The study of Religious Education in a Catholic College is inextricably linked to the Religious Life of the community.
Special days such as Mary Help of Christians Feast Day (our patron), NAIDOC, Mothers' Day, Fathers' Day, ANZAC Day and Year 12 Graduation are celebrated with special liturgies either at school, in the local Catholic Church, or with the wider community. Connections are regularly made with St Mary's Parish in Kingaroy. Sacramental programs in local Catholic parishes are promoted and supported. The College has a weekly Mass before school for staff and students and once a month the College facilitates and participates in the weekend Parish Mass.
Religious Education Program
Religious Education of every student is offered through a program that has been developed by Brisbane Catholic Education and endorsed by Archbishop Mark Coleridge. Classroom learning and teaching of Religion is based on core learning outcomes with a set body of deep understandings and skills to be covered across the ten years of compulsory schooling.
Students in Years 11 and 12 have the option of selecting Study of Religion, contributing to ATAR results or Religion and Ethics. The aim of such a programs is to ensure our students, across 13 years, discover the core beliefs and teachings of the Catholic faith and are given the opportunity to compare it with other major religions.
Prayer and Retreat Experiences
Prayer is an integral feature of the faith life at the College. Regular opportunities are offered for students to gather in prayer. These include daily homeroom prayer, liturgical celebrations or class prayer. Classes are invited to present assembly prayer.
Each year students in Year 6 to 11 are offered Reflection Days. These days enable students to reflect upon their life and future and relationships. In Year 12 students take part in an extended Retreat Program.
Christianity in Action
Students have many opportunities to put Christian values into practice, not only in everyday situations, but at special times. A St Vincent de Paul School Conference coordinates a Christmas appeal, work in our local St Vincent de Paul shop, visits Orana Aged Care, participate in two Street Retreat Outreach Programs, one in Brisbane and one in Kingaroy with Uniting Care. Each term, the College organises a collection for major appeals such as Caritas, Bacolod Kindergarten in the Philippines and Catholic Missions.
Statement of Recognition
Saint Mary's Catholic College acknowledges that our community is built on the traditional lands of the Wakka Wakka Nation.
We pay respects to the elders of the Wakka Wakka Nation, past and present, the custodians of this country, since the beginning.
We respectfully acknowledge their living culture and their unique role in the life of this region.
History of Saint Mary's Catholic College
The Sisters of Charity came to Kingaroy in 1929. Thirty children attended their first classes in St Mary's Church. The desks were taken outside every weekend so that people could come to Mass.
The Good Samaritan Sisters replaced the Sisters of Charity in 1934. Just after the Second World War, the Good Samaritan Sisters began a secondary school with twelve students. It only remained open for four years. The secondary school reopened in 1964 with classes being held in the parish hall. The new secondary college buildings were opened the next year.
The idea to amalgamate the primary and secondary schools was agreed to in 1989, and in 1990 the combined schools became known as St Mary's South Burnett Catholic College.
The College was renamed Saint Mary's Catholic College in October 2009.
The College Patron - Mary Help of Christians
Mary, Help of Christians, is the patron of Australia. In 1821 Fr J.J. Therry, the first Catholic chaplain in Sydney, dedicated his first church to Mary - Sydney's St Mary's Cathedral.
In 1844, Archbishop Polding officially declared Mary, Help of Christians, as patron of Australia. The qualities encouraged through Mary are loyalty, humility, care and faith. We celebrate the College Feast Day on 24th May, the Feast Day of Mary, Help of Christians.