of youth, but are involved in many ministries, especially with the poor. Their first school was opened in
Waterford,
Ireland, in 1802. At the time of its foundation, though much relieved from the harshest of the
Penal Laws by the Irish Parliament's Relief Acts, much discrimination against Catholics remained throughout the newly created
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland pending full
Catholic Emancipation in 1829.