Respected scholar and educator Br Michael Green has been awarded Australian Catholic University’s highest honour - the Doctor of the University (Honoris Causa).
He received the title at a ceremony held in Sydney on 10 October, a fitting recognition that comes just a year after he celebrated his Golden Jubilee as a Marist Brother.
The Honorary Doctorate recognises Br Michael’s significant contributions to religious pedagogy, and his scholarly work on Catholic spirituality and history, and the relationship between Catholic community and mission vitality.
Br Michael Green receiving the degree from Hon Martin Daubney AM KC, Chancellor of the University.
“Br Michael said it was a “great surprise” to receive an Honorary degree for his service to the Marists and the Church in Australia.”
“The first reaction of course was one of great surprise, but quickly that changed to one of gratitude and a sense of honour not to me, but to the work I’ve been doing and the people to whom I’ve been serving,” Br Michael said.
Br Michael is the 200th recipient of an Honorary Doctorate from ACU and the third Marist Brother to receive the prestigious degree.
Br Michael Green celebrated 50 years of being a Marist Brothers last year.
Born and raised in Sydney, Br Michael was educated by the Marist Brothers throughout his entire schooling years, a connection that played an enormous influence on his decision to enter religious life.
He was on track to study law after completing high school when he instead followed in his teachers’ footsteps and devoted himself as a Marist Brother.
“I was quite captivated by some of the Brothers who taught me, and I could see myself being a Marist. It seemed to me a very worthwhile thing to devote one’s life to.”
L - R: Dr John Kyle Robinson, Regional Director, Marist Schools Australia; Br Peter Carroll, Superior General, Marist Institute; Br Michael Green; Dr Frank Malloy, National Director, Marist Schools Australia, and Michael Blake, Headmaster of St Joseph’s College.
“The Catholic school is one of the greatest treasures and contributors to God’s mission.”
Since becoming a Marist Brother, Br Michael has served as a teacher, secondary school principal, university college rector, senior administrator, author and lecturer. He is also known by the Marists’ international community for his spiritual formation on the congregation’s spirituality and history.
In 2010 Br Michael was appointed the inaugural National Director of Marist Schools Australia to oversee the educational mission and formation of the country’s 56 Marist schools. “The Catholic school is one of the greatest treasures and contributors to God's mission,” Br Michael said.
“I think it's telling that although the pews in some churches may be a bit empty, many Catholic schools are not empty, in fact there’s never been more schools and bigger schools.
“We need to ask why people are coming to our Catholic schools and not take for granted or undermine the potential contribution of people who are attracted to our way of educating, to the culture and the outcomes and the quality of our Catholic schools.
“We also have these wonderful people teaching in Catholic schools so we need to be asking ourselves, ware we doing to nurture their spiritual lives? What are we doing to educate them theologically? What are we doing to excite them about the faith?”
Drawing on his scholarly work on the Marist charism, Br Michael said a study by a French Jesuit in the 19th Century found the Marist Brothers were “the least Marian” of all the newly established French Marian congregations at the time.
“He said the Marists were the least Marian because they hadn’t introduced any new Marian devotion, they had no new Marian symbol but, he said in another way, they were the most Marian because their essence was to live Mary's spirit,” Br Michael said.
“Our Marist charism is not primarily devotional but imitational, of doing and sharing in Mary’s work to bring Christ to birth and to nurture Christ’s life.”
“In my experience, that seems to be very attractive to both women and men, a charism of being merciful, being inclusive, being forgiving, being empowering, as a mother or a sister would.
“That some elements of the Marist way that we've continued since the first Brothers came to Australia more than 180 years ago.”
View more pics from the ceremony, in this Star of the Sea Province Marist Star post.