Damascus College
Encyclopedia
Damascus College is a secondary, co-educational, Catholic
day school
situated in Ballarat
colleges, St. Martin's in the Pines (Mount Clear), Sacred Heart College (Ballarat East, both owned and administered by the Sisters of Mercy) and St. Pauls College (Ballarat East, conducted by the Christian Brothers) amalgamated to form the largest co-educational catholic school in Ballarat.
The Congregation of the Sisters of Mercy
had its formal beginnings in Ireland in 1831. Its foundress, Catherine McAuley
, in response to the needs of the time, established an institutiuon for the care and education of less advantaged girls and young women. Since that foundation the Congregation has continued to act in response to contemporary needs in society.
In 1881, as part of this heritage, the Sisters of Mercy established Sacred Heart College in Ballarat East for students from Preparatory to Year 12. The primary students were later moved to St. Francis Xavier College. In 1967, a separate campus for Years 11 and 12 girls was developed at Mount Clear to form Sacred Heart Senior College, St. Martin's in the Pines. In 1988, this campus became co-educational, with boys mainly from St. Paul's College.
The Christian Brothers were founded in Ireland in 1802 by Br. Edmund Rice to educate the sons of poor and oppressed Catholic families. The Brothers provided the education whereby these boys gained some control of their lives.
When the Bishop of Ballarat, Most Reverend James O'Collins established St. Paul's College in 1948, he invited the Christian Brothers to continue their work for boys through the provision of technical education.
Based on the philosophies of the founders, the Colleges offered a broad education for boys and girls to prepare them for future life choices. Sacred Heart College offered a comprehensive education for girls from Years 7 to 10. St. Pauls College emphasised the development of technical skills within a comprehensive Year 7 to 10 curriculum for boys. St. Martin's in the Pines continued this broad education in an atmosphere and environment appropriate to students about to complete their secondary education.
Damascus College is jointly sponsored by the Sisters of Mercy (Ballarat East) and the Parish Priests of Ballarat, Ballarat East, Ballarat North, Bungaree, Cressy, Creswick, Daylesford, Gordon, Linton, Redan, Sebastopol, and Wendouree. The College provided Catholic secondary co-education for day students in Ballarat and surrounding areas on two campuses located at Ballarat East and Mount Clear.
Tony Duggan is currently on leave from principal, Acting Principal is Matthew Byrne at Mount Clear, and Sr Marie Davey (RSM) at Victoria Street.
In August 2010, it was announced that as of 2011, Mr Matthew Byrne will take over as College Principal, following the resignation of Mr. Tony Duggan
Bishop James O'Collins
Brother Edmund Ignatius Rice
Mother Xavier Flood
Catholic
The word catholic comes from the Greek phrase , meaning "on the whole," "according to the whole" or "in general", and is a combination of the Greek words meaning "about" and meaning "whole"...
day school
Day school
A day school—as opposed to a boarding school—is an institution where children are given educational instruction during the day and after which children/teens return to their homes...
situated in Ballarat
Ballarat, Victoria
Ballarat is a city in the state of Victoria, Australia, approximately west-north-west of the state capital Melbourne situated on the lower plains of the Great Dividing Range and the Yarrowee River catchment. It is the largest inland centre and third most populous city in the state and the fifth...
Origins
The College was established in 1995 after three separate CatholicCatholic
The word catholic comes from the Greek phrase , meaning "on the whole," "according to the whole" or "in general", and is a combination of the Greek words meaning "about" and meaning "whole"...
colleges, St. Martin's in the Pines (Mount Clear), Sacred Heart College (Ballarat East, both owned and administered by the Sisters of Mercy) and St. Pauls College (Ballarat East, conducted by the Christian Brothers) amalgamated to form the largest co-educational catholic school in Ballarat.
The Congregation of the Sisters of Mercy
Sisters of Mercy
The Religious Order of the Sisters of Mercy is an order of Catholic women founded by Catherine McAuley in Dublin, Ireland, in 1831. , the order has about 10,000 members worldwide, organized into a number of independent congregations....
had its formal beginnings in Ireland in 1831. Its foundress, Catherine McAuley
Catherine McAuley
The Venerable Mother Catherine Elizabeth McAuley was an Irish nun, who founded the Sisters of Mercy in 1831...
, in response to the needs of the time, established an institutiuon for the care and education of less advantaged girls and young women. Since that foundation the Congregation has continued to act in response to contemporary needs in society.
In 1881, as part of this heritage, the Sisters of Mercy established Sacred Heart College in Ballarat East for students from Preparatory to Year 12. The primary students were later moved to St. Francis Xavier College. In 1967, a separate campus for Years 11 and 12 girls was developed at Mount Clear to form Sacred Heart Senior College, St. Martin's in the Pines. In 1988, this campus became co-educational, with boys mainly from St. Paul's College.
The Christian Brothers were founded in Ireland in 1802 by Br. Edmund Rice to educate the sons of poor and oppressed Catholic families. The Brothers provided the education whereby these boys gained some control of their lives.
When the Bishop of Ballarat, Most Reverend James O'Collins established St. Paul's College in 1948, he invited the Christian Brothers to continue their work for boys through the provision of technical education.
Based on the philosophies of the founders, the Colleges offered a broad education for boys and girls to prepare them for future life choices. Sacred Heart College offered a comprehensive education for girls from Years 7 to 10. St. Pauls College emphasised the development of technical skills within a comprehensive Year 7 to 10 curriculum for boys. St. Martin's in the Pines continued this broad education in an atmosphere and environment appropriate to students about to complete their secondary education.
Damascus College is jointly sponsored by the Sisters of Mercy (Ballarat East) and the Parish Priests of Ballarat, Ballarat East, Ballarat North, Bungaree, Cressy, Creswick, Daylesford, Gordon, Linton, Redan, Sebastopol, and Wendouree. The College provided Catholic secondary co-education for day students in Ballarat and surrounding areas on two campuses located at Ballarat East and Mount Clear.
Tony Duggan is currently on leave from principal, Acting Principal is Matthew Byrne at Mount Clear, and Sr Marie Davey (RSM) at Victoria Street.
In August 2010, it was announced that as of 2011, Mr Matthew Byrne will take over as College Principal, following the resignation of Mr. Tony Duggan
Founding Patrons
Venerable Catherine McAuleyCatherine McAuley
The Venerable Mother Catherine Elizabeth McAuley was an Irish nun, who founded the Sisters of Mercy in 1831...
Bishop James O'Collins
Brother Edmund Ignatius Rice
Edmund Ignatius Rice
Blessed Edmund Ignatius Rice , was a Roman Catholic missionary and educationalist. Edmund was the founder of two orders of religious brothers: the Congregation of Christian Brothers and the Presentation Brothers....
Mother Xavier Flood
See also
- Catholic All Schools Sports Association (CAS)
- List of schools in Victoria
- List of high schools in Victoria
- Victorian Certificate of EducationVictorian Certificate of EducationThe Victorian Certificate of Education or VCE is the credential awarded to secondary school students who successfully complete high school level studies in the state of Victoria, Australia. Study for the VCE is usually completed over two years, but it can be spread over a longer period in some cases...