Nicole+Duyvestyn+-+St+Anthony's,+Deeragun

St Anthony’s Catholic College is relatively a new school in the Townsville diocese whose foundation is based on the Franciscan tradition. Being a new school the rich traditions of its charism are just beginning to develop in our school community. St Anthony’s Catholic College was established in in the rapidly expanding northern suburbs of Townsville in 1992 with an enrolment of 91 students from Prep to Year 7. In 2005, our secondary campus opened and will be completed in 2009 when Years 8-12 will be operating. St Anthony's Catholic College as it grows is striving to embrace the heritage of the Franciscan Friars. Michael Green describes the Charisms of the church as the great gospel ideas and ways of undertaking God’s work, ways of working with others to make these great gospel ideas true to life. Marachel (2000) suggests that a Charism provides a school with a: Story to enter, language to speak, a group which to belong, a way to pray, work to undertake and a face of God to see. Sr Marg described charism as something that holds a story, an energy and a dynamic which becomes real when it is acted upon and shared that invites different levels or participation. This is the challenge for our school. At St Anthony’s college over the past 3 years we have been striving to establish a mutual understanding of our Franciscan heritage and our story through the use of Staff In-services about Franciscan Spirituality. We believe that a school which claims the Franciscan tradition aims to create: We are grappling to gain some common knowledge and understanding of our Franciscan heritage. This is difficult each year as our school grows and new staff members and students join our school community. As Brien and Hack (2005) point out the establishment of new schools requires the school to take some responsibility for the spiritual leadership and development of this Charism due to the shortage of priests and their advanced age limiting their involvement in the school community. This is o the case at St Anthony’s. Our parish priest, Fr Giles Setter, is our main link presently to our Franciscan heritage and he is both aging and already inundated with responsibilities in his ever expanding parish. It is difficult for him to always be present in our school community. He attends school assemblies where possible and is involved in liturgies and masses on a regular basis. However the responsibility of truly bringing our Charism to life can not rest solely on his shoulders. It is the responsibility of all stakeholders to bring this Charism to life. We are challenged to embrace not only our Franciscan heritage but to also remember that this heritage is part of the Catholic Church. Brien and Hack (2005) point out that these Charisms of our schools reveal **bigger realities of the very essence of what it means to live as Catholics and answer the call of the gospel.** Bishop Michael Putney(2005) states that schools being perceived to be and experienced as a part of the life and misson of the larger church, is essential at this point of history if the schools are to remain Catholic in a way that is continuity with the first beginnings of Catholic Education. St Anthony of Padua himself was so impressed by the Franciscan way of life that he left his original order to join St Francis and the friars. "//Where there is love and wisdom there is neither fear nor ignorance." // (Francis of Assisi) Francis modeled his way of life on the message of Jesus in the Gospels. 
 * __ Franciscan Charism at St Anthony’s Catholic College. __**
 * An atmosphere that is fraternal
 * A sense of solidarity and belonging among all persons at the school
 * A community of self-disciplined persons
 * A place of pardon and peace
 * A community of service within the larger social community.