St Stanislaus' College

The Vincentian Fathers and Brothers arrived from Ireland to take over St Charles Seminary and St Stanislaus’ College in 1889, the College having been in operation since 1867. The first Vincentian President was Fr James Byrne CM, who was principally involved in the Seminary and left the running of the College to the Vice President, Fr Patrick Dowling CM. Since the time of Fr Byrne and Fr Dowling, Vincentians have played an integral role in the life of Stannies. Generations of Old Boys have been inspired by the Vincentian Charism and identify its Vincentian character as one of the most precious attributes or features of the school. One expression of the strength of the Vincentian ethos at Stannies is that more than 200 Old Boys have been ordained Catholic Priests since the school was founded.

Vincentians continued in the role of President and Headmaster until the commencement of 1993, when it was decided to separate the two roles. Mr John Edwards was appointed as the first lay Headmaster in 1993 and continued in this role for 20 years. The current Head of College is Mr Lindsay Luck.

St Stanislaus’ derives great benefit from the active involvement of the College appointed Vincentians and from those in the Bathurst Community and in other Vincentian Communities who continue to be very interested in Stannies and who loyally support the College in its various endeavors.

A number of Vincentians also assist the school by being members of the Board of Directors. The Very Reverend Fr Greg Brett is the Provincial of the Australian Province of the Vincentian Fathers and regularly attends Board Meetings.

St Stanislaus’ College seeks to proclaim the gospel in the spirit of St Vincent de Paul through the formation of our students and all associated with the school, with special emphasis given to the spiritual, intellectual, social and physical growth of each person within and for the larger community.

Accent is placed on care of the individual boy through the Tutor system, counselling and direction by the Religious and Lay Members of Staff. The College aims to work with parents in the task of education; creating an environment which reflects the spirit of Christ in a strong and faithful way, and calls forth the best in those who are part of the school.

The Vincentian Philosophy of Education seeks to proclaim the Gospel in the spirit of St Vincent de Paul and in so doing to form people that they may bring the Good News to the poor and stand with them in solidarity. The following principles are regarded as fundamental to the task of assisting young people to develop a synthesis of faith and culture and a personal integration of faith and life.

• Jesus Christ sent by God, the Person in whom all human values find their fulfilment and unity, is the model of authentic human life which we offer.
• In the certainty that the Holy Spirit is at work in every person who seeks the truth we offer our catholic faith and culture to all, non?Christians included.
• Since faith is a gift of God and cannot be imposed, we proclaim the Gospel and offer a formation based on the values of that Gospel while respecting the religious freedom and personal conscience of individual students and their parents.
• Formation for living according to the Gospel message is continually fed and stimulated by its Source of life, the Saving Word of Christ. This is expressed in the Scriptures, in tradition, especially liturgical and sacramental tradition, and in the lives of people, past and present who bear witness to that Word. Mary the mother of God is a singular model and excellent example of that which we as Christians desire and hope wholly to be in faith, charity and union with Christ.
• The justification for a catholic college is its sharing in the evangelising mission of the Church; as such the mandate for our apostolic undertaking is given by the Bishops to whom we are responsible in the person of the local Bishop.
• The promotion of the fundamental equality and dignity of all persons is the basis for our preferential option for the poor, for those who, regardless of the reason, are marginalised in our society, and for those who are deprived of family help and affection.
• Since parents are primarily and principally responsible for the education of their children, a Vincentian college community forms and fosters a partnership with them in the context of the local ecclesial community.
• Witness to the integration of faith and vocation in life takes place in a genuine community of faith in which the complementary vocations of lay and religious women and men are recognised, welcomed and fostered.
• A good educational environment is one where young people gradually learn to open themselves continually to life as it is and to create in themselves a clear meaning of life; hence students are to be active agents in their own formation and in the formation of their peers.
• Ongoing formation of all involved in the apostolate of educating young people is a necessary prerequisite for maintaining the self-criticism needed to evaluate and improve the formation that is offered. Such ongoing formation will seek to develop the educator humanly, professionally, religiously and spiritually in the tradition of Vincent de Paul.
• The educational programme is directed to the integral formation of each student so that he, whatever his ability, is extended to the fullest degree possible in an areas of his formation.

To proclaim the Gospel in the spirit of St Vincent de Paul and to offer an integral human formation for living according to that same Gospel with due emphasis given to the spiritual, intellectual, psychological, physical, moral and social growth of each person in order that students may reach the maturity and inner directedness required for meeting the commitments of their vocation within and for the larger community. This formation is offered to all via the provision of an environment that contributes to the wholeness of each in a Vincentian College community, We aim, furthermore, to give special attention to those who are disadvantaged and poor.