Newsletter 10: 9 August 2022

Dear Colleagues,

Last week 200 Marist educators from across the country gathered for the Biennial Conference at the Brisbane Powerhouse.

Representatives from each of the 19 Dioceses in which our schools provide a Marist education for young people were present. It was a most reflective and constructive experience with high quality input, dialogue, and debate. The panoply of distinct ideas and approaches consistently drove to the same basic goals: effective evangelisation through quality education. Significant in the Conference success was the support of the Diocesan Directors of Catholic Education, two of whom attended. Mr Peter McLoughlin, Acting Director for Catholic Schools in the Diocese of Lismore, and Dr Doug Ashleigh Deputy Director for Brisbane Catholic Education were most welcome participants. The encouragement and support of all the Diocesan Directors for staff and Principals to attend is acknowledged with appreciation.

As we recognised with gratitude in prayer all who have gone before us in Marist education over the past 150 years, it was significant that the next Marist school to be founded was a particular focus during the Conference. Situated in the new and developing Parish of Aura on the Sunshine Coast and governed by Brisbane Catholic Education, Notre Dame College will be a Prep-12 coeducational school in the Marist spiritual tradition and a member of Marist Schools Australia. The appointed Administrator of the Parish Father Joshua Whitehead established himself as a most popular Conference delegate and his many enthusiastic and insightful contributions were well received. Mr John Cortese, Principal of Notre Dame College Shepparton, officially welcomed Father Joshua to the Marist family and presented him with a special gift for the new school.

Many participants suggested this was among the best Catholic education Conferences they had attended. Certainly, the organization and creativity of the conference team was outstanding under the leadership of MSA Regional Director Mr Mark Elliott. There was also a strong sense of optimism for the future of the Church in Australia and the vital contribution of our schools to God’s mission, and to the emerging educational needs of young people throughout Australia.