St Mary's Cathedral College, Sydney
Encyclopedia
St Mary's Cathedral College (SMCC) is a private
, Catholic
, secondary
day school
for boys, located in the Central Business District
of Sydney, New South Wales
, Australia
. It is owned by the Archbishop of Sydney
and operates as a systemic school.
Founded in 1824, St Mary's currently caters for approximately 750 students from Years 5 to 12, and is attached to St Mary's Cathedral
. The school
is currently the responsibility of the Congregation of Christian Brothers
and was the last school in Sydney to be served by Christian Brothers as both Principal and Deputy Principal.
St Mary's Cathedral College is conducted by the Christian Brothers and administered by the Catholic Education Office, Eastern Region. The Christian Brothers association with the school dates back to 1911.
Catholic education on the same site as St Mary's Cathedral has been continuous since 1824, except during the construction of the existing College buildings and the associated Bishops quarters (1987–1991). Schools on the site have been provided with staff by the Benedictine Monks (1824–1882), the Marist Brothers
(1883–1910), Sisters of Charity
(1883–1967) and the Christian Brothers
from 1910. The staff is now composed of Christian Brothers and lay staff.
The replacement of the Marist order by the Christian Brothers in 1911 was controversial. The Marist Brothers had complained to the Archbishop of Sydney Cardinal Patrick Francis Moran about their working and living conditions. The Cardinal ordered them to leave the college. He directed the Christian Brothers (under threat of interdict
) to take over the college in their place, which they did. The Cardinal then granted to the Christian Brothers the requests that the Marist Brothers had been denied.
The college is currently celebrating 100 years of christian brothers ownership (1911-2011). Various celebratory actions have been taken, including the creation of a centenary video, featuring interviews with previous headmasters, and brothers of the college. As well as this, there has been a centenary roll call photograph taken in front of the cathedral, and a special dinner dance held towards the end of the year.
Br. Christopher Peel, CFC
is the current College Headmaster alongside the First Assistant, Mrs. Natalie Devenish.
The College supports a musical tradition, with close ties to the St Mary's Cathedral Choir, Sydney
and the Cathedral Liturgies.
The College also supports sporting sides in all CBSA sports and carnivals. Other extra curricular activities students at the college have option to participate in include: Debating, Public Speaking
, Mock Trial
, Duke of Edinburgh
, Soup Kitchen at the Vincentian Village and helping at the Matt Talbot homeless hostel. More recently, the College implemented the Fairtrade program through Year 10, 2008 students and is led by Brother Peter Hancock of the Congregation of Christian Brothers
Being located next to St Mary's Cathedral, Sydney
the mother church of Australia
, is a significant boon to the Catholic spirituality taught to all students at the College. Year 10 students are encouraged to participate in altar serving at the lunchtime mass on a daily basis.
Student leadership is of high regard at the Cathedral College with 13 Prefects from Year 12, including a Captain and two Vice-Captains, that are allocated to Social Justice, Culture and Identity, Youth Ministries and other areas. Additionally, each year group nominates four Class Captains to represent the form throughout the College.
St Mary's Cathedral College also celebrates the life and spirit of Edmund Ignatius Rice
, the founder of the Congregation of Christian Brothers
.
Private school
Private schools, also known as independent schools or nonstate schools, are not administered by local, state or national governments; thus, they retain the right to select their students and are funded in whole or in part by charging their students' tuition, rather than relying on mandatory...
, Catholic
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
, secondary
Secondary school
Secondary school is a term used to describe an educational institution where the final stage of schooling, known as secondary education and usually compulsory up to a specified age, takes place...
day school
Day school
A day school—as opposed to a boarding school—is an institution where children are given educational instruction during the day and after which children/teens return to their homes...
for boys, located in the Central Business District
Sydney central business district
The Sydney central business district is the main commercial centre of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. It extends southwards for about 3 kilometres from Sydney Cove, the point of first European settlement. Its north–south axis runs from Circular Quay in the north to Central railway station in...
of Sydney, New South Wales
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
. It is owned by the Archbishop of Sydney
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Sydney
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Sydney is a Latin rite metropolitan archdiocese, located in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.Erected in 1842 and directly responsible to the Holy See, the Archdiocese is responsible for the suffragan dioceses of Armidale, Bathurst, Broken Bay, Lismore,...
and operates as a systemic school.
Founded in 1824, St Mary's currently caters for approximately 750 students from Years 5 to 12, and is attached to St Mary's Cathedral
St Mary's Cathedral, Sydney
The Metropolitan Cathedral of St Mary is the cathedral church of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Sydney and the seat of the Archbishop of Sydney, Cardinal George Pell. The cathedral is dedicated to "Mary, Help of Christians", Patron of Australia...
. The school
School
A school is an institution designed for the teaching of students under the direction of teachers. Most countries have systems of formal education, which is commonly compulsory. In these systems, students progress through a series of schools...
is currently the responsibility of the Congregation of Christian Brothers
Congregation of Christian Brothers
The Congregation of Christian Brothers is a worldwide religious community within the Catholic Church, founded by Blessed Edmund Rice. The Christian Brothers, as they are commonly known, chiefly work for the evangelisation and education of youth, but are involved in many ministries, especially with...
and was the last school in Sydney to be served by Christian Brothers as both Principal and Deputy Principal.
History
St Mary's Cathedral College was established in 1824 as an elementary school by Reverend John Therry. The high school was established in 1828. It is the oldest Catholic school in Australia.St Mary's Cathedral College is conducted by the Christian Brothers and administered by the Catholic Education Office, Eastern Region. The Christian Brothers association with the school dates back to 1911.
Catholic education on the same site as St Mary's Cathedral has been continuous since 1824, except during the construction of the existing College buildings and the associated Bishops quarters (1987–1991). Schools on the site have been provided with staff by the Benedictine Monks (1824–1882), the Marist Brothers
Marist Brothers
The Marist Brothers, or Little Brothers of Mary, are a Catholic religious order of brothers and affiliated lay people. The order was founded in France, at La Valla-en-Gier near Lyon in 1817 by Saint Marcellin Champagnat, a young French priest of the Society of Mary...
(1883–1910), Sisters of Charity
Sisters of Charity of Australia
The Sisters of Charity of Australia is a congregation of Roman Catholic women religious who have served the people of Australia since 1838...
(1883–1967) and the Christian Brothers
Congregation of Christian Brothers
The Congregation of Christian Brothers is a worldwide religious community within the Catholic Church, founded by Blessed Edmund Rice. The Christian Brothers, as they are commonly known, chiefly work for the evangelisation and education of youth, but are involved in many ministries, especially with...
from 1910. The staff is now composed of Christian Brothers and lay staff.
The replacement of the Marist order by the Christian Brothers in 1911 was controversial. The Marist Brothers had complained to the Archbishop of Sydney Cardinal Patrick Francis Moran about their working and living conditions. The Cardinal ordered them to leave the college. He directed the Christian Brothers (under threat of interdict
Interdict (Roman Catholic Church)
In Roman Catholic canon law, an interdict is an ecclesiastical censure that excludes from certain rites of the Church individuals or groups, who nonetheless do not cease to be members of the Church.-Distinctions in canon law:...
) to take over the college in their place, which they did. The Cardinal then granted to the Christian Brothers the requests that the Marist Brothers had been denied.
The college is currently celebrating 100 years of christian brothers ownership (1911-2011). Various celebratory actions have been taken, including the creation of a centenary video, featuring interviews with previous headmasters, and brothers of the college. As well as this, there has been a centenary roll call photograph taken in front of the cathedral, and a special dinner dance held towards the end of the year.
Br. Christopher Peel, CFC
Congregation of Christian Brothers
The Congregation of Christian Brothers is a worldwide religious community within the Catholic Church, founded by Blessed Edmund Rice. The Christian Brothers, as they are commonly known, chiefly work for the evangelisation and education of youth, but are involved in many ministries, especially with...
is the current College Headmaster alongside the First Assistant, Mrs. Natalie Devenish.
Spirit
St Mary's Cathedral Choir, Sydney
The St Mary's Cathedral Choir is the oldest musical institution in Australia. In 1818 a group of choristers was formed to sing Vespers before the Blessed Sacrament in the Dempsey Household, the centre of Roman Catholic worship in Sydney as a penal colony...
and the Cathedral Liturgies.
The College also supports sporting sides in all CBSA sports and carnivals. Other extra curricular activities students at the college have option to participate in include: Debating, Public Speaking
Public speaking
Public speaking is the process of speaking to a group of people in a structured, deliberate manner intended to inform, influence, or entertain the listeners...
, Mock Trial
Mock trial
A Mock Trial is an act or imitation trial. It is similar to a moot court, but mock trials simulate lower-court trials, while moot court simulates appellate court hearings. Attorneys preparing for a real trial might use a mock trial consisting of volunteers as role players to test theories or...
, Duke of Edinburgh
Duke of Edinburgh
The Duke of Edinburgh is a British royal title, named after the city of Edinburgh, Scotland, which has been conferred upon members of the British royal family only four times times since its creation in 1726...
, Soup Kitchen at the Vincentian Village and helping at the Matt Talbot homeless hostel. More recently, the College implemented the Fairtrade program through Year 10, 2008 students and is led by Brother Peter Hancock of the Congregation of Christian Brothers
Congregation of Christian Brothers
The Congregation of Christian Brothers is a worldwide religious community within the Catholic Church, founded by Blessed Edmund Rice. The Christian Brothers, as they are commonly known, chiefly work for the evangelisation and education of youth, but are involved in many ministries, especially with...
Being located next to St Mary's Cathedral, Sydney
St Mary's Cathedral, Sydney
The Metropolitan Cathedral of St Mary is the cathedral church of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Sydney and the seat of the Archbishop of Sydney, Cardinal George Pell. The cathedral is dedicated to "Mary, Help of Christians", Patron of Australia...
the mother church of Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, is a significant boon to the Catholic spirituality taught to all students at the College. Year 10 students are encouraged to participate in altar serving at the lunchtime mass on a daily basis.
