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.

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.”

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.

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.

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!”

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.

Denva shares her story about her studies at Mary Andrews College.

Hear from a group of our MAC students about why they are passionate about studying at Mary Andrews College.

After recently moving back to New Zealand, Cindy has been completing the rest of her Diploma of Theology online. Being able to continue her studies has been a blessing. She says, “I love writing, I love Jesus and the Bible, so why wouldn’t I want to study it?”

In the beautiful surrounds of Sydney’s St Andrew’s Cathedral, 21 women from our MAC class of 2022 were awarded Diplomas or Certificates, presented by Dr James Dalziel, Dean and CEO of the Australian College of Theology.

“If you’ve never thought of studying, I want to encourage you to consider studying in this season, and if you are thinking of studying, let me encourage you to get in touch with Mary Andrews College because they really equip you for life and for ministry. Go to an orientation session, ask questions, get connected. MAC’s the one.”