Reflection
Catholic Education is celebrating 200 years in Australia, marking the bicentenary of the first Catholic school established in Parramatta in October 1820.
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 lay person 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.
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 some 768,000 students in 1,751 schools across the country and employing 98,000 teachers and staff. Nearly 40 per cent of Catholic schools are located outside of metropolitan cities in regional, rural and remote communities.
A National Mass will also be celebrated in every state, territory and diocese on the Feast of Our Lady Help of Christians on 24 May 2021.
Nazareth College
It is 35 years since Nazareth College opened and things have changed dramatically since then and will keep changing over the next few years. Many students and staff have come and gone but Nazareth is constant in it’s development of student’s faith, knowledge, wisdom and a spirit unique to the College.
Some of the activities celebrating Catholic Education Week at the College included Wednesday lunchtime Mass in the Chapel for St Patrick's Day hosted by Mannix House students. On Thursday there was Mass in the Chapel at 8.10 am hosted by the St Vinnies group
May the Holy Spirit lead us at Nazareth College into the future. In the century ahead may those teaching and learning in our school, those planning and leading, and the families and community that entrust their young people to us, have a love of learning and a willingness to be the face of Christ in the world of tomorrow.
Holy Family of Nazareth – Be our inspiration and our guide.
Jesus of Nazareth – Help us to grow in faith, wisdom and knowledge.
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This article was based on the information from the following website: