The Marist Brothers' teaching tradition in Australia, 1872-2000

Abstract

Recent Australian academic attempts to define the 'charism,' or distinguishing spirit, of the Marist Brothers' style of education, have been conducted using sociological methodologies and have resulted in findings which are more religious than educational or pedagogical, in content. The present enquiry is more educational in focus and historical in approach. This enquiry poses a series of questions e.g: Did the Marists who arrived in Australia in 1872 come as the conscious bearers of a distinctive style of teaching? Did they adapt this distinctive style to meet the needs of the Australian society? How faithfully did they cling to their founding inspiration? Have they been successful in preserving this distinctiveness in the face of modern developments in Australian education and in the Catholic Church? Or, is all that remains the name 'Marist'? The historical methodology employed uses both recent academic analyses of the Marist Brothers' Founder's work and also of the archival documentation of the Order's foundation and development in Australia. It also tracks, though not in isolation, the development of the first Marist school in Sydney, St Patrick's, Church Hill; founded in 1872 and still operating, at a new location 'Dundas' in the more recently-formed diocese of Parramatta. This individual school's role in Marist teacher education in early, and more recent times, makes it an appropriate focus. In summary, the thesis concludes that the Marists did come as conscious disciples of St Marcellin Champagnat, their founder; but that the pristine inspiration had already begun to evolve. In Australia the brothers continued to follow his example in adapting to the newer demands of Church and State. After Vatican II and the return of State Aid, however, the pace and scope of development precipitated changes which arguably constitute a break from all but the names 'Marist' and 'Champagnat'.