Current Polls & Surveys

Should children be prevented from attending school if they have not been vaccinated? *

Yes

Do you support the Australian Government Better Schools improvement plan? *

Yes

Yes, but not funded through cuts to universities

Not sure

Sub-sites

St Patrick’s Marist College celebrate 50 years at Dundas

13/06/2012

recommend tweet share

The ceremony included a student procession of flags representing each year in the history of the school

Bishop Anthony said the mass was an opportunity to give thanks for half a century of Catholic education on the Dundas site

St Patrick’s Marist College, Dundas celebrated 50 years of Catholic education on Friday 8 June with a special mass celebrated by Bishop Anthony Fisher OP.

St Patrick’s was established by the Marist Brothers in 1872 at The Rocks, Sydney and in 1962, due to diminishing enrolments and the large number of families moving to western Sydney, the school moved from their inner city site to their current site at Kirby Street, Dundas.

Several Marist Brothers were in attendance for the celebration including Br Michael Akers, Br Robert Badior, Emeritus executive director of schools, Archdiocese of Sydney, Br Kelvin Canavan, Br Norman Hart, Br Silverius Leneham, Br Ian McCombie, Br William McEvoy, Br Bernard Murphy, Br Paul Murphy, Br Robert O’Connor, Br Cyril Quinlan, Br Francis Richardson, Br Anthony Robinson and Br Jordan Ryan. Frank Molloy from Marist Schools Australia, executive director of schools, Greg Whitby, State Member for Parramatta Geoff Lee were also in attendance. Former principals of St Patrick’s, Br Thomas Moore, Br Anthony d’Arbon, Michael Procajlo, Anthony Galletta and Br David Hall attended the mass along with principals from neighbouring Catholic schools.

The mass was concelebrated on the college grounds by Fr Peter Lamont, Fr Eric Burton, Fr Frank Callanan, Fr Andrew Bass and Br Reuben Martello.

Coinciding with the 6 June Feast of St Marcellin Champagnat, the mass celebrated the rich history of the school with students processing with flags representing each year of the school and focused on the spirit of St Marcellin Champagnat who strived to help all people grow to their full potential.

In his homily, Bishop Anthony said it was a significant year in the history of St Patrick’s.

‘This college aspires to be a family focused on the formation of young people with strong minds and gentle hearts; it aims through quality teaching and learning to offer a warm, friendly, yet ordered and disciplined environment to nurture to, and challenge, each one of you to become an informed, thinking person who acts with the compassion of Jesus and the reflective heart of Mary in creating a better world,’ said Bishop Anthony. ‘That is a high and worthy ambition and today we give thanks for half a century of this ambition here on this Dundas site.’

Br Robert Sutton said that he could see the spirit of St Marcellin Champagnat alive and well in St Patrick’s Marist College.

‘I have seen his spirit in this school and I see it every single time a student tries their best in class, every time a teacher is passionate and cares about their students and I see it when we come together in prayer,’ said Br Sutton. ‘St Marcellin Champagnat gave us a message of hope, a message of purpose and a message of relief and that is our legacy to carry through the generations.’

The mass was followed by a morning tea for special guests catered by Hospitality students.