CONFERENCES AND EVENTS
MARIAN LECTURE
FULL OF GRACE - TRANSFORM THE WORLD WITH GOD’S LOVE
Theologian, international speaker, author, and retreat leader Rev. Dr Sarah Bachelard will provoke us to consider how grace shapes our way of seeing, relating, and responding to the world. Her insights will help us engage with the theme in ways that connect faith with action and invite us into deeper reflection on what it means to live a grace-filled life.
Rev. Dr Sarah Bachelard is an Anglican priest based in Canberra and founder of Benedictus Contemplative Church, an ecumenical community centered on meditation and spiritual reflection. She has taught at Charles Sturt University and is an Honorary Research Fellow at the Australian Catholic University. She is the author of several books including Experiencing God in a Time of Crisis and Resurrection and Moral Imagination.
Date: 12 May 2026 | 6:00pm - 7:30pm (AEST)
Venue: Online and open to the public at Southern Cross Catholic College, Burwood, Sydney
Contact: Mark O’Farrell I mark.ofarrell@marists.org.au
biennial conference
Every two years the Marist Schools Australia Biennial Conference brings together Australian educators from 19 Australian dioceses, situated in seven states and territories. Each conference is intentionally focussed on enlivening the provision of high quality, contemporary evangelisation and Catholic education in the Marist tradition.
In 2026 the conference draws on the annual Marist theme Full of Grace - Transform the World with God’s Love and will be hosted in Western Australia.
Date: Sunday 26 July – Tuesday 38 July 2026.
Contact: Darren McGregor | darren.mcgregor@marists.org.au
Faith Formators' Colloquium
For Directors of Mission, RECs, APREs
The 2025 Colloquium took a deep dive into the annual theme ‘Pilgrims of Hope: Look Beyond’ and explored the implications in this Jubilee Year for forming staff and young people in the Catholic tradition whilst genuinely remaining open and encouraging to all. Through a rich blend of new thinking, discussion, prayer, music and creative expression, participants will deepened their appreciation of the spirituality required for modern day pilgrims in faith leadership positions, learning to imbue all situations with hope from a broad vision for mission.
The Colloquium featured keynote speaker Mike Munro AM, an Australian broadcasting icon whose tough childhood, faith, Marist connection and experience in the media made him an ideal match to explore the annual theme, along with MSA Regional Director Dr John Kyle-Robinson, an expert in unlocking evangelisation success in Australian school contexts.
The next Faith Formators’ Colloquium will be held in 2027.
Contact: Br Michael Callinan | michael.callinan@marists.org.au
FIRST NATIONS STUDENTS LEARNING SYMPOSIUM
Following the success of the First Nations Colloquium, Marist educators have voiced a strong desire to deepen collaboration and enhance professional practice with a clear focus: improving learning outcomes for First Nations students.
The program will provide the opportunity for a full day to connect with colleagues from across the country. To reflect on the ways First Nations culture, story and spirituality are animated within schools, and share practice on the engagement and support of First Nations students in their learning.
Contact: Michael Neylan | michael.neylan@marists.org.au
PRIMARY SCHOOLS COLLOQUIUM
The Marist Primary Schools’ Colloquium is for teachers involved in faith formation in the fifteen primary schools that draw their inspiration and charism from Saint Marcellin Champagnat. It is a significant opportunity for our family of educators to gather for the purpose of exploring issues of faith formation affecting staff and students in our Marist primary schools.
MARIST ASSOCIATION REGIONAL GATHERINGS
The Regional Gatherings aim to strengthen the connections between members of the Marist Association in geographical regions across Australia. Participants will have the opportunity to share their experience of Marist life and explore ideas and resources for nurturing the Marist Association. The format and content of gatherings will be determined by the local groups in the region and may consist of a shared meal, spiritual input and time for reflection and prayer. The Marist Mission and Life Formation Team are available to provide resources and support Local Coordinators in the facilitation of Regional Gatherings.
Contact: Mark O’Farrell I mark.ofarrell@marists.org.au
GOVERNANCE - FORMAtION RETREAT DAY
For Board Members, Chairs of Regional Councils, Chairs of College Advisory Council.
Contact: Sally Dillon I sally.dillon@marists.org.au
MSA ASSISTANT PRINCIPALS’ CONFERENCE
Date: 6-8 May 2026
Venue: The Hermitage, Mittagong
Contact: Meg Portelli I meg.portelli@marists.org.au
MSA BOARDING CONFERENCE
The Marist Schools Australia (MSA) Boarding Conference will bring together boarding staff from all boarding communities across the MSA network. The conference is intentionally focused on enlivening the provision of high quality, contemporary evangelisation and Catholic education in the Marist tradition.
Contact: Jim Noble | noblej@marash.qld.edu.au
MSA PRINCIPALS’ CONFERENCE
Date: 6 - 8 May 2026
Venue: The Hermitage, Mittagong
Contact: Sally Dillon I sally.dillon@marists.org.au
