Marist presence in Australia
2022 is the sesquicentenary of the establishment of the Marist Brothers’ first community and school in Australia, at The Rocks in Sydney. The Marist Brothers arrived in 1872 at the invitation of the Archbishop of Sydney to assist in developing schools for young Australian people.
Over the past 150 years, the Marists have worked in 20 of the 28 Australian Dioceses, and in every State and Territory, save Tasmania. In 1948 the communities and ministries were divided into two Provinces, one based in Melbourne and one in Sydney. In 2012, these were joined to form the second iteration of the Australian Province.
Currently there are 174 Brothers, 34 Communities and 56 schools in the Province of Australia. Some brothers are working in overseas ministries including the General House in Rome, in initial formation of the brothers in Sri Lanka, the Philippines, Timor-Leste or in the special mission in Cambodia established in 1998.
Marist Association of St Marcellin Champagnat
In 2015, the province established the Marist Association of Saint Marcellin Champagnat. As the name indicates, it is an association of people who share commitment to the Marist tradition of St Marcellin and who
seek to deepen their spirituality by common endeavour. The Association provides lay people, with a way of self-identifying and formally belonging as Marists of Champagnat.
There are currently over 800 members who meet in nearly 50 Local Groups spread across Australia. The Association is led by a Council selected by Members. When it was established, the Provincial Council delegated its administrative responsibilities for institutional ministries, particularly Marist Schools Australia, to the Association Council. In January 2022, the Association was incorporated. Every three years the Association convenes a National Assembly to give direction and vision to the life of the movement. The most recent one was held in August 2022.
Australian Marist Ministries
1. Marist Schools Australia (MSA) was established in 2010 by the Provinces of Melbourne and Sydney to manage and govern Province owned schools and provide direction and formation for all schools in the Marist Tradition. The National Director, three Regional Directors and the Director of Formation oversee the educational mission of 56 Marist Schools across Australia, including 13 Governed Schools. In January 2022, MSA was incorporated, with its own Constitution, Board and Chair. MSA Limited is a subsidiary of the Marist Association.
2. Marist Youth Ministry (MYM) – a National Director and two Regional Coordinators oversee school-based and post-school youth and young adults’ programs in schools.
3. Marist180 is another incorporated entity with its own Board and Chair. It grew out of the work at St Vincent’s Boys Home and now provides residential care for young people and a suite of programmes for disadvantaged youth. It operates predominantly within NSW.
4. Australian Marist Solidarity (AMS) is yet another independent Company. Its primary goal is to financially support Marist overseas development programmes and projects in the Asia-Pacific area.
Formation
The Marist Mission and Life Formation (MLF) Team consists of a team of nine, including three Brothers, who provide annual formation programs nationally, including Induction of new staff and leaders, leadership development, spirituality days and live-in retreats at The Hermitage Retreat Centre in Mittagong, NSW, about 1.5 hours south of Sydney.