There has been much commentary in recent times regarding teacher and school leader shortages in Australia. Whilst some of the trends are showing signs of improvement, the country’s predicted continued growth in population will ensure this challenge remains for some time. Over the past 8 weeks, it has been a privilege to work closely with almost all of our Marist Principals across the country in various settings and to have the opportunity to speak with other current and emerging Catholic school leaders in the Archdiocese of Sydney. The calibre, quality, and commitment of the people encountered inspired hope and gratitude.
Read MoreOn Wednesday this week, Pope Francis conveyed gratitude for the joint hosting of a special International Women’s Day Conference held in Rome and hosted by the Secretary General of Caritas Internationalis and the Ambassadors to the Holy See from the United Kingdom and Australia. In his message, Pope Francis prayed that the conference would yield fruitful results, fostering a heightened commitment worldwide, both within the Church and beyond, to address issues related to women’s rights and the promotion of social justice.
Read MoreAs we settle into the new academic year, classrooms have been buzzing with aspirational goals formed by students and teachers for 2024. With Lent already upon us, goal setting is also very much front of mind in what we might choose to do in prayer, reflection, works for others, and giving during this holy season.
Read MoreIn 2023 7,500 teachers and staff from Marist Schools across the country participated in programs and events led and facilitated by MSA and the Marist Mission and Life Formation Team. In Term 4 last year, the MSA Regional Directors met with the Executive members of each school to discuss their strategic directions for the new year. Essential in these conversations was the manner in which engagement with the Marist programs would complement the school’s strategic directions for 2024. The theme for 2024 was carefully developed over a number of months under the leadership of Mr Tony Clarke, the Director of the Marist Mission and Life Formation Team.
Read MoreLast Sunday marked the conclusion of the current liturgical year and was celebrated with the Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, also known as the Feast of Christ the King. Pope Pius XI instituted this feast in 1925 with his encyclical Quas primas (“In the first”).
Read MoreAs the end of the school year draws ever closer, our attention is drawn naturally to the qualities and capabilities of our Marist graduates from across our national network of schools. Soon there will be the annual frenzy in the media ranking schools according to ATARs above 90 and a range of other narrow measures that are important yet have significant limitations.
Read MoreOver the past three weeks Marist Schools Australia has celebrated the 2023 Annual Mass and Dinners across the three regions at Marcellin College Bulleen in Melbourne, Saint Joseph’s College Hunters Hill in Sydney, and Marist College Ashgrove in Brisbane. 45 staff members from across the 56 member schools of Marist Schools Australia were recognised by over 400 colleagues, family, and friends in appreciation for their contributions to Marist education over many years. We were privileged to have a number of senior leaders in Catholic education join us from different Dioceses including Dr Debra Sayce, Executive Director Catholic Education Western Australia, Mr Paul Velten, CEO of Diocese of Sale Catholic Education, Mr Paul Desmond, Executive Director Catholic Education Sandhurst, Mr Tim Gilmour, Deputy Director Diocese of Wollongong and Mr Andrew Watson, Director of Catholic Education Diocese of Wagga Wagga.
Read MoreAt the end of last term Marist Schools Australia launched an Essay Writing Competition throughout schools inviting students to respond to the question "As a young Australian, what do you consider are the critical issues to be considered in relation to the upcoming referendum?" Submissions were due on Friday 6 October and were assessed in this past week. It is with enormous appreciation to note that the response from our students across the country was outstanding. In particular, the following schools are commended for the number and quality of the essays submitted - St Joseph's College Hunters Hill, Parramatta Marist High School, Lavalla Catholic College Traralgon and Marcellin College Bulleen.
Read MoreSince the announcement for the date of the upcoming referendum to alter the Constitution to recognise the First Peoples of Australia by establishing an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice, the media and airwaves have been awash with commentary, opinion, and information. Naturally, this important issue and historic referendum has generated heightened levels of interest among our school communities across the country.
