Catholic Character

All in the way of Mary 

Founded by the Priests of the Society of Mary, St. John’s College seeks to model our lives on Mary, the Mother of Jesus.  Our spirituality is expressed in our devotion to modelling Mary’s attitude towards others, her quiet action, often described as hidden and unseen.  In doing so, we strive ‘to do as Mary did’, in everything we say and do.  “All to Jesus through Mary, All to Mary for Jesus.”

Our Special Character is Catholic in the Marist tradition, and is central to College life.  This is ultimately expressed through our College Motto, “Opere et Veritate”, and the values and habits of a St. John’s Man. Our motto translated​ means “In Truth and Work”, or what we like to say “In Word and Deed”.  It is in doing what is morally right through our every day actions that our Catholic Character is made visible.

Prayer and liturgy form an important part of life at St John’s.  Mass is offered every week on a Tuesday, and school masses are a high point of our community life.  Benediction and  retreats offer students a diverse range of contemporary and traditional Catholic experiences.

​Service is equally important and there are a range of opportunities for the boys to be involved with  service to the College and the wider community.  The College has opportunities for service such as Young Vinnie’s,  Commit to a Cause and Young Marist Neighbours.  In addition, each year a group of our young men involve themselves with a social enterprise project which addresses issues of social justice.

The Pastoral Care of our students draws from our Catholic tradition where we seek to support our students and help them to grow to be young men of character.   We want our young men to be good fathers, good husbands, good employees and good employers.  This is made clear through the values and habits we hope to see in our young men, which are based on gospel virtues.