Marist Brothers

St Augustine's College is a school of the Diocese of Cairns and operates in partnership with the Institute of the Marist Brothers through its membership of Marist Schools Australia. It has 53 member schools and includes over 5000 Marist teachers, educators and staff associated with the education of over 40,000 young people.

St Augustine’s is one branch of a broader Marist movement that began in France in the early 19th century. We are part of the Australian Province, and our Provincial is Br Peter Carroll. The District of Melanesia (Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, New Caledonia and Vanuatu) joined the Australian Province in 2020. The principal work of the Marist Brothers continues to be Christian education of young people.

The Marist Brothers are a religious institute of the Catholic Church. Its 3,000 members world-wide are involved in many forms of Christian education. They are found in secondary schools, in refugee camps, in universities, with street kids, in social welfare agencies and in other outreach ministries in 80 countries.

To be a religious brother is to be a disciple of Christ who intensifies his baptismal commitment by professing the religious vows of poverty, chastity and obedience. As a lay consecrated man, he lives with his brothers in community, sharing prayer and witnessing individually and collectively to Jesus’ presence by his service and love, especially among the young.

[feature-block]

The Marist Constitution states: 

“Our vocation as brothers is a special call to live the brotherhood of Christ with everyone, especially with young people, loving them with a selfless love.”

[/feature-block]

At St Augustine's, the Brothers' monastery is on the College campus. Its three members fulfil a variety of roles in the College: student welfare, religious education, teaching and library assistant and archivist. As in all Marist schools, they work alongside a larger group of staff who, while not members of the Marist Brothers, are committed to the Marist way, its spirituality and distinctive educational style.