Principal's Report
Dear Parents and Carers,
This week we have been celebrating Catholic Schools Week across our DIocese and 200 years of Catholic Education. Our celebration began with a Diocesan Mass with representatives from our 24 schools across our Diocese, as well as, Catholic Schools Office staff and Clergy from our Parishes. It was great to have Br Garry Coyte, former Principal of O’Connor Catholic College, join us for the Mass and the awards ceremony. The Mass was celebrated by Bishop Michael Kennedy and our musicians provided the music for a wonderful celebration. Masses were held in celebration across Australia. This day was chosen as it is the Feast Day of Mary Help of Christians, Patron Saint of Australia.
This is our Director of Armidale Catholic School Office, Chris Smyth’s, address from the end of Mass and also a link to his address when we launched the 200 years celebration in Term 1. Please also see a letter to Chris Smyth from Dallas McInerney, Chief Executive Officer of CSNSW here.
After the Mass, the Spirit of Catholic Education Awards were presented to people from across our Diocese in a range of categories. Year 12 student, Makaala Dodd, was awarded the Student Spirit of Catholic Education Award recognising her ongoing contribution to our school and the whole community. Here is an excerpt from her citation:
Makaala Dodd is in Year 12 at O’Connor Catholic College. She has a strong sense of social justice and has shown this through her participation and organisation of many fundraisers and awareness days at school. She is very aware of the issues and concerns in regards to the marginalised in our society. Makaala’s advocacy for Day for Dolly and working to actively stop bullying and harassment has been outstanding. Makaala is an ambassador for Dolly’s Dream. Her conviction to this cause is extremely strong. She organised a whole school assembly and spoke passionately about this cause and how close it is to her heart. Makaala is courageous and brave, willing to stand up against bullying. She is a mentor for younger students who often struggle with day to day life of school pressures. Makaala is always upbeat and positive about her life and the future. Makaala leads from the front and pushes herself to inspire other students to treat each other with kindness and respect.
The Theme for the celebration of 200 years of Catholic education in Australia is Faith in the Future. There is lots of great information relating to our national celebrations and history on this website https://200years.catholic.edu.au/about/.
We have much to celebrate at O’Connor Catholic College with our rich heritage of educating students from 1882. O’Connor was formed through the merging of St Ursula's and De La Salle College in 1975 on the site of De La Salle College. O’Connor Catholic College holds a special place in both the Ursuline and De La Salle history in Australia. St Ursula’s, Armidale and De La Salle College, Armidale were the first schools set up by the orders on arriving in Australia. Our College takes its name from the former Bishop O'Connor, Bishop of Armidale from 1904 - 1930. His contribution to Catholic education in the Diocese during this time was outstanding. St Ursula’s College, a boarding and day school for girls was run by the Ursuline nuns from 1882 to 1975. The De la Salle Brothers started running a day and boarding school in 1906 in Armidale on our current site.
We are lucky to have such rich history and traditions linked to the religious who started our school. Our connections with the Ursulines and LaSallians continue to this day with school visits, LaSallian Youth Ministers and Leaders and connections across Leaders Gatherings.
Prayer for the Bicentenary
Almighty and all-loving God,
with gratitude for the endeavours of Catholic education in the past,
with confidence in our Catholic pre-schools, schools and universities today,
and with faith in their continuing contribution in the future,
we celebrate 200 years of Catholic education in this Great South Land.
As our Heavenly Father,
we thank you for your providential care for your children in this land
in inspiring priests, religious and lay people
to found and staff our schools in ages past.
Through them the Good News of your Son was brought to the young
even in colonial times – and ever since.
As Christ the Teacher,
you grace the staff and leaders of Catholic education today.
As they build on the achievements of their predecessors
direct them in their present efforts
to ensure that every young Australian has the opportunity
for an excellent education and formation in faith.
As our Inspiring Spirit,
you lead us into the future.
In the century ahead grant those teaching and
learning in our schools,
those planning and leading,
and the families and community that entrust
their young people to us,
a love of learning and a willingness to be the
face of Christ
in the world of tomorrow.
Pour out your abundant blessings upon all involved in
the ministry of Catholic education. Amen.
Our Lady of the Southern Cross ….. pray for us.
St Mary of the Cross MacKillop, Patron of Catholic Education in Australia ……. pray for us.
What new learning will you undertake this week?
Regina Menz
Principal
