Around the Dioceses

Around our dioceses, schools gathered with parents to continue to develop relationships and involve parents and carers in the life of the school.

Diocese of Armidale

St Joseph's Primary School, Walgett – Official Opening of the Aboriginal Language and Culture Memorial Garden

Distinguished guests, past and present families of Elders and Indigenous language teachers, parents, staff and students gathered for a very special opening and acknowledgment of the Aboriginal Language and Culture Memorial Garden.

The local Gamilaraay/Yuwaalaraay Language and Culture Garden is in memory of Uncle Ted Fields(Snr) and other community language educators for teaching the traditional ways about the land and for teaching local dreamtime stories through reviving the Gamilaraay/Yuwaalaraay language.

Aunty Fay Green with Ted Fields (Jnr) opening the Memorial Garden. 

St Joseph’s Walgett Principal – Donna Fiechtner, Karen Tighe – Armidale Diocese Indigenous Education K–12, Sharon Pitt – AEA St Joseph's Walgett, John Brown – St Joseph’s Yuwaaalaaraay Language Teacher, Aunty Fay Green – St Joseph's Elder in Residence, Sharon Cooke – CSNSW Aboriginal Education State Manager, Hanne Pedersen – Armidale Diocese – Wii Gaay Facilitator and Justin Matthews – Armidale Diocese School Performance Leader. 

Diocese of Broken Bay

World Youth Day 2023

On 21 July 2023, our first World Youth Day group headed off to Lisbon, Portugal. Close to 170 people; youth, young adults, leaders, teachers, clergy, religious, together with Bishop Anthony travelled together on pilgrimage– all on a life-making journey to the great gathering of young people from around the world in Portugal.

Our young people were excited, enthusiastic and on fire with the spirit of the Gospel as they began their pilgrimage. In Italy we visited the homes of many of our saints before joining the Holy Father and young people from around the world, sharing our culture, interests, ambitions, and faith as Christ’s living witnesses.

One of the pilgrim group leaders reflected on the experience as being, “A deepening of her own personal faith, which was a spiritual awakening”. Sharing this experience in the company of Bishop Anthony made the experience even richer.

Archdiocese of Canberra and Goulburn

Family Culture Day

The inaugural Southside Corroboree Family Culture Day provided Indigenous students and their families with the opportunity to develop connection and relationships through games, activities, cultural learning and socialisation.

Guests enjoyed activities such as weaving/string making, dancing, sport, art, craft and writing workshops. There were even special appearances by the GWS Giants, Canberra Chill, Canberra Raiders, Canberra Brave and the ACT Brumbies.

This wonderful Family Culture Day was coordinated by Jeremy Margosis from MacKillop College and Sharee Thomas from St Francis of Assisi Primary school

Former CECG student Stewart Barton, Rebecca van Aalst with daughter Jessie, CECG Director Ross Fox, CECG Aboriginal Education Officer Katrina Cambridge, and Jason Hall with daughter Olivia.

Diocese of Lismore

Father's Day at St Joseph's Maclean

With funding from the Parent Assembly and Parent Forum, the Father's Day event was held on  Monday 4th September.

All the wonderful dads, grandfathers, and significant men were celebrated during the Father's Day Liturgy. They stayed and shared a BBQ lunch with the staff and students. All families received prayer cards to take home to continue to pray for their fathers, that the Lord showers them with his blessings and fills their hearts with love, joy, and peace.

This was a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the significant men in the students' lives and build community amongst the school families. The students and staff loved having all the dads at school and sent the message that they were all welcome back anytime.