Anna spent her working life as a casual tutor at Sydney University while serving alongside her husband James in various parishes and roles across the Sydney Diocese. She has three adult children and eight grandchildren. When she turned 60, she decided to prepare for her retirement… by studying.

Natalie serves in ministry at a church in Greater Western Sydney. Having already collected a Bachelor of Theology and a Masters of Arts in Theology, she recently finished the Graduate Certificate of Pastoral Care for Mental Health at Mary Andrews. At our 2024 Graduation Ceremony, Rev. Dr Keith Condie interviewed Natalie.

“When we come to Jesus he changes us from the inside out”. Marysia’s faith transformed her life. Given new confidence through Christ, Marysia set aside her crippling shyness and set out to get to know the 110 women in her apartment building, equipped with skills from her Pastoral Care course at Mary Andrews.

Rachel Ciano, Dean of Academic Development at Mary Andrew’s College, historian, lecturer, and author provided the keynote address at an event to mark the 150-year celebration of the work of St Stephen’s, Newtown in their current building. Rachel spoke about the contribution of women to the church and the world across two thousand years.

The Church suffers when women’s stories, perspectives and insights are missed. But sadly, women’s stories are often hidden from history, and historically women haven’t been given the same opportunities to study theology in depth.

Historian, theologian, 2023 ADM Fellow and new Dean of Academic Development at Mary Andrews College, Rachel Ciano, is trying to do something about that, with her passions for history, theology and teaching entwined.

This is Alissa's first foray into theological study, having previously done two bachelor's degrees and a master's degree. At MAC she's studying a Certificate. "This course was really attractive to me as they offer it in hybrid, run it in term time and it's just one subject a term in the Certificate program.”

Terrified of studying as an adult and satisfied with what she calls a ‘simple faith’, Vanessa Turner was not someone you would expect to find in a lecture room at Mary Andrews College, or writing theological essays. And yet, Vanessa makes this reflection on her time at MAC: “MAC is definitely my special heart place.”

Liz Halbisch has loved the country for a long time. Having recently moved from Mudgee to Nowra, Liz noted that though her rural location had changed, the conversations she was having with people were the same - many of these pastoral conversations she has been having are related to mental health, and how it fits within a Christian worldview.

When Rebekah was diagnosed with a major, life-altering medical condition, it was her studies at Mary Andrews College that gave her the theological foundations to carry her through a devastating time of her life.

ADM and Mary Andrews College are delighted to welcome Laurel to the role of Principal.

With a passion for knowing Jesus better, and keen to see the Church improve its accessibility for all of God’s people in all their diversity, Kath Thornhill is currently studying remotely at Mary Andrews College, first from Coonabarabran and soon, in 2024, in Dubbo.

MAC’s hybrid learning means that Kath can continue her studies without interruption.

For Sue, studying at Mary Andrews College involved a leap of faith. Feeling called to change careers in her fifties, Sue left a career in health administration to pursue training to work in pastoral care.

“Mental health is such a huge part of ministry these days. It was something that felt really pertinent and useful to be more equipped in from a Christian perspective, and to think through different aspects of mental health and how to be caring for and loving people.” Read Jocelyn’s story of studying the Graduate Certificate of Pastoral Care for Mental Health at MAC.

It was her heart for pastoral care that originally drew Jennifer Boyd to Mary Andrews College. “Once I started at MAC and experienced the combination of practical skills and biblical knowledge that we learn – I was hooked and kept adding on more subjects because I wanted to keep learning!”

Mary Andrews College celebrated our graduates of 2023 at a ceremony at St Andrew’s Cathedral in March 2023. Excited, encouraged and challenged, with their various Certificates and Diplomas in their hands our graduates are all now more equipped for whatever areas of ministry – formal or informal, paid or voluntary – God leads them into.

When Lucy Burdett became a Christian, she could not have expected in only twelve years to have a Diploma of Ministry, a frontline ministry job in the heart of Sydney and a new name! Recently married, Lucy Zeppel was interviewed at her graduation from Mary Andrews College at St Andrew’s Cathedral in March 2023.

Meet Joanna, a graduate of the Sydney Conservatorium of Music who is now studying at MAC to become equipped for pastoral ministry.

Robyn says "All of life is ministry". Robyn is a Mary Andrews College Alumni and shares how she has been equipped for life with her studies at MAC.

Are you looking to be equipped for ministry? Meet Verity, who has done just that. Verity was quite nervous to come and study at MAC, but found the staff here to be really supportive. Since graduating from MAC, God is using Verity to minister in her local parish.

The Old Testament is a treasure trove of thrilling stories over 39 books that tells the story of God's character and directs us all towards the much anticipated Savior. Rev. Marge Mills will be teaching Old Testament Overview in Semester 1, 2023.