MEAS

The Marist Education Authority Schools (MEAS) is a trust body set up by the Marist Fathers to oversee the operation and management, including Faith Leadership and Governance, of three schools in the Republic of Ireland. These schools are:

• Mary’s College, Dundalk, a coeducational secondary school.
• Catholic University School, Dublin 2, a single-sex, fee paying boys’ secondary school.
• Chanel College, Dublin 5, a coeducational secondary school.

 

Jean Claude Colin (1790-1875), founder of the Society of Mary in France, set a clear and compelling vision for the contribution that Marist schools should offer society.  That vision focused on the central importance of the task of educating young people as Christian citizens and the value of every young person as a unique individual.

 

These values have been at the core of the Marist Fathers’ education mission in Ireland since 1861 when they founded St. Mary’s College, Dundalk, the foundation of CUS in 1867 and the foundation of Chanel College in 1955.  The delivery of that mission has adapted over the years as education thinking changed and evolved.  Up to the 1960’s, it was the work primarily of the many Marist Fathers who taught in and managed our schools.

 

But over recent decades this has changed.  Today our schools are places of increasing partnership between lay staff, pupils, parents and the Marist community.  As religious congregations diminish in numbers we have all been challenged to confront questions about the future of the Marist mission.  The Marist Fathers have been fully involved in that process.  Because the Marist charism and long tradition in education is valued, the Congregation has chosen to continue their involvement in this ministry but in a new and what is hoped is a sustainable way.

 

The trust body, Marist Education Authority Schools, is the result of the Congregation’s deliberations and is their way of sustaining and continuing the education mission into the future.

 

 

Role of the MEAS

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The role of the MEAS is to ensure the vitality of the founding intention: that each school be Catholic and Marist in nature and practice.  This is concretely expressed in the enabling conditions, specifying how each school, within its own particular context will provide a Catholic Education in accordance with the Marist ethos. The Regional Superior is the Patron/Trustee of the three schools, and the MEAS acts on his behalf with delegated authority.

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The core functions are to:

• Work in collaboration with Boards of Management on behalf of the patron.
• Develop ethos policies and enabling conditions in collaboration with the Boards of Management and staff members of each of the schools.
• Approve key policies submitted by Boards of Management relating to enrolment/admission policies and codes of behaviour as required by legislation.
• Put forward strategies for the implementation of such policies.
• Propose seminars, staff gatherings, and other educational and social initiatives etc.
• Work in close collaboration with the school principals and Boards of Management.
• Support any initiative that will ground and deepen the spiritual leadership of the school.

 

 

 

IMEA Education Director: Mr. Diarmaid O’Murchú

Education, Curriculum and School Planning & Improvement Consultant: Mrs.Mary Forde

The members of the Marist Education Authority are:  Mr. Niall McVeigh, Mr. Tommy Flynn, Mr. Seán McCann, Fr. Cormac McNamara, Fr. David Corrigan ,Fr. Edwin McCallion

The Board of Directors are:
Fr. John Hannon (Chairperson), Fr. John Hand, Ms. Antoinette Nic Gearailt, Ms. Frances Neary, Ms.Catherine Kirk, Mr. Robert Dunne, Mr. Gerry Lambe, Mr. Brian Dooney,Mr. Ken Byrne