Principal's Report

Dear Parents and Carers,

 

 

This year we celebrate 200 years of Catholic education in Australia. The Theme for the celebration is Faith in the Future. We will start our celebrations at O’Connor with a prayer celebration on Monday 8th March. 

 

 

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. 
 
Source https://200years.catholic.edu.au/about/

 

History of O’Connor

 

O’Connor Catholic College 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. Bishop Torreggiani invited the Ursulines to Armidale to take over the running of the parish school established by the Diocese in 1852. This school was run by lay teachers until the Ursuline sisters took responsibility for it. For some years it included junior secondary classes.

 

The De La Salle Brothers, since 1906 had run a day and boarding school for boys in Armidale on our current site. This was the first Lasallian school in Australia. In 1974, the Brothers indicated that they would have to close the school due to lack of religious and financial considerations. As this meant that there would be no Catholic secondary schooling available to boys in Armidale, it was decided to establish a co-educational Catholic High School by merging the De La Salle College and St Ursula’s College. The staff from each of the former colleges combined to staff the newly formed high school and the administration was shared by Ursulines and De la Salle Brothers until 1994. Ursulines continued to teach in the school until 1998, thus making a continuous contribution to Catholic secondary schooling in Armidale for 116 years. Prior to the LaSallians setting up a school, Patrician Brothers ran St Patrick's College on the current site of O’Connor. 

 

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.

 

My Story 

 

I feel incredibly privileged to have been a part of such a rich heritage of Catholic education in Australia. My primary schooling was complete at St Anne’s Primary School in North Albury, NSW and I attended MacKillop College in Mt Gravatt, Queensland. I have taught in many schools, State Schools, Private Schools and Catholic Schools. I always feel a sense of coming home when I work in Catholic schools. The community is always so supportive and inclusive. Here is a link to a video produced by Tahnee Denton from the Catholic Schools Office where I talk about my reflections of 200 Years of Catholic Education in Australia and its impact on my life. Regina's Story- Celebrating 200 Years of Catholic Education

 

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