Background

Three Schools Become One

Trinity Catholic College commenced in January 1995, from the amalgamation of three schools which served the families of the surrounding parishes for many years.

St John's Girls' High School, Auburn begun by the Sisters of Charity late last century and led by the order until the appointment of a lay Principal in 1978. Benedict Senior College, Auburn under the leadership of the Marist Brothers from 1942 until 1994, which became a co-educational college in the senior years in 1981. St Peter Chanel High School, Regents Park under the direction of the Sisters of St Joseph of the Sacred Heart [Brown Josephites] from 1964 until the appointment of a lay Principal in 1984.

Following study of the on-going needs for the provision of Catholic secondary schooling for families from the feeder parishes of Auburn, Auburn South, Berala/Regents Park, Lidcombe and Sefton, the Sydney Archdiocesan Catholic Schools Board decided in 1992 to constitute a single new co-educational College to operate on two campuses.

A mandate for this College is to provide a comprehensive, quality education for young people from the feeder parishes and for a number of other families who have chosen this school for their daughters and sons because of its curriculum offerings, geographical suitability or other affiliations. It is committed to maximise educational opportunities for all enrolled students and to offer a learning environment where the values of the Gospel, Catholic traditions, Sacramental and Prayer life are central.

Dual Campus Structure

The Year 7 and 8 Campus is at Regents Park, whilst the Year 9 to Year 12 Campus is located at Auburn. The decision to split the College on two campuses was made in the best interests of the young people in our charge. Strong relationships are being developed with feeder Primary Schools so that the continuum from K-12 becomes a reality and that the transition from Primary to Secondary School is handled with educational and social sensitivity and responsibility. The dual campus organisation also allows for the older students in Years 9-12 to be educated in an environment and learning climate appropriate to their increasing maturity.

The Principal, Deputy Principal, the Religious Education Coordinator, the Director of Studies and all Coordinators of Key Learning Areas, spend time on both campuses.

There is a Pastoral Coordinator for each year group who takes primary responsibility for the welfare and progress of those students. An Assistant Pastoral Coordinator and a team of Pastoral Care teachers assist the Pastoral Coordinator in this role.

Leadership

The leadership and management of Trinity Catholic College is the responsibility of the Executive Team. This group consists of the Principal, Deputy Principal, Religious Education Coordinator, Director of Studies and the two Campus Directors. One Campus Director is responsible for the Year 7 and 8 Regents Park Campus, while the other is responsible for the Year 9-12 Auburn site.

Trinity - A Marist College

The Marist Brothers have been associated with education at Auburn since 1942. When Trinity Catholic College commenced in 1995, a Marist Brother was appointed Principal and an onsite community of Brothers minister in the school.

The College is part of the Australian Network of Marist Schools with its staff and students participating in a number of Marist sponsored activities.

The Marist Brothers were founded by Marcellin Champagnat in 1817.

St Marcellin Champagnat

Fr Champagnat, a French peasant priest, took on an enormous challenge. Moved by the plight of youth in post-revolutionary France, he responded dynamically by gathering some young men and founding a congregation of teaching Brothers. With faith in God and convinced that Mary 'Our Good Mother' was guiding the work, he taught, trained, formed and enthused these first Brothers. Marcellin passed on to these brothers his spirituality, and his vision of education. Marist Brothers now work in some eighty countries around the world.

The mission of Marist educators is to be among the young, sowing the Good News, with a "distinctive Marist style": with simplicity, presence, family spirit, love of work, and in the way of Mary.

On April 18th 1999, Marcellin Champagnat was canonised a Saint.

Blessed Mary MacKillop

Mary was born in Melbourne in 1842 into a Scottish family, and trained as a governess. She soon realised the enormous problems that faced the poor children in remote rural areas. She, along with Fr. Tenison-Woods, founded the Sisters of St Joseph, a congregation of religious women devoted to education. Mary's Sisters soon became well known for the quality of the schools that they founded and their willingness to go to the remote areas and work with the most disadvantaged youth. Mary was beatified in Sydney by Pope John Paul II in 1995, becoming the first Australian to be called Blessed.