Part 1 - From Oceania’s Shores to the Heart of the Marist World: Br Peter Carroll Reflects on His Journey from Star of the Sea Province to Superior General
- maristbrothers
- 3 days ago
- 10 min read
There are leaders who command by position, and there are leaders who inspire by presence. Br Peter Carroll, former Provincial of the Star of the Sea, belongs unmistakably to the latter. Compassionate and kind, playful and joyful, accessible yet firm when needed, his leadership has never been defined by authority alone. It is rooted instead in a rare humanity - one that both reassures and encourages.
Born in Brisbane, Queensland, on 2 August 1958, Br Peter’s Marist journey has taken many forms: teacher, Principal, Deputy Provincial, and, most recently, Provincial for ten years. In each role he has served with quiet steadiness and unwavering dedication - never seeking the spotlight but always guiding with calm conviction.
On 30 September 2025, in the company of Brothers from across the world and under the gentle gaze of Mother Mary and Marcellin, that lifelong fidelity was recognised when he was elected Superior General - only the second Brother from Oceania, after Br Charles Howard, to be entrusted with this responsibility.
Now in his 47th year as a Marist Brother, Br Peter continues to embody the five Marist characteristics: simplicity, love of work, family spirit, in the way of Mary, and presence. Of these, presence has become his defining gift. No matter how demanding the schedule or pressing the moment, his calming smile and his deeply Marian way of attentive listening make each person feel heard, valued, and, above all, seen. His gift lies not only in what he does, but in who he is - a presence that reassures, encourages, and quietly transforms.
Soon he will leave behind the golden beaches of Australia for the historic streets of Rome. As he embraces this new global mission, The Star Post sat down with Br Peter to learn more about the road that has brought him here - the challenges and graces of the past, his hopes for the vibrant Star of the Sea Province and its 11 countries, and his vision for the Institute in the years ahead.
Congratulations on your election as Superior General, Br Peter. What emotions are you experiencing at this moment, and how does it feel to be only the second Brother from Oceania to be elected to this role?
I am still in a state of shock! Never for a moment did I think that I would be elected by my confreres as Superior General. This isn’t false modesty, it is the truth. Little by little the reality is seeping through. I am naturally honoured by the confidence and trust the Brothers have placed in me and hope I can do justice to the role. I also have a sense of loss, leaving the Province and the familiar. There is much I have left unfinished, but I know Br Darren and the Council will continue to be very capable leaders. As I start to ponder this new start, my sense of anticipation and excitement is growing. I hope and pray that I can provide synodal and effective leadership for the new era in which we live.
"Never for a moment did I think that I would be elected by my confreres as Superior General. This isn’t false modesty, it is the truth."
What was your early life like - your home, your family, and the community you grew up in - before you felt called to Marist life?
I was born in Brisbane, Queensland. I had an older sister and, when I was four, a younger sister came along - so there were two years between my older sister and me, and four years between myself and my younger sister.
My parents were a little older when they married. My father had served in the Air Force during the Second World War, while my mother was a nurse - very much in demand across Australia during those years. It wasn’t until the decade after the war that they met, married, and started their family.
Both sides of the family were quite small. My parents had lost their own parents before marriage, so I never knew grandparents, though I did have great-aunts who filled that role for a time. My father had only one sister, who became a religious sister, and my mother had a sister and two brothers. Between them, we had just three first cousins. It was a small family, but a very close-knit one.
Faith was central in our home. On my father’s side there were relatives who were priests and religious, so the idea of religious life was not foreign to us - it was very much part of our family environment. I grew up seeing that firsthand.
"Faith was central in our home. On my father’s side there were relatives who were priests and religious, so the idea of religious life was not foreign to us."
I attended Catholic schools in Brisbane, and later in Bundaberg when our family moved north. My teachers included the Sisters of Charity, Christian Brothers, Sisters of Mercy, and Marist Brothers. Looking back, I realise the environment I grew up in was quite different to today. At that time, the Church was a vibrant and central part of community life. Religious vocations were not unusual - in fact, even in my own neighbourhood there were people who had joined or were considering religious life. That was the culture that shaped my early years.
When did you first feel inspired to join the Marist Brothers? What sparked that interest?
The inspiration came quite young. I was at a school run by the Christian Brothers when I first started thinking seriously about religious life. Part of that was because I had a cousin who was a Christian Brother - we were close, and I admired him greatly. I was also impressed by the Brothers who taught me.
Later, when our family moved back to Brisbane, I went to Marist College Ashgrove, where I had a similar experience. The Marist Brothers there inspired me, especially in my senior years. It was at that point that the idea of becoming a Brother began to take deeper root.
Can you take us through your journey of formation? When did you decide to commit, and what was the process like?
It began in my teenage years. I had been considering different careers and studies, but I kept coming back to the thought that being a Brother was both attractive and meaningful. I think I always had a strong sense of faith and spirituality, and this way of life seemed to bring those values together.
Eventually, I decided to give it a go. I told myself that if it didn’t work out, I could always pursue the other paths I’d been considering. So, I applied, and one of the Brothers visited my family to begin the process.
"I kept coming back to the thought that being a Brother was both attractive and meaningful."
What struck me immediately was that I wasn’t starting out alone. In fact, there were 22 of us who joined that year - this was 1977. Looking back, it’s extraordinary to think of such numbers. At the time, it was simply exciting. We had a great sense of camaraderie and joy. Community life was one of the unexpected blessings - it wasn’t something I had thought much about beforehand, but I found it deeply rewarding.
