The Story of Cerdon College

Cerdon College is a Marist school which aims to lead its students to an awareness of what it means to be a Christian in the tradition of the Catholic community.

The Marist religious community embraces the Marist Sisters, Marist Brothers, Marist Fathers and the Marist Missionary Sisters. The Marist Sisters have their own Home Page.

The original plan of the Society of Mary was conceived in Lyons, France in 1816. As early as 1824 the Marist Sisters, with Jeanne-Marie Chavoin as Foundress, began their apostolic work of teaching, nursing and of doing other kinds of apostolic work of which there was great need in France after the Revolution of 1789. The first home for the Sisters was in the village of Cerdon.

The Congregation of the Marist Sisters spread to other countries and in 1908 a group of Sisters - French, English and Irish - came to Woolwich, New South Wales, to begin their work in Australia. In 1960, with a small group of students they undertook a new pioneering venture and Cerdon College Merrylands had begun. Underlying their educational and apostolic work was the desire to bring the presence of Mary among all with whom they worked.

As a Marist community, all strive to bring to the College the spirit of Mary, Mother of God, whom they take for their model. They strive to imitate her humility, her self-denial, her close union with God and her love for others.

In recognition of the Marist spirit and tradition of Cerdon College the school hall is named Chavoin Hall. The school library is also known as the Sr. Ann-Marie Learning Centre, to recognise the contribution to the school of the Marist Sisters and Sr Ann-Marie Webb, Principal for fifteen years.

(from the Student Handbook, page 3)