Champagnat Day 2020

Please refer to the flyer that your son will have glued into his diary later in the week for more specific details. As a Marist family, we will acknowledge St Marcellin’s actual feast day, next Saturday, 6 June. St Marcellin was known for his deep faith and was grounded by his community of brothers. The Brothers’ community was and is still known for their family spirit, which is a value that we as a Marist community continue to focus on.

My own journey on the Marist Pilgrimage five years ago was certainly a wonderful spiritual experience. To personally visit St Marcellin’s childhood home and to stay at the L’Hermitage in rural France were certainly highlights of the journey for me. 

As many would already know, L’Hermitage is the rural property outside of St Chamond that St Marcellin purchased and built with the early brothers. L’Hermitage remains the spiritual home of the Marist Brothers around the world as well as for those of us who identify as part of the ‘Marist Family’. As a Marist, I felt welcome and at home in the building that Marcellin and the early brothers built with their bare hands. 

Visiting the Vatican and witnessing first-hand the grand statue that was commissioned when Marcellin was canonised in 1999 was also a highlight. Champagnat’s statue stands opposite the Pope’s personal residence and is clearly in view when the Pope leaves his front door each day. For our boys, St Marcellin provides a superb role model of ‘love of work’ and not giving up. We look forward to celebrating and reflecting upon the life of this great man of Marist education next week.

May St Marcellin continue to guide our lives in the coming year.

Kirsty Bell
Assistant Head of School – Head of Junior School (Acting)