From the Director of Mission

On May 24, people will gather in Catholic schools, Chapels, Churches and Cathedrals all over Australia. On this Feast of Our Lady Help of Christians, we will commemorate 200 years of Catholic education in Australia.

First Catholic school

The first Catholic school in Australia was founded in October 1820 by Irish Catholic priest Fr John Therry and run by convict and layperson George Marley. The school, which Catholic historians believe was in Hunter Street, Parramatta, taught 31 students. By 1833, there were 10 Catholic schools in the colony. In 1872 the Marist Brothers arrived in Australia to begin their ministry in education. 

Celebrating the legacy

Over 200 years, Catholic schools have grown to become the largest provider of schooling in Australia (outside government) with one in five school age students attending a Catholic school. This represents 777,000 students in 1,755 schools across the country and employing over 100,000 teachers and staff. Nearly 40 per cent of Catholic schools are located outside of metropolitan cities in regional, rural and remote communities.

At St Gregory’s we will mark this significant occasion with Mass for Years 11 and 12 students, and liturgies for students of K – 10. Each student will receive a prayer card and either a commemorative pin (Senior School), or a miraculous medal or medal of St Mary of the Cross Mackillop (Junior School). 

You may like to learn more about the history of Catholic education in Australia. https://200years.catholic.edu.au/

We encourage you to pray this prayer in your families. 

As a Catholic Community, we pray, 

Almighty ever-living God,

who placed the love of Our Lady, Help of Christians

in the hearts of those who brought the Catholic faith to these shores, grant wisdom to our leaders and integrity to our citizens, so that under her protection, Australia may know harmony, peace and justice.

Bless our earthy home, that with the help of the Virgin Mary, we may become a new creation in Jesus Christ who lives and reigns for ever and ever.

Amen.

About the logo

The Christian cross is the central element of the logo and represents the faith dimension of Catholic schools and our mission of service in Christ. The Southern Cross and outline of Australia represents the Great South Land of Australia. Dots are used as a key design element connecting to the traditional custodians of the land – the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. The colours – burnt red and yellow – represent the desert in the heart of the Australian outback, contrasting with the deep blue representing the Southern sky and ocean surrounding our continent.