Oblate Charism
The Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate (OMI) were founded as a Religious Congregation in 1816 by a young French priest, Eugene de Mazenod. Eugene was born into a wealthy family steeped in the traditions of French nobility. As a child these traditions were shattered by the French Revolution, and the young Eugene was forced to escape to Italy with his mother and sister to escape the guillotine.
Returning to France as a young man Eugene was stunned by the chaos and destruction he experienced all around him. In particular he was saddened by a society which had lost its sense of God and had forgotten the unique dignity of every human person. Moved by the plight of his own people Eugene became a priest and dedicated himself to those who found themselves on the margins of society. Eugene quickly realized that in order to fulfill his mission he needed a certain amount of autonomy and so, with a small band of fellow priests, he formed his new Religious Congregation – approved by the Pope in 1826 as the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate.
His desire to bring people to appreciate their dignity before God moved Eugene to constantly seek out the poor and those who were in most need so that they might realise just how precious they are in the eyes of God.
One of Eugene’s statements has become the motto of our College. Speaking to a congregation of poor servants in 1816 Eugene passionately prayed that those listening to him might: “Learn what they are in the eyes of God.”
In so many ways this sums up the vision of Eugene de Mazenod – and the vision of Mazenod College.
The Missionary Oblates work to continue Eugene’s vision in all five world continents and his message of dignity, hope and God’s unique love for us is being shared today with many millions of people.
The Oblates arrived at Fremantle, Australia in 1894 – just 34 years after Eugene had died. On 3rd December 1995, Eugene de Mazenod was canonised a Saint by Pope John Paul II.
Our Story
The foundation of Mazenod College was born of a dream – a dream to establish Catholic Education for boys in the hills above Perth.
This dream came to light in 1963 when two Oblate priests at the Lourdes Monastery, Lesmurdie, met with the local Member of Parliament (Mr. Dunn) and real estate agents.
On the map of the hills a block of land was set aside for “Education Endowment”.
Following two difficult years of detailed discussion and negotiations, Deeds of Land were offered to the Oblates on January 27 1965, providing both building and classes could begin within two years.
For a financially poor Religious Congregation the task of raising funds to meet this demand was challenging , to say the least. However, following the vision, enthusiasm and energy of our Founder, St Eugene de Mazenod, no-one doubted that the job could be done.
A dream will remain only a dream unless the local community wish to make it a reality. Without the incredible collaboration of local community and Oblates (Fr Ian Mackintosh and Fr Denis McCarthy) the dream would have remained only that.
Today, Mazenod College prides itself on its community spirit and we talk with great pride of our “Mazenod spirit.”
Land clearing began in May 1965 and the foundations of the first Mazenod College building were laid only four months later, long before the age of multi-purpose rock-breakers and when raw dynamite and back-breaking digging was the only way to clear and level land for building purposes. Our first College building was finished in May 1966.
The actual start of Mazenod College as a school was February 14 1966 when Frs. McCarthy and Mackintosh welcomed thirty one boys as the first grade 6 & 7 students of Mazenod College, Western Australia.
Shortly after this Fr Don Hughes was appointed as the first Rector of the school, and Mazenod College was officially opened on May 8 1966.
Our Oblate dream to serve the people of Western Australia through education was fully realised when we established a Boarding residence in 1967, thus enabling students from rural areas to benefit from a quality education in a Catholic and Oblate tradition.
Mazenod College, Western Australia, is one of three Colleges founded by the Oblates in Australia. We share a common vision and mission with Mazenod College (Victoria) and Iona College (Queensland). In more recent years St Eugene’s College (Queensland) was founded within a parish operated by the Oblates, so the message and tradition of St Eugene de Mazenod continue to grow and develop in our time.