2024 marks the Bicentenary of St Mary’s Cathedral College Sydney. The Opening Mass, celebrated by our Archbishop the Most Reverend Anthony Fisher OP, was the first event to celebrate this significant milestone – held at St Mary’s Cathedral on Wednesday, 6 February 2024.
The College community were honoured to be joined by former students and special guests from the religious congregations that contributed to the history and rich tapestry of education at St Mary’s Cathedral College. Prior to our Mass, a representative of each of the religious orders, accompanied by a student leader, brought forward a candle to place before the Cathedral statue of Our Lady Help of Christians – the College and Cathedral patroness. These candles represented the light of faith that has been carried forward at the College for the past 200 years.
We are grateful for Brother Paul Conn, representing the Christian Brothers, Sister Margaret Guy, representing the Sisters of Charity, Br Peter Rodeny representing the Marist Brothers, and Fr David Orr, representing the Benedictines, for participating in this meaningful ceremony.
College Principal, Mrs Kerrie McDiarmid said, “The first chapter of the St Mary’s story began 200 years ago, when one of the colony’s first Catholic chaplains, Fr John Joseph Therry, built a chapel at Hyde Park and opened the first officially sanctioned Catholic school, a school open to all, the hallmark of Catholic education in this country and a legacy we continue to embrace at St Mary’s today.”
“Today, we stand at the precipice of change, honouring the legacy of all who have come before, recognising that this story, like all great tales, is a living tradition that continues to unfold with hope and purpose.”
Our theme for the Bicentennial year has appropriately come from our senior students and speaks to the enduring significance of Catholic Education at St Mary’s, “Walking with Christ for 200 years, serving with love forever.”