Our College

Servo Fidem

College Motto and Crest

Servo Fidem (2 Timothy 4, 7) The second letter of Paul to Timothy is a presentation of the Apostle's teaching to his friend and companion, and so to all Christians. From it we derive our motto, I Keep the Faith. Bonum certamen certavi, cursum consummavi, fidem servavi. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith.

Religious Ethos

Marist College is first and foremost a Catholic school where education in the faith is given a privileged place. For us, evangelising means "to make Jesus Christ known and loved" and to help young people "realise how much Jesus Christ loves them".

We want to build an environment that nurtures and strengthens our students as they are transformed into better more compassionate people. Religious Education has an integral place in this overall goal. Education in faith includes communicating Catholic doctrine, engendering a sense of the sacred, building a Christian community and inviting young people to care with the heart of Jesus Christ.

In striving to meet these goals the school offers:

• A Religious Education curriculum in Years 7-10 that is both academically rigorous and innovative, bringing into dialogue faith and life.
• A course in Religious Studies in Years 11 & 12, approved by the ACT Board of Senior Secondary Studies.
• Opportunities for the celebration of the sacraments of Eucharist, confirmation and reconciliation.
• A host of creative and prayerful liturgies that help students further understand and celebrate their faith.
• Residential retreat experiences for Years 11& 12.
• Community service opportunities including a conference of St Vincent De Paul Society.

In preparing students for the Church of the future, senior boys are encouraged to embrace opportunities to be leaders in prayer and community service activities. Together with the staff, they build up an ethos and a way of acting that is characterised by the family spirit given to us by our Founder, Father Champagnat. This spirit values and respects each student as a unique individual, but also encourages him to find his true self in the community of the school and in the wider community of the Church by openness and sharing.

We find our inspiration in Mary, whom we call our Good Mother. Her image, along with many other religious pictures and symbols, adorns the walls of he College reminding us of our commitment to strive to be more faithful disciples of Jesus Christ.

College Songs Great Man of God Great man of God, Champagnat shone with zeal, Strove thru' his life, his Master to reveal; With him for guide may we o'er sin prevail, Praise be to Jesus and to His Mother! For Mary's son, this son of Lyon's soil, Gave up himself, for youth to pray and toil, To lead to God, and Satan's power to foil, Praise be to Jesus and to His Mother! So let these words of Great Champagnat ring, and with one voice let's praise our God and King. Let Marist's sons be ever proud to sing: Praise be to Jesus and to His Mother! These hopes that bind us, this purpose and this plan, Everywhere find us, held by friendship's hand. In work, in play, in all, to serve, to pray. We will be faithful, Servo Fidem.

Sub Tuum Praesidium (Louis Lambillotte SJ, 1797-1855) Sub tuum praesidium Confugimus, confugimus, Sancta Dei Genitrix, Sancta Dei, Genitrix. Nostras deprecationes, Ne despicias, ne despicias In necessitatibus nostris, Sed a periculis cunctis Libera nos semper, Virgo gloriosa et benedicta Sub tuum praesidium Confugimus, confugimus, Sancta Dei Genitrix Sancta Dei Genitrix. Translation We fly to your patronage, O holy mother of God. Despise not our prayers In our necessities, But deliver us from all dangers, O ever glorious and blessed Virgin

College Prayers The Memorare Remember, O most loving Virgin Mary, that never was it known in any age, that anyone who fled to your protection, implored your help, or sought your intercession was abandoned. Inspired with confidence, therefore, I fly to you, O Virgin of Virgins, My Mother. To you do I come, before you I stand, sinful and sorrowful. Do not, O Mother of Jesus despise my prayers, but graciously hear and grant them. Amen.

The Memorare is a popular prayer to the Blessed Virgin Mary dating from the fifteenth century. It is named from the first word of the Latin prayer - memorare meaning remember - and it addresses Mary as Virgin in her role as intercessor for us in all our needs and difficulties.

It is a prayer with special significance for Marist people as it was for Marcellin Champagnat who prayed it when he and Brother Stanislaus were lost in the snow in February 1823.They had been to visit a sick Brother over the other side of the local mountain range and on their return, they lost their way in a near-disastrous snow storm. Father Champagnat invoked Mary in the words of this prayer, and almost immediately there was the appearance of lamplight in the distance. The two exhausted men made for the spot and were given shelter for the night by a local farmer.

The founder always saw this unexpected visit by the farmer to check on his animals as Mary's answer to his prayer for help.

Marists have continued today this beautiful prayer in union with millions of Christians around the world and throughout the centuries who have turned to Mary as the Good Mother who stands with her Son to point us towards our Loving God.