Catholic Outlook December 2015

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CATHOLIC EDUCATION
Principals’ Pilgrimage to the Holy Land
Pilgrims’ view of Vatican City.
During November, Catholic School principals from the
Diocese of Parramatta participated in a pilgrimage
to places of spiritual significance in Jordan, Israel,
Assisi and Rome. The pilgrimage, led by by Delegate of the
Diocesan Administrator Rev Christopher de Souza PP, also
included the Executive Director of Schools Greg Whitby,
Chancery representatives and Catholic Education senior
leaders.
Since 2012, all principals in the Diocese have been offered
the opportunity to participate in the pilgrimage formation
experience including pilgrimages in the footsteps of St Paul
and an Australian pilgrimage focused on St Mary of the
Cross MacKillop.
St Canice’s Primary, Katoomba Principal Mark Geerligs
praying at the Wailing Wall in Jerusalem.
“Each pilgrimage has provided a powerful formation
experience, strengthening the faith lives of our Catholic
leaders to support the faith formation of their school
communities,” Greg said.
“In addition to supporting principals in their work
of evangelisation, the pilgrimages have also forged
and strengthened collaboration and community between
principals across the system,” he said.
Pilgrims outside Bethlehem University.
Rev Christopher de Souza celebrating mass in St Peter’s
Basilica.
Photos: Thanks to Principal Mark Geerligs.
Executive Director of Schools challenges Vatican
Congress to make schools more relevant
On Friday 20 November 2015,
Executive Director of Schools
Greg Whitby delivered a keynote
address at the Congregation for Catholic
Education Congress of Catholic Schools of
the World in Rome.
Greg spoke passionately about the need
and urgency to transform Catholic
Education in Australia in his address
titled, ‘How do we sing the Lord’s song
in a strange land? A challenge to our
Catholic imagination’.
“Mrs Khattar inspires me to live a life like
Jesus. She warms my heart, stretches my
imagination and encourages me to achieve.
She is dazzling,” says Makayla Dalmati from
Our Lady of Lourdes Primary, Seven Hills.
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“Great Catholic schools have to be first
and foremost, excellent schools (The
Catholic School, 1977). We can no longer
make incremental changes if Catholic
schools want to be excellent schools.
They cannot be imitators of current
popular practice, they have to be uniquely
different,” Greg said.
“This challenges our very understanding
of what is taught, how it is taught, how
it is provided, who is involved and
increasingly how it is resourced and to
whom we are accountable. This requires
Executive Director of Schools Greg Whitby delivering his address ‘How do we sing the Lord’s song in a
strange land? A challenge to our Catholic imagination’.
a new and shared narrative - a narrative
that builds on our story but is relevant
to the context of today’s world and
continually enriched by the experience of
the generations we serve,” he said.
2015 is the 50th anniversary of the
Second Vatican Council’s Declaration
Gravissimum Educationis (Declaration
on Christian Education) and the 25th
anniversary of the Apostolic Constitution
Ex Corde Ecclesiae (From the Heart of the
Church). As part of these celebrations,
the Congregation aims to re-energise the
Church’s commitment to education.
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