St Mary's Cathedral College, Sydney


St Mary's Cathedral College is a Catholic Systemic single sex school for boys, located in the central business district of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. Founded in 1824, it is the oldest Catholic school in Australia and among the oldest schools in the country, currently catering for approximately 770 students from Year 3 to Year 12. The College is administered by Sydney Catholic Schools of the Archdiocese of Sydney and operates as a systemic school; attached to St Mary's Cathedral. The school is currently the responsibility of the Congregation of Christian Brothers and was the last school in Sydney to be served by Christian Brothers as both principal and deputy principal.

History

St Mary's Cathedral College was established in 1824 as an elementary school by the Rev. John Therry. The high school was established in 1828. It is the oldest Catholic school in Australia. St Mary's Cathedral College was conducted by the Christian Brothers and is administered by Sydney Catholic Schools, Eastern Region. The Christian Brothers association with the school dates back to 1911. Catholic education on the same site as St Mary's Cathedral has been continuous since 1824, except during the construction of the existing college buildings and the associated bishop's quarters. Schools on the site have been provided with staff by the Benedictine monks, the Marist Brothers, Sisters of Charity and the Christian Brothers from 1910. The staff is now composed of Christian Brothers and lay staff.
The replacement of the Marist order by the Christian Brothers in 1911 was controversial. The Marist Brothers had complained to the Archbishop of Sydney, Cardinal Patrick Francis Moran, about their working and living conditions. The cardinal ordered them to leave the college. He directed the Christian Brothers to take over the college in their place, which they did. The cardinal then granted to the Christian Brothers the requests that the Marist Brothers had been denied. The College celebrated 100 years of Christian Brothers administration in 2011. Beginning in 2016, Michael Kelleher is the school principal alongside the assistant principal, Natalie Devenish.

Co-curricular

The College supports a musical tradition, with close ties to the St Mary's Cathedral Choir, Sydney, and the cathedral liturgies. It also supports sporting sides in all CBSA sports and carnivals. Students at the college have the option to participate in debating, public speaking, mock trial, Duke of Edinburgh Award, and assisting at the Matthew Talbot Hostel in Woolloomooloo.
The school has a Fairtrade program through to Year 10. All students are encouraged to participate in altar serving at the Cathedral and to attend Wednesday morning Mass on a daily basis. Student leadership is of high regard at the college with 12 prefects from Year 12, including a captain and a vice-captain, who are allocated to ministry, administration, house & community and other areas. Additionally, each year group nominates four to five class captains from each different homeroom and two members of the Student Representative Council to represent the form throughout the college.

Annual events

YearThemeFeatured repertoire
2016Myths and legendsPhoenix by Luke Byrne
O Fortuna by Carl Orff
We Are The Champions by Queen
Jerusalem by William Blake/Sir Hubert Parry
2017A night at the operaBohemian Rhapsody by Queen
Anvil Chorus by Giuseppe Verdi
Non Nobis Domine by Patrick Doyle
2018North, south, east & westNorth, South, East & West
A Song of the Open Road by Dan Walker
Ode to Joy by Ludwig van Beethoven
2019Faster higher strongerWaka Waka by Shakira
You'll Never Walk Alone by Rodgers and Hammerstein
UEFA Champions League Anthem by Tony Britten
Eye of the Tiger by Survivor
O God Beyond All Praising arr Robert Hobby

Notable alumni