Living with Strength and Kindliness
Celebrating 200 years of Catholic education.
THE FIRST CATHOLIC SCHOOL
The story of Catholic education began with the first official Catholic school founded in October 1820 by Irish Catholic priest Fr John Therry. Catholic historians believe the school taught 31 students and was located in Hunter Street Parramatta within Western Sydney.
An Irish Catholic convict George Marley (also identified as George Morley), who was sent to the colony, opened the school for Fr Therry and ran it for three years. There were said to be at least two Catholic schools operating in the colony of New South Wales before the school opened by George Marley, however both schools were closed by 1818.
IN 2021, CATHOLIC EDUCATION CELEBRATES ITS 200TH ANNIVERSARY IN AUSTRALIA
Did you know that:
- Today there are 1751 Catholic schools educating 768,000 students and employing 98,000 staff.
- Catholic schools are the Church’s principal meeting point with young people, and are integral to the Church’s mission of transmitting the faith to the next generation and forming young people as future contributors to Australian society.’
- ‘Australian Catholic schools have a long and proud tradition of delivering high-quality, faith-based education. Our graduates have made, and continue to make, a significant contribution in business, civic and public life, sport, performing and creative arts, community services, and all facets of society.’
- Catholic education has grown over two centuries into the largest school sector outside of government. Today nearly 40 per cent of Catholic schools are located outside of metropolitan cities in regional, rural and remote communities.
- The bicentenary will be celebrated throughout 2021 with a range of national and local events which will be held around the country. With the theme, faith in the future, the celebrations are an opportunity to look to the future of Catholic education.
NATIONAL EVENTS (most of these events will be streamed online….)
> 18 February 2021 – National Launch The National Launch was held as a virtual event, which was streamed to Catholic schools across the country.
> 21-26 February 2021 – Launch Celebrations The official launch of the Bicentenary of Catholic Education in Australia will occur across the country in each state, territory and diocese in late February 2021, and a number of dioceses will also hold celebrations in early March 2021.
> 24 May 2021 – National Mass A National Mass will be celebrated across all states, territories and dioceses on the Feast of Our Lady Help of Christians to commemorate 200 years of Catholic education in Australia.
If you would like to know more about what’s happening to celebrate 200 years of Catholic Education in Australia please visit: https://200years.catholic.edu.au/
If you would like to watch the Launch of the celebrations of 200 years in education please visit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n5JesV9raOU
The National Prayer for the 200 years celebrations: https://200years.catholic.edu.au/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/200-Years-National-Prayer.pdf
The Pastoral Letter from the Catholic Bishops can be found here: https://catholic.org.au/acbc-media/media-centre/media-releases-new/2312-200-years-young-pastoral-letter-on-catholic-education/file
‘From very humble beginnings, Catholic schools have grown to educate more than one in five Australian students, with many others attending Catholic preschools, colleges and universities’,
Kirrilee Westblade
College Leader – Catholic Identity
Lenten Prayer Rituals The Sandhurst Diocese
Lent 2021 leaflets invite reflection on excerpts from Pope Francis’ ‘Let us Dream’, together with insights and suggestions for action from one of the Australian Plenary Council Thematic Discernment papers: ‘How is God calling us to be a Christ-centred Church in Australia that is humble, healing and merciful?’ The leaflets are for individual reflection or small group reflection and discussion. https://www.sandhurst.catholic.org.au/item/1803-lent-resources-for-2021
Sandpiper and the Australian Catholics magazines have now gone digital!
Please see the link below to access: