Newsletter 9: 2 August 2024
Dear Colleagues
This week the Marist Schools Australia Biennial Conference was held in Mparntwe (Alice Springs) and Ltyente Apurte (Santa Teresa), with 168 delegates from across the country gathering to explore:
- Catholic Indigenous Australian insights and perspectives on Christian spirituality;
- the imperative for Catholic education to identify, value, and explain robust measures of student growth to students, parents, the wider community and Australian Governments.
A palpable atmosphere of welcome and joy from our hosts which included members of the Mparntwe and Ltyentye Apurte communities, students and staff from Our lady of the Sacred Heart College and Ltyentye Apurte Catholic School, enriched the time together. It was a privilege to share the deep learning and awakening with so many colleagues committed to Catholic education in the Marist way, and particularly the Catholic Aboriginal Leadership Team from Northern Territory Catholic Education and Director Paul Greaves. The engagements by Most Reverend Bishop Charles Gauci of Darwin, Most Reverend Bishop Michael Morrissey of Geraldton and Broome, and Most Reverend Bishop Columba Macbeth-Green of Wilcannia‑Forbes were inspiring and insightful, urging us in our vocations to draw our young people to the love of Jesus through quality Catholic education and witness. The keynote speakers and workshop presenters all made important contributions and further information is found in the Conference Guide.
The whole exercise was brought together by a capable and committed team of MSA and school representatives who were most ably led by the Conference Convenor and Chair of the Conference Committee, Dr John Kyle-Robinson, who is the MSA Regional Director for NSW and the ACT. The leadership of OLSH Principal Julia Wake and Assistant Principal Denise Simon as well as Ltyentye Apurte Catholic School Acting Principal Mr Robert Dreise was vital and deeply appreciated. Father Ollie Noclam SVD Parish Priest of Santa Teresa and Father Prakash Menezes SVD Parish Priest OLSH and their Parishioners welcomed and generously included their visitors in prayer and worship in ways which will be long remembered. In a letter received from MSA Board Director Dr Michael Bezzina following the Conference, he wrote,
We prayed and reflected, we were challenged as educators, we connected with one another, and we walked on country. The program challenged and encouraged us as Marists, and it was delivered in the most professional of ways. Above all I found the novel mix of deep experience on country, encounter with our Aboriginal brothers and sisters, and considered formal input to be the conference’s most memorable feature.
Provincial Brother Peter Carroll made the following statements in a message to the Star of the Sea Province this week.
Many of us worry about the future of the Church, with some justification. However, such a gathering highlighted some realities: the Church is active and alive; people want to connect to a meaningful and purpose driven faith community; young people are open to its message; the Marist spirit is attractive and vibrant; there must be good authentic leadership. I must congratulate everyone involved in planning and running the Conference, too many to name individually. It was a very special time and showed that after 14 years Marist Schools Australia is a unique, vital, and respected part of the Australian Catholic education landscape.
May the important work in these Central Australian schools, continue to be blessed by dedicated service, and leadership by committed Marists from across our large network.