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Welcome to St Mary’s Cathedral College Sydney, a Years 3–12 Catholic boys college in the heart of the city. The college, in some ways, is a microcosm of the development of Catholic Education in Australia. It was established in 1824 by one of the early pioneers of education in Australia, Fr John Therry, who set out to provide an education for mostly poor children in an emerging colony. Between 1828 and 2016, secondary education has been conducted on the same site by three different religious orders, the majority of that time with little or no government funding. The Christian Brothers were the last religious order to lead the education of young men which concluded in 2015 after 105 years of outstanding service and educational leadership. There is a strong continuing commitment in the community to maintain and enliven the charism of the Christian Brothers in the spirit of Blessed Edmund Rice.
The music program at the college is unique with hundreds of boys receiving weekly instrumental tuition. The college joined the Amadeus Program in 2022 with all students receiving instrumental tuition and ensemble training. This program will complement the strong music program that already exists at the college. The college showcases its musical achievements throughout the year. The annual concert in June is a calendar highlight, with all the young men of the college involved in the evening. All boys who enter St Mary’s Cathedral Choir in the primary school must attend the college. The younger boys in Years 3–6 are musically gifted with the majority involved in the Cathedral choir. This platform sets the framework for the musical program at the college, with 20 bands and ensembles taking place before and after school on a weekly basis.
The college enjoys a close relationship with St Mary’s Cathedral and has great support from the clergy led by the Dean of the Cathedral, Fr Don Richardson. The college often joins in the celebration of the Eucharist in the Cathedral, with His Grace Archbishop Fisher regularly the celebrant at the Masses. The college celebrates weekly Mass in the Cathedral crypt before school each Wednesday, which all staff and students are welcome to attend.
The college has a strong commitment in responding to the needy with staff and students volunteering regularly to assist at The Matthew Talbot Hostel at Darlinghurst. The college is involved in the Sydney Catholic Schools Sports competition, competing weekly in a range of sports each term. The college participates in the Catholic Schools’ Debating Association (CSDA) competitions and excels in both of these co-curricular fields of endeavour.
The college provides a holistic education based on the principles of boys’ education. The young men are encouraged to have positive and healthy relationships with all in the community. The staff are committed to providing excellent learning and teaching in the formal curriculum and a diverse range of opportunities in the sporting and cultural fields.
Kerrie McDiarmid
Principal