Read MoreThe Catholic Church in Australia marks the last Sunday in August each year as Social Justice Sunday, with the launch of the Social Justice Statement for the following 12 months. The 2023- 2024 statement is titled Listen, Learn, Love – A New Engagement with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples. With the upcoming referendum of the Voice to parliament this carefully prepared document is essential reading for all Marist educators. The title itself indicates the tone of the Bishops’ statement, grounded in the Spirit of the Gospel. Importantly the Bishops invited the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Catholic Council (NATSICC) to speak directly in the statement to Catholics in Australia and to all Australians, under the heading Listen to the Voices of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples
Read MoreOn Friday evening, the Australian Council for Educational Leaders (ACEL) held their Annual Awards ceremony in New South Wales. ACEL is the largest professional association for educators in Australia and the wider Asia-Pacific region. It has a growing network of more than 7,000 members and over 45,000 educators, with branches in each state and territory. This cross sectoral education celebration was attended by the NSW Deputy Premier and Minister for Education, the Honourable Prue Car MP, who conferred the major award of the evening, the Dr Paul Brock Memorial Medal. This prestigious honour is awarded annually to a prominent educational leader who has significantly impacted educational direction and achievement. In particular the award commends the recipient's demonstrable value of social justice in making substantial contributions to evidence informed policy, practice and research. The late Dr Paul Brock is well known to Marist educators, having been school captain at Marist Brothers Hamilton in 1959 and serving Catholic education as a Marist Brother for 15 years. Renowned as a gifted and brilliant teacher, Paul made significant contributions to the Australian and New South Wales governments in senior Ministerial and Department portfolios for over three decades as well as forging a distinguished career in tertiary education. Below is the citation from last Friday's Awards ceremony.
Read MoreAs we commence the second Semester of the 2023 academic year it is timely to reflect on the profound influence of the teacher. Many students conclude Semester I with a sense of incompleteness or dissatisfaction having reviewed with their parents and teachers progress during Terms 1 and 2. Whilst much work and effort would have been affirmed through Semester 1 reports and parent teacher interviews, it is natural for students to ruminate on the areas noted for improvement. In these first weeks of Semester II, the teacher is well positioned to reset the hopes and aspirations of their students in a most positive way. As Marist educators, our emphasis on presence with our students is manifested in a host of professional behaviours. Knowing our students is fundamental. Constant encouragement, informed regular feedback on learning, and a joyful disposition are all essential in ensuring the teacher is a trusted beacon of hope, firing the imagination of the students to bold and audacious achievement. The enthusiasm of the teacher is vital and infectious, remembering the word in Greek means “God filled”.
Read MoreAs one of the great spiritual families of the Church, each June 6th, Marists around the globe celebrate the life and legacy of the Founder of the Little Brothers of Mary, St Marcellin Champagnat. As contemporary custodians of a particular style of educating and a living spirituality there is great joy in recalling the life of St Marcellin as an inspiration for us today. Celebrating the extraordinary life of this French country pastor is an occasion for each of us to reflect on his life, vision and his deep faith in Jesus Christ, and in doing so to be re-inspired by this saint for the whole Church. We hope that the celebrations of this year’s Champagnat Day were a great occasion in your school and a chance to recall with great gratitude those Marists who have inspired us and those today who continue to animate Marist life.
Read MoreAs we celebrate Reconciliation Week, the theme draws all Australians to reflect on tangible ways in which we can in our everyday lives be a voice for reconciliation.
Read MoreThe Feast of Mary Help of Christians was established by Pope Pius VII in 1815. After being imprisoned by Napoleon Bonaparte, he established the feast in thanksgiving for the day of his liberation on 24 May 1814. Australia, a new colony at that time, had no Catholic priests and therefore no Mass available. The faithful recited and relied on the Rosary to sustain the Catholic community. In 1844, Australia became the first country in the world to have Mary Help of Christians as Patroness. Interestingly, the Feast Day coincided with the celebrations of the birthday of Queen Victoria who reigned from 1837–1901, and Empire Day from 1903 until 1958. Public expressions of connection and commitment to the British Empire were not necessarily the priority of the largely Irish Catholics of Australia, so the Feast of Mary Help of Christians was prayerfully and enthusiastically embraced. Unlike those of the Empire, this Australian Catholic celebration is maintained to this day.
Read More