The journey itself unfolded in stages. I began with postulancy, then moved into the novitiate - a key period of formation. Our novitiate was on a farm at Mittagong, which was another completely new experience for me. Our time there was a mix of study, work, prayer, and community life. It was challenging but also deeply enriching.
We were guided by a man of remarkable wisdom and spirituality. His teaching was exceptional, and he helped open up new ways of understanding theology and prayer. At the same time, novitiate life was quite solitary - we were cut off from family and friends. That experience taught me the importance of being comfortable with myself, of learning to live without constant comparison, and of grounding my life in prayer. Religious life, after all, makes no sense without a spiritual foundation.
"Religious life, after all, makes no sense without a spiritual foundation."
After the novitiate came what was then called the “apprenticeship year.” I was placed in a school community with only one year of teacher training under my belt - something you couldn’t imagine happening today! I taught a Grade 4 class of 42 students, under the close supervision of an excellent mentor. Despite the challenges, it turned out to be an extraordinarily positive year. The community I lived with was alive, youthful, and supportive. Leaving them after twelve months was difficult.
From there, the journey continued. Each stage was different, each one unexpected, but together they shaped me as I began to find my footing in adult and religious life.
What did you study at university, and how old were you at the time?
I completed my Bachelor of Arts, majoring in English, History, and Education. I was 22 when I began, and I really enjoyed it. The degree took four years altogether - two years in full-time study, and then another two years while living in community.
For that second stage I wasn’t placed in a school, but in a boys’ home - St Vincent’s Boys Home - while continuing part-time study. That experience opened my eyes to a whole new world. The boys there came from fractured homes, many had experienced violence, and some had been placed at the Home by the courts because of criminal offences. It was a stark contrast to the stable, peaceful upbringing I’d had in Queensland.
Those years taught me a lot about family life, struggle, and resilience. I have never forgotten those young men, and even later in life, when I have encountered one or two of them again, it has been a joy to see how they have turned out - many for the better. Those early ’80s years were good, formative years for me.
By this point had you already become a Brother?
Yes. The process is that you take vows at the end of novitiate - initially temporary vows that are renewed annually. Each year you are asked: “Do you want to continue?” If the answer is yes, you renew your vows; if no, you leave. Many chose the latter.
For me, it took about seven renewals before I professed my final vows in 1986. That decision came after a lot of prayer, discussion, and discernment. Making a lifelong commitment means letting go of other options, and I had to face those questions honestly. I knew I could still have had a different life – marriage, family, career.
And that was important: I was free to make the decision I felt was right. I wasn’t pressured by parents or anyone else, unlike some I knew who entered because of family expectation. In the end, it has to be a personal, free choice, or it won’t last.
"Making a lifelong commitment means letting go of other options, and I had to face those questions honestly. I knew I could still have had a different life – marriage, family, career."
Did you ever doubt your path - wondered if perhaps this life wasn’t for you?
Yes, I did. Those questions were constant, especially in the early years. I was working in schools where most of the staff were lay teachers, men and women, many of them getting married and starting families. Naturally, I asked myself, Should I be doing that? Am I giving something up that I might regret?
"Yes, I did have my doubts. Those questions were constant, especially in the early years."
But I also realised that being a Brother isn’t just about the work you do. Work is important, of course, but religious life has to be rooted in something deeper - faith, spirituality, a sense of living for something beyond yourself. That’s what kept me grounded. And yes, even now, from time to time, I still quietly ask myself if I’ve made the right choice. But the fact that I’ve stayed the course is my answer.
After your final vows in 1986, how did your ministry unfold?
My work remained in Australia. I taught in schools in Sydney and later in Brisbane. At one point, I moved into boarding school life, where I was responsible for senior boarders. That was a huge commitment - seven days a week - on top of teaching classes and coordinating religious education and liturgies. It was demanding, but it was also another rich experience.
One of the real blessings was visiting the families of boarders across Queensland. Many lived on the land, in very simple homes, often in drought-stricken areas. Their resilience was remarkable. I remember one family who lived in a cement-floor home with four children. Another told me how they expected drought six out of seven years, but had gone even longer without rain.
"But I also realised that being a Brother isn’t just about the work you do. It has to be rooted in something deeper - faith, spirituality, a sense of living for something beyond yourself."
These encounters reinforced something very Marist for me: the value of simplicity. Living humbly, modestly, with joy and hope. Those families embodied it. They reminded me of the importance of living simply ourselves, but always with positivity and faith in the future.
At some point you moved into school leadership. How did that come about?
After seven years in Brisbane, I was invited to take on the role of principal. That began 15 years of school leadership.
My first appointment was at St Peter Claver College in Ipswich, a co-educational school in a working-class community. I spent four years there before moving to Sydney, where I led Marist College North Shore, an all-boys’ school, for six years. Finally, I spent five years as principal of a large co-educational college in Lismore, a country town.
Each school was different, but all were rewarding. Lismore in particular was a joy - the students were down-to-earth, the families supportive, and the staff deeply committed. The sense of community in a country town is very strong.
Becoming principal was a whole new learning curve. Until then, my leadership had been mostly in religious education. Suddenly, I had to learn management, communication, human resources, conflict resolution, and long-term strategic planning. It was demanding, sometimes complex, but ultimately very rewarding. I enjoyed those years immensely - and I hope I didn’t do too much damage along the way!
Read Part 2 here.