Our Faith - Religious Education
St Mary's Catholic Primary School
Vale Sister Cath Duxbury
We mourn the loss of Sister Catherine (Cath) Duxbury, a beloved Ursuline sister and a foundational figure in the Armidale Catholic Schools community. Her life was dedicated to faith and Catholic education.
Sister Cath’s visionary leadership and commitment to innovative teaching left a lasting legacy. She will be dearly missed.
After graduating from Armidale Teachers’ College, Sister Cath Duxbury worked for the Department of Education before joining the Ursuline order. She continued her studies while teaching in Canberra, earning a Bachelor of Arts and a Master of Education Administration from the University of New England.
From 1967 to 1976, she served as the Principal of St Mary’s Primary Armidale, where she was an innovative leader. She notably designed and built an open-plan classroom for Year 5 and 6 students, an advanced concept at the time.
Sister Cath served as the Assistant Director of the Catholic Schools Office Diocese of Armidale. In this role, she worked alongside four different directors: Fr Bernard Flood, Paul Woodcock, Kevin Hazel (for whom she also served as Acting Director for one year), and Rick Johnston.
She also contributed significantly to the ACEL awards (Australian Council for Educational Leaders), served as Chaplain at St Albert’s College, was a steadfast presence at Sts Mary and Joseph’s Cathedral Parish and the Armidale Ursuline Convent. She holds a unique place in the history of the Ursuline community in Armidale as the last Ursuline sister to live in the convent before it was converted into the Bishop’s and priest residence.
Please keep Sister Cath, her family, and the Ursuline community in your prayers.
Eternally rest, grant unto her, O Lord. And let perpetual light shine upon her. May she rest in peace.
Mini Vinnies
Our playground was filled with excitement as we held our very first Sticky Staff Day! For just $1, students bought pieces of tape to help “stick” Mr Hyatt to the Hall Wall. With lots of laughter, teamwork, and plenty of sticky strips, Mr Hyatt was soon well and truly taped in place.
But behind all the fun was a very important purpose. Together, our school raised funds to support families in Zambia, where many people are facing significant challenges, including a growing hunger crisis. By joining in the fun, our students have made a real difference for children and families in need across the world.
A big thank you to Mr Hyatt for being such a good sport, and to all the students, staff, and families who contributed to making this event such a sticky success!
Total raised: $562.80
Holy Communion 2025
Sunday 21st September
First Holy Communion will be celebrated at the 10:00 AM Mass in the Cathedral.
A few reminders:
All First Holy Communion children receive Communion first, then families may go up to receive Communion.
Girls wear white or light-coloured dress & may wear a veil if you choose.
Boys wear black pants & white shirt and tie.
A parish sash will be lent and worn by each child and needs to be returned after Mass.
A rehearsal for First Holy Communion will take place on Friday 8th September from 3.30-5pm. This involves seat allocations, readings, prayers, and practicing receiving the Eucharist.
First Reconciliation and Holy Communion 2025
For Catholic Students in Year 3 Here's a breakdown of what is happening on each of the dates mentioned:
- Wednesday 6th August: A Parent/Enrolment Night will be held at 5:00 PM in the Torreggiani Room
Sunday 10th August: Lesson 1: First Reconciliation lessons
Sunday 17th August: Lesson 2: First Reconciliation lessons
Sunday 24th August: Lesson 3: First Reconciliation lessons
Wednesday 27th August: First Reconciliation will take place in the Cathedral, starting at 5:00
Sunday 31st August: First Holy Communion lessons
Sunday 7th September: First Holy Communion lessons
Sunday 14th September: First Holy Communion lesson
Friday 19th September: A practice for the worthy reception of the Sacrament of First Holy Communion will be held in the Cathedral from 3:30 PM to 4:30 PM.
Sunday 21st September: First Holy Communion will be celebrated at the 10:00 AM Mass in the Cathedral.
Blessed Carlo Acutis
Carlo was an ordinary teenager from Italy who loved computers, video games, and soccer. What made him extraordinary was the way he used his gifts to share his faith. He created a website to catalogue Eucharistic miracles from around the world and became known as the “patron of the internet.”
Carlo reminds us that holiness is not just for adults or saints from long ago – it is possible for young people today. He once said: “To always be close to Jesus, that’s my life plan.”
Year of Jubilee
2025 is a Jubilee Year in the Catholic Church.
A Jubilee Year is traditionally proclaimed by the Universal Church every 25 years. It is a particular year set aside to encourage the faithful to embark on pilgrimages, to repent of their sins and forgive the sins of others, and to renew a focus on spiritual life.
The theme is Pilgrims of Hope. Pope Francis has invited Catholics to renew our hope and discover a vision that can "restore access to the fruits of the earth to everyone". We are also invited to rediscover a spirituality of God's creation in which we understand ourselves as "pilgrims on the earth" rather than masters of the world.
You will see this logo often this year...
The logo symbolises unity and fraternity among all of humanity, with four stylised figures from different corners of the earth embracing each other. The leading figure holds a cross, representing faith and hope. The rough waves beneath the figures symbolise life's challenges, emphasising the need for hope in difficult times. The elongated lower part of the cross forms an anchor, a well-known symbol of hope. This image depicts the pilgrimage as a communal journey towards the cross, which reaches out dynamically to offer presence and hope.
Jubilee 2025 - Pilgrims of Hope (Youtube)
The Jubilee Prayer
To pray and download the Prayer for the 2025 Jubilee, click here. Copies of the Jubilee Prayer are available in Braille. Please contact the Office of Deaf and Disabilities Ministry for a copy: specialneedsministry@adw.org or 301-853-4560.
The Jubilee Logo
To learn about the meaning of the logo for the 2025 Jubilee, click here.
Official Hymn for Jubilee
Click here to listen to the hymn.
CATHEDRAL PARISH OF SAINT MARY & JOSEPH ARMIDALE
Administrator Father Damien Locke
armidaleparish@armidale.catholic.org.au
phone 67722218
Mass Times
Saturday Vigil Mass 6 pm
Sunday 8 am, 10 am & 5:30 pm
Diocesan Prayer Card
