In the Vincentian tradition that’s developed over more than 400 years, education continues to play an important part of the work of the Oceania Province.
High School Education
St Stanislaus’ College In Bathurst NSW was established in 1867 as a day and boarding college for boys. In 1889 Vincentian Fathers and Brothers who arrived from Ireland were invited to take charge of the College. This began a continuing relationship with the high school that’s spanned over 130 years. St Stanislaus College or ”Stanies” as it has come to be known is the oldest Catholic boys only school that’s still operating.
The college seeks to proclaim the gospel in the spirit of St Vincent de Paul through the formation of our students. As a Catholic School in the Vincentian tradition our focus on excellence in the education of boys is underpinned by Vincentian values and supported by the Vincentian Philosophy of Education.
For more information on St Stanislaus’ College click here https://www.stannies.com/
Adult Education
St Vincent de Paul believed the importance of education of the clergy. In keeping with this tradition, the Oceania Province has become an important centre of adult theological learning.
VINCENTIANS AND THEOLOGICAL EDUCATION
Since Vincentian Priests and Brothers came to Australia they have been involved in teaching – whether in secondary schools (Bathurst and Bendigo) or in seminaries (Marsfield in NSW, Rostrevor in Adelaide, Guildford in W.A., and Mosgiel, in New Zealand. The Congregation of the Mission has been involved in formation of men for priestly ministry since its beginning. This apostolate evolved to complement and build on the spread of parish missions, the initial outreach of the Congregation of the Mission.
Quite early in their work St. Vincent and his confreres confronted the urgent need for educated country priests. The Catholic Church in France and much of Western Europe in the 17th century was in a bad way. The clergy, especially in the country areas, were poorly educated and the pastoral needs of parishioners totally neglected. St. Vincent’s early efforts for the formation of clergy took the form of conferences in Paris. From this grew Vincentian involvement in the spread of seminaries throughout France and beyond. Formation for priestly ministry was initially basic and practice oriented with attention given to the spiritual life of future pastors. This formed one stream in the wider renewal of the church after the Council of Trent.
The Irish confreres when they came to Australia in the 19th century continued a focus on clergy formation. As the province developed it became responsible for the formation of diocesan priests in Adelaide, Perth and Mosgiel in New Zealand. More recently commitments to the Pacific Regional Seminary in Suva, Fiji, and the seminary in Honiara, Solomon Islands, have continued our involvement in seminary formation. Emphasis has been was given to academic, spiritual and pastoral formation of candidates for the priesthood in dioceses throughout Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific. This work reached its peak in the years following the Second Vatican Council. Changes in the agenda of priestly formation together with the absorption of seminaries under local bishops has seen changes in the way Vincentians now work in this area.