The launch, presided over by Bishop Bill Wright and Director of Schools, Ray Collins, was held at St Francis Xavier’s College Hamilton on Wednesday 17 August, 2016. Attended by almost 300 principals, students, parents and priests, it was a truly memorable occasion for the Diocese.

A Vision Statement Committee comprising parent representation and school and system staff committed to the task of reviewing the current statement and redesigning a new Vision Statement. Priests, principals, school staff and students as well as members of the Catholic Schools Council were consulted in the process over the last 18 months and worked together to create the final statement.

A song expressing the key themes of the statement was co-written with educator and composer John Burland and performed for the first time at the launch.

At the heart of everything there is always Jesus Christ...
Catholic schools educate:
From and for the community of faith;
From and for excellence in learning;
In a rigorous, creative and critical pursuit of truth.

Catholic schools educate from and for vibrant, welcoming and diverse communities, with a particular commitment to the poor; for justice, integrity and peace; and with hope for the future.

At the centre of this vision statement are the words “At the heart of everything is Jesus Christ”, says Mr Collins.

"This forms the core of our aspirations for all of our schools, that they be communities in which Jesus is the focus of all we do.

"The statement goes on to emphasise that with Jesus as our core we commit to being faith communities, places of excellence in learning and focused on a rigorous, creative and critical pursuit of truth.

Each of the words has been deliberately chosen to signify the nature and purpose of our schools and determines our commitment to our students and their parents."

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