Keeping the Faith
Those who call themselves Marist in the tradition of St Marcellin Champagnat share a common mission: to make Jesus known and loved. Each day in all that we do, this is our goal.
Reflecting on the forty years of College history in Canberra, we are thankfull for the many blessings we have received, particularly in the wonderful brothers, staff and families who have worked together to make this College the community it is today. Courage was the hallmark of the early brothers and remains so for staff today as we teach in a world often hostile to the values we try to promote.
For us as a Marist educational community, we hold fast to what is good in the person of St Marcellin Champagnat. His life was an example of what we call our Marist characteristics today: family spirit, presence, simplicity, love of work, and Mary's way. A key development of the College's Strategic Plan has been the development of a Core Values Statement. Based on the values inherent in the Gospel and those in our Marist characteristics, the College has identified the core values of faith, love, justice, compassion and hospitality. The task ahead is to develop a clear understanding of these values amongst students, staff and families as we integrate them into all aspects of College life.
Peter Hawes
Assistant Head of School - Mission
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(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.
College Songs
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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.