On Wednesday 25 February 2026, we came together as a College, and the Claver community, to officially mark the start of 2026 with a celebration of the Liturgy of the Word.
This year, the annual event took on additional meaning as we also celebrated 50 years of Concern, Love and Justice; half a century of growing an authentic Catholic community where belonging, learning, teaching and celebrating are deeply rooted in our every day.
Archbishop Shane Mackinlay and Father Peter Gablonski celebrated the Liturgy of the Word. It followed a First Nations Smoking Ceremony; welcome dance performed by First Nations students who were accompanied by Marlon Riley and Robert Duncan from Ngutana-Lui Cultural Studies Centre; and the presentation of the Book of the Gospels by Samoan taupou and Year 12 student Hozanah Iosefo.
The Archbishop blessed our newly commissioned reconciliation mural Woogaroo by local artist Jennifer Kent from Manamana Dreaming. The artwork story theme is ‘Djaara’ which means to consume and replenish, to inhale and exhale, to breathe and give back to the land.
“St Peter Claver College is upon a very special part of the world and this Djarra is all of ours to care for, we are here side by side, growing, consuming and breathing together in this space and this time, which is something to be valued and appreciated,” said artist Jennifer Kent.
“Woogaroo has been imprinted with the unique thumbprint of every student, every staff member, our families and our community partners,” said the Archbishop in his blessing. “May the beauty and grace of Woogaroo uplift our human spirit and inspire us to transform the world with God’s love.”
We also took time to reflect on our 2026 Marist Spiritual Theme ‘Full of Grace – Transform the World with God’s Love’ and how it reminds us that grace is God’s love freely given, with no limits and no conditions.
“It’s not something we have to earn, but something we can choose to receive and share,” read College Captain Levi Timaloa. “Grace shows up in the small things: a kind word, a helping hand, listening patiently, or standing up for someone who needs support. When we do these things, God’s love becomes real and visible. “
The Liturgy was also an opportunity to formally welcome and commission our new Principal Charles Brauer, entrusted with guiding St Peter Claver College in the spirit of Saint Marcellin Champagnat.
Members of the College Leadership Team and representatives from Brisbane Catholic Education and Marist Schools Australia gathered around Mr Brauer and extended a hand in blessing.
“Mr Brauer, in the spirit of St Marcellin Champagnat and St Peter Claver, we commission you as Principal of St Peter Claver College. May you lead with a heart that is strong, simple and full of hope,” read College Captain Michelle Itto Toke.
Following his blessing and commissioning and the playing of a video tribute to the Claver community, Mr Brauer reflected on the milestone of 50 years of Concern, Love and Justice.
“As a Claver community we find ourselves at a special place and special time, a time to give thanks for those who have gone before, to celebrate who we are today and to embrace the future of our Claver community with great hope and optimism,” said Principal Charles Brauer.
“Our College name – St Peter Claver College. Named after St Peter Claver – a person who reached out to others. He went to find those in the most need. He was a doer. A person of action. He walked the talk. He lived by the motto – ‘We must speak to them with our hands by giving before we try to speak to them with our words.’ With choosing St Peter Claver as our Patron Saint and College name we have said ‘yes’ to caring for the dignity and self-worth of each person through our actions,” he said.
Mr Brauer ended his Principal’s Address with the following: “For the past 50 years and our next 50 years, we haven’t and won’t know what tomorrow will bring. However, we do know one thing … We know how we should be tomorrow. We know to be caring to each other. We know to do the just thing, the right thing with each other. We know to choose to be grateful for others. We ‘be’ graceful.”
“For today and tomorrow, we live our motto. We keep saying ‘yes’ to Concern. We keep saying ‘yes’ to Love. We keep saying ‘yes’ to Justice,” he said.
We warmly welcomed special guests into the heart of our Claver community to celebrate with us.
• Marist, Mercy, BCE and Parish guests:
Archbishop Shane Mackinlay, Father Peter Gablonski, Sister Mary Tinney, Mr Brett Horton, Mr Glenn McConville, Ms Gracey McGrath, Ms Gill Corsen, Mr Mark Elliot, Mr Tony Clarke, Mr Justin Golding and Mr Neville Stagg.
• Past Principals and Staff:
Mr Bob Cullen, Mr Kerry Mulkerin, Mr Diarmuid O’Riordan, Mr Niall Coburn, Mr Terry Finan, Mr Bruce McPhee, Mrs Jane Egan, Mrs Denise McGeary, Mrs Sheelagh Crone, Mr Michael Naylor, Mrs Ursula Russell, Mr Raj Vasanthakumar, Ms Debbie Speer, Mr Paul Mackay, Ms Ellie Athorn and Ms Mary Fowler.
• Community Friends:
Aunty Ruth, Ms Jennifer Kent, Mr Wesley Kent, The Hon. Shane Neumann MP, Mr Lance McCallum MP, Councillor Marney Doyle and Mrs Carol Dowd.
© Brisbane Catholic Education, St Peter Claver College (2026)