Our Story

Fortior Ito - Go forth with strength

Parramatta Marist is proud to be part of Catholic Schools Parramatta Diocese's system of 80 Catholic primary and secondary schools operating across Western Sydney and the Blue Mountains providing more than 43,500 students with a high-quality, low fee Catholic education.

At Parramatta Marist, we are proud to be the oldest, continuing Catholic school established in Australia, and second oldest school in Australia.

As a Catholic educational centre of learning for boys, our goal is for each student to achieve beyond their potential.

Fortior Ito - Go forth with strength

Students working at their desks at Parramatta Marist High School Westmead

As a Marist School, we embrace an educational environment and develop a community with the following characteristics:

Family Spirit

Our ‘Marist family’ is committed to mutual trust, forgiveness and reconciliation, recognising the diverse needs of our community.

Presence

Teachers truly know their students and build a positive working environment based on care, trust, respect and responsibility.

Love of Work

Following the hardworking example of St Marcellin, students develop a strong work ethic with high expectations for themselves.

Simplicity

Through the practice of simplicity, our students achieve an integrated approach to life, becoming open, truthful and respectful members of society.

In The Way of Mary

In the spirit of St Marcellin, students are encouraged to become like Mary and grow spiritually through reflection and service to others.

St Marcellin Champagnat 1789–1840

St Marcellin Champagnat, the founder of the Marist Brothers, is the life-giving root of Marist education.

St Marcellin did understand young people and their needs and showed himself to be a first-class educator of young people. The secret of his success lay in the great simplicity with which he related to his young followers and in his great confidence in them.

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St Marcellin Champagnat 1789–1840

Statue of St Marcellin Champagnat at Parramatta Marist High School Westmead

Our school crest

The school crest includes the following symbols which speak our proud Marist legacy:

the Cross of Jesus Christ
the Southern Cross of Australia
the open book of the scriptures
the Lamp of Learning.

The traditional Marian monogram sees the letters A and M intertwined to represent the Latin phrase Ave Maria - 'Hail Mary'. Our crest features the words of our school motto: “Fortio Ito." This translates from Latin to "Go forth with strength.'