Sydney
9 December 2001

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Not all kids at Catholic schools are Catholic, but many become so as a result of attending a Catholic school which shows them that it is good to be a Christian. Chris Hook spoke to a number of new, young Catholics

Marist College North Shore may have an academic reputation, but it is also achieving great success in matters of faith formation.

At a recent Rite of Initiation Mass at St Mary’s North Sydney, celebrated by Fr Peter Quin, Fr Emmet Costello, Fr Steve Curtin and Fr Oz Summertone, 50 students were confirmed into their faith, with 26 of them also baptised.

All were part of the school’s sacramental program run for Years 7 to 10. The eight-week course covers different aspects of faith, conversion and renewal and “challenges (the students) on their journey”, according to Religious Studies coordinator, Tony Clarke.

It is the first time the school has run the program in this form. Students have participated individually in previous years.

The college principal, Br Bill Sullivan, says he visited all Years 7 to 10 classes to describe the program and was “quite overwhelmed” by the level of interest.

He was able to answer student questions and stress that the program wasn’t compulsory; the boys could leave if they chose.

Year 10 students Jess Yates, Kyle Linahan and Julian Boswell are among those who raised their hands, completed the program and were welcomed into the Church at the recent ceremony. Br Bill sponsored Kyle and Julian.

“He’s a great example,” said Kyle.

Julian said the whole school was an example. “The way (the Brothers) teach is very different,” he said.

Jess agreed, saying the Brothers’ lives as Christians provided a great example. But the truths of the Faith also spoke to him.

“The Catholic guidelines are just morally right,” he said. “It doesn’t matter what you do; it’s just right.”

For Jess, the decision was also personal. He had not been baptised as a child, so he thought he’d take the opportunity to do the program.

Kyle thought completing the program with the support of his friends made it easier and he enjoyed the classes for the impact they had on the way he lives his life.

“I think it creates a balance in your life,” he said. “And it establishes better relationships with those around you.”

Kyle said his non-Catholic friends were supportive and hadn’t ribbed him about joining the Church. He added that he hoped he could be an example to them.

Julian was also influenced by the truths of the Faith and said his decision had been a recent one.

“On my 15th birthday, it was like a realisation that part of my life wasn’t fulfilled,” Julian revealed.

“I needed to sort it out in my mind, to get down to an understanding as to how I wanted to live my life, what sort of person I wanted to be,” he said.

“I think of myself as spiritual rather than religious.”

But Julian admitted that doing the course was easier with his friends.

“If you’ve got the support of people with similar views, you feel more comfortable,” he said.

All three boys come from families with split faith lives, where one parent is Anglican or where the family is not religious, says Tony Clarke. It is a background common to many of those participating in the school’s program.

It is a mark of the strength of the sense of community at the school.

“Their experience of community is so positive they want to be a part of it,” Mr Clarke said.

Br Bill – who spends lunchtime in the schoolyard getting to know students individually – agreed.

“I think the core of it is the community feeling in the place,” he said. “The kids like being here and feel part of the place.”

Br Bill also paid tribute to the school chaplain, Fr Peter Quin, for his “inspirational” liturgies.