Student leadership is of high regard at the Cathedral College with 13 Prefects from Year 12, including a Captain and two Vice-Captains, that are allocated to Social Justice, Culture and Identity, Youth Ministries and other areas. Additionally, each year group nominates four Class Captains to represent the form throughout the College.
St Mary's Cathedral College also celebrates the life and spirit of Edmund Ignatius Rice
Edmund Ignatius Rice
Blessed Edmund Ignatius Rice , was a Roman Catholic missionary and educationalist. Edmund was the founder of two orders of religious brothers: the Congregation of Christian Brothers and the Presentation Brothers....
, the founder of the Congregation of Christian Brothers
Congregation of Christian Brothers
The Congregation of Christian Brothers is a worldwide religious community within the Catholic Church, founded by Blessed Edmund Rice. The Christian Brothers, as they are commonly known, chiefly work for the evangelisation and education of youth, but are involved in many ministries, especially with...
.
General Events
- School Concert at Sydney Town HallSydney Town HallThe Sydney Town Hall is a landmark sandstone building located in the heart of Sydney. It stands opposite the Queen Victoria Building and alongside St Andrew's Cathedral...
- College Swimming Carnival
- College Athletics Carnival
- Edmund Rice Day
- CBSA Sports and Carnivals (Christian Brothers Sporting Association)
- CCC Carnivals (Combined Catholic Colleges)
Concert
Annually, the College has a Concert at the Sydney Town Hall. It has always been based around a theme: At The Movies, for example. During the Concert all of the School Bands perform; Orchestra, Jazz Ensemble, Junior Band, Intermediate Band, Senior Band, String Ensemble etc. The Concert is also a night consisting of dramatic performances and other on-stage routines. The night itself is a tradition for all of the students, not simply for the thrill and excitement of being on stage and exhibiting their own talents, but also for the fact that their parents, teachers and Special Guests are all watching in the audience. The 2011 annual concert theme was Viva Italia. Due to repairs in the town hall, several of these concerts have been located at the school hall, but the tradition of the location being the town hall was revived in 2010, after the renovations were completed.Alumni
- Tom Brock, sports journalist (also attended Waverley CollegeWaverley CollegeWaverley College is a Roman Catholic, secondary, day school for boys, located at Waverley, in the Eastern Suburbs of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia....
) - Jim DymockJim DymockJim Dymock is an Australian former professional rugby league international of Tongan heritage who played for the Western Suburbs Magpies, Canterbury Bulldogs, Parramatta Eels and London Broncos...
, Former Rugby League player now Assistant Coach - Aaron WoodsAaron WoodsAaron Woods is an Australian rugby league player for the Wests Tigers in the NRL. His position is prop.-Career:Woods played junior football with Leichhardt Juniors and participated in the Balmain Tigers Development Program. He also played for Holy Cross College Ryde, and represented NSW Catholic...
, Rugby League Player - Mark RiddellMark RiddellMark Robert Riddell is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer of the 2000s and 2010s...
, Rugby League Player - Alvin CeccoliAlvin CeccoliAlvin Warren Ceccoli is an Australian football player of Sammarinese heritage who played for three A-League clubs and was capped internationally for Australia.-Club career:Alvin started his National Soccer League career at Wollongong Wolves in 1995 as a 21 year old...
, Football Player - Edmund Zaidan, Australian Idol contestant
- The Honourable Anthony AlbaneseAnthony AlbaneseAnthony Norman Albanese , Australian politician, who serves as Leader of the House of Representatives and Minister for Infrastructure and Transport in the Gillard Ministry...
, Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government, Leader of the House of Representatives - His Eminence Sir James Darcy Freeman KBE, Australian Cardinal and 6th Roman Catholic Archbishop of Sydney
- Dr. Ulysses Chioatto, lawyer NSW Supreme Court and High Court of Australia, LLB (Macquarie), MLLR (Sydney), MBA (UNE), DBA (UniSA and PhD credits Sydney and UNSW), former Asia Pacific Director Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu, Corporate Lawyers committee member (NSW Law Society), Visiting Fellow UWS and sessional lecturer UTS and Macquarie Unis; author of "Managing Professionals"; Lambert Academic Press (2010). On the school honour board for oratory 1977 and 1978
- Angelos Frangopoulos, CEO Sky News Australia
- Nicholas Puiu, Principal, HKMA David Li Kwok Po College
- Glen Boreham, CEO IBM Australia
See also
- List of Christian Brothers schools
- List of Non-Government schools in New South Wales
- St Mary's Cathedral Choir, SydneySt Mary's Cathedral Choir, SydneyThe St Mary's Cathedral Choir is the oldest musical institution in Australia. In 1818 a group of choristers was formed to sing Vespers before the Blessed Sacrament in the Dempsey Household, the centre of Roman Catholic worship in Sydney as a penal colony...