“You feel at home.
You feel that you belong.
You feel present rather than distant.
You feel something genuine and heartfelt … like a family”1
Reflecting on these words from Marist Formation, in hindsight I was always a little bit Marist. My Dad went to Joeys and. although his life was difficult and ended sadly, I remember how often he shared memories of rowing, rugby and the great Mathematician Br Liguori. In my teens he took me to Joeys, and it all flooded back to him. Boarding school in the 40s for a boy from Talimba (population 185) was tough, but I think these were some of the happiest days of his life, because he belonged.
I never dreamed I would become part of that story; however, in 1992 I become the Religious Education Coordinator at Marist College Kogarah. For someone who had only taught in small girls’ schools it was overwhelming. I didn’t think I would last the year – I stayed for ten and with time discovered what it meant to live in the way of Mary though simplicity, love of work, presence and family spirit. The Hermitage at Mittagong, where so many senior retreats and staff experiences helped form my faith in unimagined ways, became my spiritual home – it still is.
My sons attended Marist College North Shore and for 12 years I was a Marist Mum. One of the Brothers used to say, “TTM boys. TTM. Trust the mystery”. It is something we still repeat in our family, in good and not-so-good times. Sometimes that is all you can do. My daughter also taught at Marist Kogarah and my son Kieran is a Leader of Wellbeing at Marist Penshurst. In diverse ways we have all been inspired by the legacy of St Marcellin Champagnat and the Marists we have journeyed with.
In 2008 I became the Director of Mission at Joeys. I remember driving over the Gladesville Bridge, thinking “what have I done?” and asking Dad to help me. As the largest boarding school in Australia, Joeys is indeed imbued with Marist family spirit and a shared vision inspired by its motto In Meliora Contende, Stive for Better Things. This encapsulates for me what St Marcellin achieved. After leaving school at seven, he struggled to study for the priesthood and was then inspired to provide education for the poorest in France, and consequently far beyond, by offering “all to Jesus through Mary, all to Mary for Jesus”. He reminds me that we are each called to make a difference in a world that is sadly far too divided, and that education is potentially our greatest means for doing this.
It is over 30 years since I ventured into Marist Kogarah. This year I was fortunate to work with the Marist Formation Team on a Sydney pilgrimage experience. As soon I walked through their door to prepare for this, I felt I was home. This is what being Marist means to me.
by Helen Smith
1 Characteristics of Marist Spirituality https://www.maristformation.org/marist-spirituality-explained
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