Catholic Schools Week will be held from 3-9 March, where all 38 systemic Catholic schools in the Diocese will join with Catholic school communities across NSW in celebration. 

Our Catholic schools are open to all who share in its mission and purpose. They are called to be vibrant Catholic communities of faith and learning and to provide high quality education for every child that assists students to find meaning and purpose in their lives.

Catholic Schools Week aims to raise awareness and celebrate the strengths and distinctiveness of Catholic schools. It provides an opportunity for schools to celebrate their Catholic identity, the fundamental role they play within their local community, and the many positive learning experiences that take place each and every day. 

Catholic Schools Week is also about supporting relationships between all who have a stake in Catholic schools - students, staff, families, clergy, parishioners, and members of the wider community.

Our theme for Catholic Schools Week this year is ‘The future has a name, and that name is HOPE’ - inspired by one of four core values identified in CEDoW’s new ‘Lighting the Way Vision and Strategic Direction 2019-2022’ document, to be officially launched during the same week.

Director of Schools, Peter Turner said, “Our mantra of ‘lighting the way through faith and learning’ describes our purpose for all students and staff. It lies at the very heart of our hope filled aspirations for the children and young people in our care.”

The Diocese of Wollongong has 29 primary schools, eight systemic secondary schools and one K-12 Catholic school, serving almost 19,000 students in the Illawarra, Macarthur, Shoalhaven and Southern Highlands. There are also eight independent Catholic schools administered by religious congregations.

Many of our schools will be hosting open days, activities and masses/liturgies to showcase some of the wonderful things happening, enabling students, staff, friends and families to come together to celebrate the spirit of their school communities.

As a key part of the celebrations, Catholic Schools Week will include our annual Diocesan Education Mass on 7 March at St John Vianney Co-Cathedral in Fairy Meadow with student and staff representatives from all schools coming together as one united faith-based learning community. Bishop Brian Mascord will preside at the mass and new principals and staff commissioned.

With so many events happening during Catholic Schools Week, parents and carers are warmly invited to visit their local Catholic school to find out how they're celebrating and to take the opportunity to learn more about the educational initiatives and activities available for students. Families who would like to know about their local Catholic school should visit during Catholic Schools Week or contact the school for more information.

Catholic Schools Week also marks part of the annual enrolment period in all of our schools. Enrolments are now being accepted - for more information, see here.

We look forward to celebrating Catholic Schools Week with our community!

HOPE FOR THE FUTURE: Magdalene Catholic College, Narellan and St Mary's, Milton (pictured) will join with other Catholic schools across the region to celebrate Catholic Schools Week 2019.