Marist College Rosalie will continue to play a major role in Catholic education – but in a new way – from the start of 2009.
The college – the first Marist Brothers’ school in Queensland – will cease operating as a secondary school in December, after 80 years of educating young men in the Marist tradition.
It will be renamed the LaValla Centre in January 2009 (LaValla being the name of the town in France where St Marcellin Champagnat, the founder of the Marist order, conducted his ministry).
The LaValla Centre will be used by the Marist Brothers for teacher in-service training, presentations, retreats, meetings and offices; and as a place of prayer and base for involvement with youth in the local Catholic parish.
It will also be used as a centre of ongoing education for students at Marist-affiliated schools, as a base for student leadership seminars, faith formation, student retreats and events for young people.
A Marist Brothers’ community will remain living on site.
The incoming head of the Brothers’ community and the Director of the LaValla Centre, Br John Thompson, said the Marist educational ministry would now be able to continue at the historic Rosalie site.
“This new chapter in the history of Rosalie will see the site used for the ongoing education and spiritual formation of teachers in Marist-affiliated schools, of which there are ten in Queensland,” Br Thompson said.
“Rosalie has been a Marist site since 1929 and the Brothers will continue this tradition in a new and exciting way, bringing teachers and students from across Queensland and northern New South Wales to Rosalie, where they will be able to further their learning and deepen their spirituality,” he said.
Rosalie Principal, Leo Schultz, said the school community was thrilled to know that the site would continue as an educational institution, and that the history of the school would be on display for all to see.
“All of the memorabilia of 80 years of operation as a school will remain in place to honour the tradition and history of Marist College Rosalie and the many students who have passed through its classrooms,” Mr Schultz said.
Jubilee Parish Priest, Fr Peter Brannelly, said the parish was looking forward to its partnership with the Brothers in the new use of the Rosalie site and hoped it would remain a vital part of the Catholic Church’s youth and educational ministry for many years to come.
Released by the Catholic Communications Office
October 31, 2008