Hundreds of students, parents and carers, teachers and clergy from Catholic schools throughout the Diocese of Parramatta gathered for the 2024 Education Mass to celebrate our schools’ commitment to Faith in Action and their positive engagement in the community.
Held at St Patrick’s Cathedral Parramatta, the Mass was led by Bishop Vincent Long OFM Conv and celebrated the Feast of the Queenship of the Blessed Virgin Mary. In his inspiring Homily, Bishop Vincent said the Mass was a renewal of our commitment to follow the example of Mary in our lives and be bearers of her son Jesus’ good news.
“Blessed Virgin Mary is the prototype of the normal disciple,” Bishop Vincent said.
She exemplifies closeness with the poor, solidarity with the needy, compassion for the afflicted. Like Mary, we must be totally permeated by the Holy Spirit. We must be consumed by action for God's Kingdom – Mary is the sign of hope for humanity.
In his address, Executive Director Jack de Groot reflected on his own experience of mission and service while announcing CSPD’s new Religious Education curriculum Encountering Jesus.
“When I think about why my work has always taken me to places of service, I can pinpoint two things: my education and my faith,” said Jack.
“When my parents chose to send me to a Catholic school, they knew they wanted to provide me with an excellent education grounded in Catholic tradition. They wanted me to experience opportunities to put my faith into action and to live it out within the community.”
Jack said his hope is that the new Religious Education curriculum builds on and reflects this same intention families have for their children at our schools.
“Encountering Jesus reflects our intention for all students to have a deep encounter with the person and message of Jesus Christ, to really get to know and love Jesus. To see Him in others, and to be Him to others,” he said.The curriculum has been endorsed by Bishop Vincent along with Australian and international Catholic theologians and educators.
“Encountering Jesus isn't so much about learning some external rules; it is to internalise the experience of encountering, knowing, loving and serving Christ,” Bishop Vincent said.
Following the Mass, participants were invited to explore the Mission Agency Expo. The expo highlights the work of the many expressions of faith and service that are already present in our learning communities, including Catechist teaching in local government primary schools, Eucharistic minister training, as well as advocacy and support of church agencies such as Mercy Works, St Vincent de Paul and Jesuit Refugee Services.
“Today’s celebration was a significant moment in the life of our Diocese,” said Andrew Wilson, CSPD’s Head Mission. “Encountering Jesus will provide our students with an opportunity to come to know Jesus and to grow in their understanding of the Catholic faith. I am excited to work with our teachers and leaders, and to hear how our students are putting their learning into practice in their communities.”
Learn more about the Religious Education Curriculum.
View photos from this event View full gallery
Catholic Schools Parramatta Diocese
www.parra.catholic.edu.au
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07 Jul 2026
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We wish all our students and families a restful and refreshing break! We look forward to welcoming everyone back on Tuesday 21st July, ready for another great term of learning and growth.
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We wish all our students and families a restful and refreshing break! We look forward to welcoming everyone back on Tuesday 21st July, ready for another great term of learning and growth.
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π΅π΄ We may have aged 100 years overnight! π Our Kindergarten students celebrated 100 days of school by dressing as 100-year-olds, and they certainly looked the part! While they may have looked 100 today, they're only 100 days into an amazing journey of learning, friendship and growing in God's love. We can't wait to see what the rest of the year brings! πβ¨ Catholic Schools Parramatta Diocese #100DaysOfKindergarten #AgedToPerfection #GrowingInGodsLove
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β½ππ Future Socceroos in the making! Kindergarten had a fantastic time stepping into the boots of the Socceroos, giving it their best shot and dreaming big! From their stadium walk-on to showing off their soccer skills, our youngest students embraced the challenge with confidence, teamwork and plenty of Aussie spirit. Who knows? We might just have the next generation of Socceroos right here at St Finbar's! π¦πΊβ½
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Our students recently had the wonderful opportunity to attend the St Vincent de Paul Encounter Day at St John Paul II Catholic College, Schofields. Facilitated by St Vincent de Paul, the day provided students with a deeper understanding of the history and mission of the organisation, how it began, and the important role of Conference members in supporting people experiencing hardship. Students also explored the realities of homelessness, including the different forms it can take, current statistics, and practical ways individuals and communities can make a positive difference. The day was both inspiring and thought-provoking. Our students returned feeling energised and motivated to continue promoting Faith in Action within our school community, putting their faith into practice through service, compassion, and advocacy for those most in need.
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β½ππ Socceroos fever hit St Finbar's on Friday! Our students embraced the excitement, proudly showing their green and gold spirit as they cheered on the Socceroos. There was plenty of energy, enthusiasm and smiles across the school, with everyone getting into the Aussie spirit. A special highlight was Kindergarten, who created their very own stadium experience, complete with player entries and match tickets! What a fantastic way to celebrate together and make learning fun. π¦πΊβ½
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Congratulations to our Principal's Award recipients! π We proudly celebrated our Principal's Award recipients, recognising students who consistently live out our school Charisms and embrace every opportunity to learn and grow. Through kindness, respect, compassion and perseverance, they inspired those around them each day. These students demonstrated that a growth mindset is about believing in themselves, learning from challenges, and striving to be the best version of who they can be. We are incredibly proud of the positive example they set within our St Finbar's community.
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We proudly congratulate Mrs Kym Romanous on her appointment as Principal of St Finbar's. We are grateful for her leadership and the way she embodies our charisms each day, inspiring our community through faith, compassion, and service. We look forward to her continued leadership as she guides our school in living out these values and supporting every student to thrive. Congratulations, Mrs Romanous!
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π Tinnies for Vinnies Winter Appeal π Last week, our school community came together to support the St Vincent de Paul Winter Appeal through our Tinnies for Vinnies collection. A heartfelt thank you to all the families who generously donated and helped make a difference to those in need this winter. It was wonderful to see our students embracing the spirit of the day by wearing their pyjamas and showing compassion and generosity in action. A special thank you to Mrs Farrugia and the staff and students who represented our school at the Vinnies Sleep Out alongside students from other local Catholic primary schools. We are grateful for opportunities to live out our faith, serve others, and connect with the wider community through initiatives such as these. #TinniesForVinnies #WinterAppeal #CommunityInAction #FaithInAction #StFinbarsSchool ππ€ Catholic Schools Parramatta Diocese
