Mater Maria Catholic College, in the Northern Beaches suburb of Warriewood, blessed and opened its new McMahon Administration Centre, its Polding Centre and its St. Benedict’s Learning Centre on Wednesday 23 September, marking completion of its Stage Two building extensions.
The new buildings were blessed by Most Reverend Bishop Anthony Randazzo of Broken Bay. He was joined by Father’s Pietrusewicz, Sadowski and Borg, Parish Priests of the local Catholic parishes. Also present were the Director the Director of Catholic Schools Broken Bay, Mr Danny Casey, the College Principal Mr Marc Reicher, the Assistant Principal Mrs Brenda Timp, and the representatives of Catholic Schools Broken Bay, the College staff and student body.
“It is unusual to be welcoming such a small group to such a significant event,” said Principal Reicher during the opening. “We’ve had a number of challenges. To put a new build through the middle of a school and to have it in construction for 2.5 years, was easy by comparison to reducing the invitation list to COVID-19 restriction requirements.” Mr Reicher said he was very grateful to the school community for understanding that not all could attend.
Mr Reicher also spoke of his pride in the development and augmentation of the College in recent years, stating “I’m very proud that we have been able to achieve our projected growth, allowing us to provide a Catholic education for over 1,000 students on the Northern Beaches every year. With this growth and our thoughtful financial management at the school level, the support of the Diocese and its building fund, we were able to start this project in 2017, and we have gradually moved into the spaces over the last 12 months.”
During the opening, Bishop Anthony addressed the school community personally and powerfully “My hope is that these buildings will assist the Catholic school community of Mater Maria to embrace strong, vibrant and authentic Catholic education. What we have at Mater Maria is a series of first-class buildings, well designed and beautifully constructed.”
“The blessing of these buildings is another step towards strengthening Catholic education in the community of the Church of Broken Bay” he said.
Set high in a tranquil bush location, Mater Maria Catholic College is a co-educational school for Years 7 to 12. It prides itself on providing students with an exceptional educational experience focused on learning, positive support networks and an infinite array of opportunities reflecting the College values of Community, Hospitality, Justice, Spirituality and Stewardship that are grounded in the Catholic faith.
The College opened its doors to students in 1962 when the Sisters of the Good Samaritan founded a secondary school in Narrabeen for just 38 girls. The College was subsequently given into the care of the Catholic Diocese of Broken Bay in 1990.
Today the College has indoor and outdoor agile learning spaces, new administration and staff facilities, an easily accessible student welfare hub, a new café style canteen and the old parts of the school have been reconfigured into 6 new classrooms, a new junior kitchen, a purpose-built STEM lab that thrives with over 1,000 students each receiving a holistic Catholic education.
“We are very grateful for the support of Catholic Schools Broken Bay to have been able to make all of this happen, our students and families will be the richer for it,” concluded the very proud Principal, Mr Reicher.