Our Marist Community

Education is a moral and sacred enterprise and involves good choices and responsibility. Students are educated in responsible values based upon a strong belief in God and an imitation of the life of Christ. The example of parents, teachers, ex-students and friends of the College is needed in this passing on of the Catholic and Marist heritage to our young.

The mission of Marist Schools is to lead young people to know and love God in the way of Mary, in the belief that they all can become good Christians and good Citizens.

Inspired by Marcellin Champagnat Marist educators, before all else, love their students. Their approach is marked by simplicity, family spirit, love of their work and presence in the midst of those whom they are called to serve.

Marist schools welcome all young people, whatever their circumstances, offering each one an education which draws faith, culture and life into harmony.

Marist Charism Education

Retreats and Reflections

Red Bend Catholic College has been built upon the traditions of the Marist Brothers and the Sisters of Mercy. Both of these religious orders have their roots in caring for the disadvantaged youth and have focused on the needs of youth in educational institutions.

Retreats and Reflection days aim to assist students in recognising the importance of holistic development, and give further understanding to the ideal of 'fullness of life'. Activities are designed to open students to their spiritual dimension as well as fostering a sense of community and a heightened awareness of their own giftedness and that of others.

The Retreats are a component of the overall Religious Education curriculum, the goals can be specifically identified as:

to provide an opportunity for an experiential component of FAITH DEVELOPMENT that can foster a closer relationship with their God.
to facilitate a time of reflection and personal searching in an environment of challenge.
to facilitate sharing and a greater intimacy in relationships between students, their peers and staff.
to provide an opportunity for AFFIRMATION from their peers

The retreat experience is part of an ongoing retreat process that is built upon each year.

We take students away on a retreat of this kind to set aside time to allow these young people to reflect, to share and to wonder. In order to maximise the value we ask students to be very open and honest, very still and trusting. Some of the activities of the retreat will ask of them a discipline of self, a movement towards intimacy which some will find new ... difficult - and all will find challenging.

It is vital that as fellow travellers who have journeyed just a little more of the road, we firmly but gently accompany the students and keep them on track. It is hoped staff will be enriched by the student's experience - both the struggle and the vitality of their lives.

Outreach and Immersions

Schools are a place of connection and relationship. As a Marist Catholic school, we encourage connection with a wide range of social justice services. It is about awareness of the issues and the authentic and rich experience.

Some students choose to help with the St Vincent De Paul group or with Project Compassion. Other students choose to physically help volunteer in our Outreach services with gardening or home maintenance. We have Immersions and Awareness Programs to some of the most disadvantaged areas of Australia.

Outreach programs are not meant to be easy or a holiday. They are meant to challenge and to inspire hearts and minds. This is why our students are empowered to be a voice for what is right and just in our society.

Our College has three main programs or immersions held through each year. Students are encouraged to apply for the immersion in order to:

Deepen an awareness and understanding of the Marist Charism
Enable participants to achieve greater spiritual insight and personal development that will assist them in the future
Foster an enhanced sense of Marist identity as “Marist Family”
Greater understanding of the various Marist organisations which “Make Jesus Christ Known and Loved”
To represent the student body of Red Bend Catholic College

Marist Awareness Program

The Sydney Marist Awareness Program allows a group of Year 11 students to visit services provided by Marists in the Western Sydney region, including Marist Schools, Marist Youth Ministry, LaValla200, Marist Learning Zone and Marist 180. This program is an integral aspect of our Solidarity program, and enables us to practice St. Marcellin Champagnat’s pedagogy, “to be with the young, to love them, to lead them to Jesus, to form them to be good Christians and to form them to be good citizens.”

Santa Teresa Immersion Experience

The Immersion experience involves visiting the Marist Community at Santa Teresa. Santa Teresa is an indigenous community of about 400 people, 80km from Alice Springs. RBCC staff and Year 11 students gain deepen an awareness and understanding of economic, spiritual and cultural aspiration of people who live simply and enter into a partnership with them. Students experience the realities of life for members of the Santa Teresa Indigenous Community for a period of 8 days.

Religious Education

The essential aim of Religious Education in Catholic Schools is to encourage and assist students in their growth to Christian maturity - a growth that will culminate in their free commitment, in faith and relationship to Jesus Christ, within the Church.

OBJECTIVES
This aim can be achieved by students engaging in learning experiences which will enable them to develop:

KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING

a knowledge and thoughtful understanding of the Scriptures and a sensitivity to them as the Word of God speaking in their lives;
a knowledge of Catholic Doctrine understood in the light of its development in tradition and under the teaching authority of the Church;
knowledge and understanding to make moral judgments and decisions, and to see these as a way of realising their relationship with Jesus Christ;

SKILLS

the ability to pray, both formally and reflectively, so that this ability can grow and deepen;
the ability to understand and to share actively and personally in liturgy;
the ability to relate to others in a way that reflects Jesus' commandment of love;

VALUES AND ATTITUDES

a sensitivity to and appreciation of the meaning of life, its events and responsibilities;
an appreciation of their membership of the Church, initiated at Baptism and leading to active participation in parish life;
an awareness and appreciation of Christian values in life, and to encourage them to act in accordance with them;
an appreciation of their membership of the International Marist family, and their active participation in the Marist Project.