Newsletter 5: 5 May 2023

Dear Colleagues,

As we commence Term 2 for 2023, Marist Schools Australia welcomes Mr John Finneran as he commences in the role of Director of School Improvement.

John is well known and highly regarded in our Australian Marist community. Due to his mission and ministry leadership, John was a vital member of the Australian Marist Mission Council that led and facilitated the union of the Melbourne and Sydney Provinces and the establishment of Marist Schools Australia. Most recently John was Principal of Newman College in Perth which was a P–12 dual campus College of approximately 2,000 students and is the biggest Catholic school in Western Australia.

Throughout his seven years at Newman College, John consistently demonstrated considerable leadership capacity in a variety of ways. Improved learning outcomes for students has been the result of a collaborative commitment to an explicit school wide vision for learning within a well articulated and practiced pedagogical framework. In concert with a highly talented and professional staff, Newman’s innovative approach to school improvement in close cooperation with the University of Southern Queensland, attracted professional recognition throughout Australia and overseas.

John has also had a variety of leadership experiences in Catholic education in Marist Schools, as well as senior positions with other Catholic ministries. These include: Principal of Marist College Penshurst in Sydney; Sydney Catholic Schools as a Professional Officer for Champagnat Catholic College Pagewood Project; Assistant Principal Marist College Kogarah; Religious Education Coordinator Marcellin College Randwick; Director of Community Engagement Caritas Australia; Trustee for Saint Vincent de Paul for the Archdiocese of Sydney; National Education Officer Edmund Rice Australia; Lecturer in Religious Education Australian Catholic University; and as a teacher at Saint Gregory’s College Campbelltown and Saint Patrick’s College Strathfield.

John has a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Sydney, a Diploma of Education, Certificate of Religious Education, Master of Religious Education, and a Master of Educational Leadership from the Australian Catholic University. He is currently undertaking Doctoral research in school leadership and governance with the University of Southern Queensland.

We look forward to John’s contributions and the value he will bring through the quality relationships he enjoys with Bishops and Church leaders, elected representatives in the Federal, State and Territory parliaments, academics in Australian and overseas universities, peak Catholic Education Commissions, government regulators, Diocesan Directors of Education and School Principals across all sectors.

On behalf of all in the Australian Marist community, Mr Andrew Watson is warmly welcomed as he commences his appointment as Principal of Newman College.

Andrew is a well known and highly regarded leader in Catholic education. He was previously the Principal of Mazenod College in Perth, which is one of three Colleges in Australia conducted by the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate, who were founded in 1816 by a young French Priest, Eugene de Mazenod. The other Australian Oblate schools are Mazenod College (Victoria) and Iona College (Queensland). Andrew was the first lay Principal of Mazenod College, commencing in 2017. Prior to this appointment Andrew held various senior leadership positions in Perth including as Principal of Mandurah Catholic College and College Deputy Principal of John XXIII College, both of which are K-12 coeducational schools. Andrew was also the Deputy Principal for Teaching and Learning at Santa Maria College Attadale, a Year 5-12 girls day and boarding school. Andrew has held a variety of middle leadership positions including Head of Year 9, Head of Social Sciences, and Head of Society and its Environment, earlier in his career at Trinity College, Newman College, and John XXII College respectively.

Andrew holds a Master of Educational Leadership and Leadership of Religious Education Accreditation from the University of Notre Dame, as well as a Bachelor of Arts and a Diploma in Education from the University of Western Australia. Andrew’s significant commitment to education more broadly has been recognised by the Australian College of Educational Leaders. Current cross sectoral committees of which Andrew is a member are indicative of his standing as an educator and include: WACE School Curriculum & Standards Authority Breach Committee; Western Australian School Curriculum & Standards Authority (SCSA) - Secondary Principals Advisory Committee; OLNA Breaches Committee; Western Australia Catholic Secondary Principals Association Education Committee; and the Western Australia Boarding Advisory Project for Aboriginal Students. Born into a farming family at Northam, Andrew attended Trinity College East Perth as a student from Years 4 to 12. Andrew and his wife Ruth, have three young adult children who we look forward to becoming members of our Marist family.

It is important to recognise once again the outstanding work of Dr Lucie McCrory and Mr Simon Martino, who were the Acting Principal and Acting Assistant Principal respectively throughout Term 1 at the College. Both fulfilled these roles with distinction. Their professionalism, generosity and witness during this period of transition has been widely recognised and greatly appreciated.

Each month Pope Francis highlights a specific intention for which he invites people the world over to join in praying. In the month of May, the Holy Father has asked for prayers for Church movements and groups. Our own Marist Association of Saint Marcellin Champagnat is among them. Pope Francis speaks of the work of the Holy Spirit through such movements in the short video that can be viewed at https://thepopevideo.org.

We pray that Church movements and groups may rediscover their mission of evangelisation each day,

placing their own charisms at the service of needs in the world.

Pope Francis May 3 2023