1970 – 2020 Fifty Years Marian Catholic College

On Monday 16 November we celebrated the two founding orders that established our school, the Marist Brothers and Sisters of Mercy.

Marcellin Champagnat was the founder of the Marist Brothers order. The Marist Brothers came to Griffith in 1950 and in 1951 established St Brendan’s College, which catered for primary and high school boys. Their first roll call consisted of 134 students. The St Brendan’s College was originally in the old St Luke’s hospital building, which was located on the corner of Binya St and Burrell Place. This site today is occupied by units and is across the road from Griffith North Woolworths!.

Catherine McAuley was the founder of the Sisters of Mercy, the order of Sisters that took charge of St Patrick’s School from when it began in Griffith in 1921. While the boys moved to St Brendans, the girls remained at St Patricks School for their primary and secondary education.

As the numbers grew, a new site was chosen for St Brendan’s College at 185 Wakaden Street. New classrooms were built, including a science lab, canteen, admin and residence for the Marist Brothers. This new St Brendan’s College opened in 1963. It had two blocks of classrooms, the first block, now known as B Block, was for the Primary school boys, while the second block, now known as C block, was for the High school boys.

Numbers continued to increase and so it was decided to extend at the current site in Wakaden street and build a new Co-educational High School for Catholic students. This new school, called Catholic High School, opened its doors in 1970, catering for High School boys and girls. These students used the two storey building, and the D block for their classrooms. The roll call for the first two Year 10 classes in 1970, Form 4 Blue and Form 4 Gold consisted of 64 students. Interestingly, The B block classrooms facing Wakedan Street were continued to be used by St Brendan’s College for the Primary school boys. In 1974, all the primary school boys were moved over to St Patrick’s School, making it a co-educational Kindergarten to Year 6 primary school. The two rows of buildings, B and C blocks, that were St Brendan’s College now became part of Catholic High School, hence St Brendan’s College no longer existed.

Over time, as numbers continued to grow, and senior classes were also introduced. The first Year 11 class commenced in 1983, with the first graduation of a Year 12 HSC class the following year, 1984.

Sadly, The Marist Brothers departed from Catholic High School and Griffith in 1991. Thankfully, the Sisters of Mercy continued leading and teaching at Catholic High School until their subsequent departure in 2006.

That same year, 2006, Catholic High School changed its name to Marian Catholic College marking the beginning of a new era without any Religious Orders.

Our College is indebted to the Marist Brothers and Sisters of Mercy for the values and morals they instilled in the students under their care. These principals and beliefs continue to be part of our vision and mission at Marian Catholic College. Today we recognize not only the founders of these two orders, but we also acknowledge the Marist Brothers and Mercy Sisters who taught, led and supported this school and its families during their years of service.

Jenny Sartor

Library Staff